Welcome to the Waterford Birds blog, supplementing the Recent reports page of the main Waterford Birds website www.waterfordbirds.com. If it's not there yet it may be here (real-time postings when possible), along with extra details. Please post any updates, new reports or corrections by texting 0861701599 (alternatively - but this may delay dissemination of news - click Comments). The main website will be updated (including photos) at next opportunity.



Sunday, March 31, 2013

WHITING BAY:  22 Sandwich Terns (SH).

ARDMORE:  7 Wheatears at Curragh (").

Saturday, March 30, 2013

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: FIRECREST still showing well along lower half of main lane up to 15:50, also 15+ Chiffchaffs on head, male Blackcap in valley, Wheatear, 3 Red-throated Divers E, 10+ Sandwich Terns off tip or in Tramore Bay (AA, MC, MD, CF, AJ, DS, DW, RZ).

TRAMORE BAY: 3 Common Scoter & 2 Red-throated Divers, also 270 Brent Geese in Rinneshark Harbour (PMW).

EAST WATERFORD:  4 Buzzards (").

BALLYMACART: Male Black Redstart (JAP, BS).

TRAMORE BOATING LAKE: 12 Gadwall (MC, CF, DW).
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Adult summer Mediterranean Gull and 2 Sandwich Terns at Saleen (AA).

MID WATERFORD:  3 Buzzards (MM).
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: FIRECREST half-way down main lane, also 2 Chiffchaffs (PMW).

DUNGARVAN:  Jack Snipe in pools midway along Cunnigar,  Long-tailed Duck between Cunnigar & Dungarvan (JAP, RZ, BS).
TRAMORE: Adult male Black Redstart at west end of beach (DW, MC, CF).
BALLYSCANLAN LAKE: 2nd-summer Iceland Gull, adult Mediterranean Gull and 31 Crossbills (MC, CF, DW.).

EAST WATERFORD: Buzzard (CF, DW).
DUNGARVAN; 3 Black Redstarts (2 m 1 f), female Wheatear & c15 Chiffchaffs at Ballynagaul (JAP, BS). 

HELVICK HEAD: 2nd-winter Glaucous Gull,  otherwise very quiet (").

Friday, March 29, 2013

WATERFORD CITY:  2 Blackcaps (male & female) & 2 Siskins in garden at Grantstown Park all week (LB).
DUNHILL: SIBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF at new settlement ponds at east side of village. Calling regularly (MC). Video
BALLYSCANLAN LAKE:  11 Sand Martins & a Swallow (MC).
CAPPOQUIN:  Brambling & 27+ Yellowhammers (ADM).
HELVICK: 2nd-winter Glaucous Gull (JAP, RAW, BS).

BALLYNAGAUL/POULAPHUCA: c20 Chiffchaffs (").

BALLYVOYLE: 2 Black Redstarts (m + f) & 2 Dippers (").

YOUGHAL BRIDGE: Large raptor, possibly Osprey heading north at 07:30 (MF).

Thursday, March 28, 2013

LISMORE:  c15 Sand Martins along Lady Louisa walk (ADM).
CAPPOQUIN:  6 Bramblings (PG per irishbirding.com).
TRAMORE:  2 Black Redstarts, 6 Wheatears, Skylarks & lots of pipits etc at old recycling centre (AJ).

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

TRAMORE:  Water Rail at Lisselan, 9 Wheatears (1 female) at old recycling centre (AJ).
ARDMORE:  7 male Wheatears & 15 Sandwich Terns at Curragh (ADM).

CALISO BAY:  3 Wheatears (").

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: Drake Shoveler & 20 Sand Martins. (MC)

EAST WATERFORD:  2 Buzzards (DMcG).

Monday, March 25, 2013

KILBARRY BOG:  Water Rail heard, Chiffchaff, 7-8 Siskins & 4-5 Fieldfares along Tramore road walkways (DMcG).

WATERFORD CITY:  Blackcap and 2 Siskins at King's Channel (").

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Nr CARRICK-ON-SUIR:  c20 Sand Martins just upriver (FJ).

GLENCAIRN (nr Lismore):  Female Blackcap at bird-table (TM).

EAST WATERFORD:  2 Buzzards (BF).

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Nr CARROLL'S CROSS:  Grey Squirrel found dead (roadkill) on N25 between Carroll's Cross & Haughton's Pub (LC).

DUNHILL:  Swallow at Dunhill Ecopark (AJ) - first of year for Co Waterford.

DUNGARVAN:  Wheatear at soccer pitch, Abbeyside (JAP, BS).

NEWPORT EAST:  11 Stock Dove feeding in field (").

LISMORE to CAPPOQUIN:  Another 12 Stock Dove feeding in field (").

CLASHMORE BROADS:  Jay (").

WEST WATERFORD:  Buzzard (").
DUNGARVAN: 2 Long-tailed Ducks off the Lookout. Black Guillemot off Ballinacourty Pier. (MC, CF)

HELVICK: 3 Chiffchaffs & 6 Black Guillemots. (")

CLONEA: 2 Wheatears @ Ballinard. (")

BALLYMACART: Otter. (")
ARDMORE:  Female Brambling with finch flock in ploughed field next to castle on Goat Island road (CF, MC).

MID-WATERFORD:  4 Buzzards (DW).
DUNGARVAN: Chiffchaff at Ballynagaul (JAP, BS).

BALLYMACART:  Male Blackcap (").

WHITING BAY:  18+ Sandwich Terns (").
HELVICK HEAD: Female Black Redstart (JAP, BS).

Friday, March 22, 2013

CLONEA: Adult Dark-bellied Brent Goose & a Sandwich Tern @ Ballinclamper. (MC)
CLONEA STRAND:  9+ Sandwich Terns, in appalling conditions (JAP).

Thursday, March 21, 2013

DUNGARVAN:  Sandwich Tern, 2 Great Northern Divers & 2 summer-plumaged Black Guillemots close inshore at Ballinacourty pier (JAP).

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

NEWPORT EAST:  Water Rail, calling from reedbed (JAP, UP).

WEST WATERFORD:  Buzzard (").

WHITING BAY:  2 immature Iceland Gulls (ADM).
RAM HEAD: Immature Iceland Gull flew past, 20+ Common Dolphins offshore (ADM).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  2 Merlins, otherwise very quiet (DS). [Sign up here for BrownstownBirds tweets.]
DUNGARVAN:  2 Sandwich Terns at Ballynacourty (MC snr) - first of year for Co Waterford.

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

TRAMORE:  Merlin, 2 Long-tailed Ducks (male & female), Spotted Redshank & 2 Wheatears (male & female) at Backstrand (AJ).

Monday, March 18, 2013

RAM HEAD:  5 Red-throated Divers E & W, & 3 Bottlenose Dolphins close inshore (ADM, AT).

ARDMORE BAY:  2 Great Northern Divers (").
CLONEA STRAND: 3 Wheatears (2 male 1 female) at Ballinard (JAP, BS, MC), also Chiffchaff & adult dark-bellied Brent Goose there & anything up to 50 Rock Pipits at Ballinclamper but no obvious littoralis (MC).

FERRY POINT: Adult & 2 2nd-winter Mediterranean Gulls (MC).
COOLFIN: 80+ Greylag Geese & 6 Whooper Swans (JAP, BS).

CURRAGHMORE (nr Portlaw):  Dipper, 6 Mistle Thrush, 3 Jay, 2 Treecreeper & singing Chiffchaff (").

BALLYLEEN: 2 Water Rail calling (").

BALLYVOYLE: Merlin (").
TRAMORE: Adult Ring-billed Gull still at boating lake, Spotted Redshank at Backstrand (AJ). 

Sunday, March 17, 2013

WEST WATERFORD: Buzzard (JAP).
Nr WATERFORD CITY: 2 Chiffchaffs at the IDA park on the Cork Road today (DS).

HELVICK: 2 Chiffchaffs. (MC)
WEST WATERFORD: 3 Buzzards (ADM).

Saturday, March 16, 2013

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Merlin & Red Admiral but no passerine migrants; single Manx Shearwater W, Black Guillemot E, Red-throated Diver & 2 Great Northern Divers W (seawatch 1345-1430) (PMW).

TRAMORE: 42 Sanderling on beach, Great Northern Diver & 2 Red-throated Divers in bay (").
TRAMORE: Adult Ring-billed Gull & 12 Gadwall at the boating lake. (MC, CF, MC Sr. & DW)
KILBARRY BOG (nr Waterford city): Water Rail calling, Little Egret & Redwing at the Nature Park.
ANNESTOWN: Male Wheatear, Annestown beach (JAP, BS).

BALLYVOONEY: 4 Red-throated Divers (").

LISMORE: Male Yellowhammer singing (ADM).

WEST WATERFORD: Buzzard (").

Thursday, March 14, 2013

HELVICK:  2nd-winter Glaucous Gull (JAP, UP).

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See also Brownstown Birds (@BrownstownBirds) for up-to-date news from Brownstown Head
LISMORE: First Sand Martins (dozens) of the year just arrived, also Yellowhammer along Lady Louisa walk (ADM).

WEST WATERFORD:  Buzzard (").

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

BALLYQUIN (nr Ardmore):  2 male Wheatears (ADM).

KILBARRY BOG (nr Waterford city):  Female Blackcap along Tramore road walkway (AJ).

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 3 Long-tailed Ducks in Backstrand, Wheatear on main beach (AJ).

Nr WATERFORD CITY: 2 Treecreepers & 77 Golden Plover at IDA park (DS).

EAST WATERFORD: Buzzards at 2 locations (MC, DS).
DUNGARVAN:  Brambling at feeder, also male & female Blackcap, lots of Siskins, Abbeyside (JH).

Monday, March 11, 2013

WATERFORD CITY:  Pair of Blackcaps at King's Channel, also 2 Siskins at feeders for past week (DMcG).

DUNGARVAN:  Chiffchaff on shore midway between Ballynacourty lighthouse and Gold Coast (MC snr).

Sunday, March 10, 2013

WATERFORD CITY: Chiffchaff in garden, Francis Street (DS).

Saturday, March 09, 2013

HELVICK: 2nd winter Glaucous Gull & a Chiffchaff. (MC)

RING: 2 Chiffchaffs & a female Blackcap @ Knockanpower Lower. (")
SEAFIELD (nr Bunmahon): Chiffchaff singing (DW).

Friday, March 08, 2013

BLACKWATER CALLOWS:  65 Whooper Swans - 24 between Lismore & Ballyduff, 41 west of Ballyduff (TM).

RIVER BRIDE:  26 Whooper Swans in field beside river & N72 between Tallow & Fermoy, c3 km from Tallow (").

TRAMORE:  Another male Wheatear at sandhills carpark (AJ).
TRAMORE: Male Wheatear at Lisselan seawall - first spring migrant of the year (AJ).

Wednesday, March 06, 2013

Nr PORTLAW: Dead Pine Marten at the side of the road at Clodiagh Bridge, Coolfin (MC).

Tuesday, March 05, 2013

Nr DUNGARVAN: Long-eared Owl calling at Kilmurray tonight (EP).

Monday, March 04, 2013

DUNGARVAN:  4 Long-tailed Tits at Southways, Abbeyside (EB).

Sunday, March 03, 2013

HELVICK: 2nd winter Glaucous Gull. (MC)

GORTEEN (nr Dungarvan):  12+ Siskins at feeders (since 27 Feb) & a Redpoll at peanuts (also yesterday) (Moira Keaney).
KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: RING-NECKED DUCK drake still at small lake (DS).

EAST WATERFORD: Buzzard (").
BALLYSCANLAN: 32 Crossbills (DS).
MONEYGORM (nr Lismore):  Blackcap (ADM).

Off RAM HEAD: Otter (").

ARDMORE: Adult Mediterranean Gull (full summer plumage) at Curragh (").

WEST WATERFORD: Buzzard (").

Saturday, March 02, 2013

TRAMORE: Adult Ring-billed Gull & 6 Gadwall at the boating lake. (MC)

BALLYSCANLON LAKE: Adult Mediterranean Gull. (")
KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: Adult male RING-NECKED DUCK still present, viewable from from high road (BS, FO'C, JAP).

EAST WATERFORD: Buzzard at two locations (JF, DMcG).

CLONEA STRAND: Red-throated Diver & 4 Great Northern Divers (PMW).
DUNGARVAN: SPOONBILL opposite pitch & putt club, Jack Snipe & Green Sandpiper at Brickey canal, 3 Long-tailed Duck (male & 2 females) between Gold Coast & Helvick (BS, FO'C, JAP); also male Common Scoter, 5 Red-throated & 2 Great Northern Divers off Ballynacourty pier (PMW).

NEWPORT EAST: 2-3 Water Rail calling (BS, FO'C, JAP).

KINSALEBEG: 3 Stock Dove (").

Nr WHITING BAY: 8 Tree Sparrows (").

CALISO BAY: Red-throated Diver (")
HELVICK: 2nd-winter Glaucous Gull (MAD, PMW).