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.



Friday, May 31, 2013

HELVICK HEAD: Spotted Flycatcher (MC snr).

Thursday, May 30, 2013

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Spotted Flycatcher (PMW).

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

GREAT NEWTOWN HEAD:
Seawatch 1850-1940 (JF):
Manx Shearwater: 90 E, 33 W
Gannet: 4 E, 3 W
Kittiwake: 18 E, 27 W
Guillemot: 4 E, 3 W
Razorbill: 1 E.

Monday, May 27, 2013

BALLINLOUGH:  male & female GARGANEY, Water Rail calling, Spotted Flycatcher & 2 Treecreepers (DS, JF).

KILL:  Cuckoo at water treatment plant (").
BALLINLOUGH: male & female GARGANEY still present (DW).

Sunday, May 26, 2013

RAM HEAD:
Seawatch 1605-1705 (wind 4 SW, MAD, PMW):
Puffin: 5 W
Manx Shearwater: 2 E, 550 W
Fulmar: 2 E, 4 W
Gannet: 46 W
Guillemot: 245 W
Razorbill: 1 E, 73 W
Unidentified large auks: 7 E, 69 W
Kittiwake: not counted

HELVICK HEAD: 2 Puffins on sea, also hundreds of Manx Shearwaters, Guillemots & Razorbills feeding (ADM, AT).
BALLINLOUGH: 2 GARGANEY (male + female), 12:00 (DW, MC snr).

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Off HELVICK HEAD:  Adult Little Gull, Great Skua, 3 Pomarine Skuas & 500+ Common Dolphins 10 miles off Helvick from a fishing boat (FO'C).

Pomarine Skua, off Helvick Head © F O'Connell

GREAT NEWTOWN HEAD:  6 Black Guillemots (AJ).

NEWTOWN GLEN:  Blackcap, & fledgling Grey Wagtails & Goldcrests (").

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  Cuckoo at Lisselan (").

MID WATERFORD:  Buzzard (PMW).
WATERFORD CITY: Hummingbird Hawk-moth feeding on Aubretia at Ferrybank (LR).

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Nr BALLYSCANLON: Cuckoo calling this evening (LR).
Nr WATERFORD CITY: 2 Dippers (including bird carrying food) at Ballindud roundabout (KB).
BELLE LAKE:  Grasshopper Warbler, 8 Sedge Warblers & 7 Whitethroats (AJ).

Nr JACK MEADE'S;  Wheatear on road (").

EAST WATERFORD:  Buzzard (").

Sunday, May 19, 2013

WHITING BAY: Short-eared Owl at east end (MC snr), later flew W over fields towards next car park (MC) (video).

MODELIGO: Cuckoo calling (per MC snr).
KILL: 3 Sedge Warblers & Grasshopper Warbler singing at water treatment plant (JF).

BALLINLOUGH: 7 Sedge Warblers (").

EAST WATERFORD: Buzzard at two locations (")

Nr CLASHMORE VILLAGE: metal-ringed Dipper (MC snr).

Saturday, May 18, 2013

DUNGARVAN:  Adult-summer Black Tern near Cunnigar point, then flew towards pitch & putt course (FO'C).

ARAGLIN HILLS:  Dipper at Glouncaol Bridge (PMW).

Nr TALLOW:  Stock Dove (").

WEST WATERFORD:  Buzzard (").
ARDMORE: Spotted Flycatcher along Goat Island road (JAP, BS).
ARDMORE: Yellow Wagtail at stream on Curragh Strand, 13:10 (JAP, BS).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: c500 Dunlin with 30+ Ringed Plover, 2 Cuckoos, 12 Sedge Warblers, Swift, Whitethroat & hirundines all at Lisselan (AJ).
HELVICK HEAD: 2 Spotted Flycatchers & a Wheatear (CF).

Friday, May 17, 2013

BALLYSCANLAN:  Cuckoo in song, Mute Swan pair have hatched 4 cygnets (MC).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  Cuckoo heard at Lisselan, 6 a.m. (JF).
KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS:  WHITE-TAILED EAGLE again (ADM).

GREAT NEWTOWN HEAD:  20 Common Scoter E, 3 Manx Shearwaters W & 3 Black Guillemots (AJ).

Nr DUNGARVAN:  Pine Marten dead on road (MC).

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Nr ANNESTOWN BOG: Long-eared Owl calling again tonight (MD).
KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS:  WHITE-TAILED EAGLE (young wing-tagged bird) (ADM).

(c) AD Malcolm

Nr CAPPOQUIN:  Jay at Toor/Ardaguna forest (PMW).

BLACKWATER VALLEY:  37 Whimbrel at Clashmore Broads (").

EAST WATERFORD:  2 Buzzards (MC snr).
ANNESTOWN BOG: 5 Sedge Warblers, 1 Grasshopper Warbler singing & Water Rail calling this morning (JF).

Nr ANNESTOWN BOG:  Adult Long-eared Owl calling last night (MD).

Monday, May 13, 2013

GREAT NEWTOWN HEAD:  Adult Pomarine Skua W (AJ).

NEWTOWN GLEN:  Spotted Flycatcher (").

Sunday, May 12, 2013

TRAMORE BAY: Spotted Flycatcher in Newtown Glen (JF).
ANNESTOWN BOG:  2 Gadwall, Grasshopper Warbler & 3 Sedge Warblers (RZ).

WATERFORD CITY:  first Swifts in Ferrybank (LR).

CLONEA STRAND:  Adult summer Great Northern Diver, 15 Brent Geese, 8 Whimbrel & 125 Bar-tailed Godwits at Ballinclamper (PMW).
BROWNSTOWN HEAD:
Seawatch 09:30-11:30 (wind 4-5 SW-WSW, vis moderate, PMW):
Pomarine Skua: 2 W (adult & subadult light-phase) @10:50
Storm Petrel: 1 feeding
Red-throated Diver: 1 adult summer W
Arctic Tern: 180+ (including 127 W)
Puffin: 2 W
Manx Shearwater: 4 E, 190 W, 15+ feeding
Fulmar: 1 E, 7 W
Gannet: 5 E, 33 W
Sandwich Tern: 21 W
Whimbrel: 12 W
Kittiwake: 3 E, 80 W
Large auks: 3 E, 33 W
Guillemot: 65+ feeding
Razorbill: 25+ feeding
On land: Swift, male Blackcap, 4 Whitethroats, Chiffchaff & Tree Sparrow.

Saturday, May 11, 2013

BROWNSTOWN HEAD:
Seawatch 18:35-19:35 (wind 4-5 W-NW, MAD, PMW)
Pomarine Skua: 1 adult light-phase W
Arctic Tern: 40 W
Sandwich Tern: 25 W
tern sp: 100+ feeding near horizon
Manx Shearwater: 20 W
Gannet: 21 W
Kittiwake: 3 E, 43 W
Razorbill: 1 W
Guillemot: 1E
On land:
Tree Sparrow

DUNGARVAN: 35 Whimbrel at Ballyneety (PMW).

NORTH WATERFORD:  4 Buzzards (FJ).

Friday, May 10, 2013

HELVICK HEAD: 5 adult summer plumaged Black Terns on seawatch (FO'C) - first of year.
HELVICK HEAD:
Seawatch 15:30-16:40 (JAP, FO'C, RZ):
Arctic Skua: 1
Storm Petrel: 2
Black Guillemot: 1
Manx Shearwater, Gannet, Arctic Tern, Sandwich Tern, Guillemot, Razorbill: light passage
BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  Tree Sparrow, 3+ Whitethroats, 2+ Goldcrests alone lane, Arctic Tern feeding off the tip (DS).

TRAMORE BAY:  43 Whimbrel, 12 Manx Shearwaters, 2 Black Guillemots, Mallard & 2 Common Dolphins at Metal Man / Great Newtown Head (AJ).
TRAMORE BAY:  Great Skua W past Metal Man (AJ).

Thursday, May 09, 2013

HELVICK HEAD: 1 Storm Petrel & about a dozen Manxies (seawatch 19:20-19:50, MC).
CLONEA STRAND:  5 Great Northern Divers (3 in summer plumage) (JAP).

BALLYLEMON:  Wheatear on farmland (SL).
HELVICK HEAD:
Seawatch 09:30-10:00 (JAP):
Storm Petrel: 3 feeding close inshore (1st of year)
Great Skua: 1-4 (?same bird)
Fulmar: many
Manx Shearwater, Gannet, Kittiwake, Commic Tern, auks: light passage

Wednesday, May 08, 2013

BROWNSTOWN HEAD:
Seawatch 18.20-19.00 (DS):
Great Skua: 1 E
Manx Shearwater: 1 E
Commic Tern: 4 E, 6 W
Whimbrel: 1 W 
HELVICK HEAD:  2 Spotted Flycatchers at 1445 (MC snr), 4+ later & a Whitethroat (JAP, MC snr).
HELVICK HEAD:  Spotted Flycatcher (1st of year), 1250 (JAP).

Tuesday, May 07, 2013

DUNGARVAN:  late report from yesterday of a NIGHT HERON flying over the Old Hospital Road at 1600 mobbed by corvids (Susanne Mordhorst per www.irishbirding.com).
WATERFORD CITY:  Swifts numerous around city today including 13 over main industrial estate (DS, JF), also birds over Ballybricken & the Quay (DS).

Monday, May 06, 2013

BLACKWATER VALLEY: 2+ Reed Warblers at Raheen Quay, Clashmore (ADM).

ARDMORE: 42 Whimbrel at Curragh (").
COMERAGH MOUNTAINS:  Male & female Hen Harrier (AA).

DRUM HILLS: 2 Yellowhammers & a Stoat nr Broken Bridge / Lisgriffin (tetrad X18P) (MAD, PMW).
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: very quiet early a.m. - 2 Whitethroats (DS).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: quiet also at Lisselan but good nos of butterflies incl. a Painted Lady, Speckled Wood, Green-Veined White & 15+ Orange Tips (").


CARRIGANORE (nr Waterford city):  2 Swifts (").

IDA PARK (Cork Road): Red Admiral & Peacock butterfly (").
BALLYSCANLAN:  6+ singing Sedge Warblers, 2 Siskins & a Red Admiral (LR).
COUMTAY (Comeragh Mountains): Cuckoo, Ravens, Skylarks, Meadow Pipits, many Wheatears, Dipper, Reed Buntings including one at very back of the Coum but no Ring Ouzel (RZ, BS, AJ, JAP).

Sunday, May 05, 2013

KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS: Male Hen Harrier (SH).

LISMORE:  4 SWifts (").

CLONEA STRAND: 3 White Wagtails, 35 Whimbrel, 102 Bar-tailed Godwits & 2 adult summer Great Northern Divers (MAD, PMW).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 40 Whimbrel, 12 Little Egrets, 2 Mallard ducklings at Lisselan (PMW).
COMERAGH MOUNTAINS: Ring Ouzel at Coumtay (PD).

BLACKWATER VALLEY: Reed Warbler at Raheen Quay, Clashmore; Jay in Villierstown (CF).
BALLYNACOURTY POINT: 2 Little Terns flew W past lighthouse (MC snr).
BROWNSTOWN HEAD:
Seawatch 12:05-13:05 (wind 3-4 SW, MAD, PMW)
Arctic Skua: 1 off-passage
Roseate Tern: 5 feeding (1st of year)
Common/Arctic Tern: 5+ feeding
Sandwich Tern: 1 W
Manx Shearwater: 51 W, up to 10 feeding
Fulmar: 3 W
Gannet: 4 E, 27 W
Kittiwake: 3 W, 5-10 feeding
Large auk: 1 W
Swallow: 2 E in from sea

Saturday, May 04, 2013

KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS:  Hen Harrier (ADM).

EAST WATERFORD:  3 Buzzards (TO'M).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 2 Tree Sparrows, 3 Whitethroats singing (PMW).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 300+ Whimbrel, Lisselan fields & backstrand (JF).
DUNGARVAN: Male Long-tailed Duck off Quann's (MC snr).

DUNMORE EAST to PORTALLY cliff-walk: Porpoise off Black Knob, Common Lizard (tailless) at Portally, Wheatear along clifftop (MAD, PMW).
KILBARRY BOG: 5 Wheatears (2 male, 3 female), Waterford nature park. 1 male Blackcap, 2 Willow Warblers & 4 Sedge Warblers, river walkway opposite park (JF).
BROWNSTOWN HEAD:
Seawatch 07:50-09:20 (wind 3 SW, PMW)
Great Skua: 1 E
Great Northern Diver: ad summer on sea
Red-throated Diver: 1 W (imm), 1 E (ad summer)
Manx Shearwater: 20 E, 5 W, 15+ feeding
Fulmar: 31 W
Gannet: 16 E, 48 W
Whimbrel: 7 W
Dunlin: 6 W
Kittiwake: 26 E, 25 W
Sandwich Tern: 2 E, 54 W
Razorbill: 16 W
Guillemot: 2 W
Large auk species: 13 E, 6 W

Friday, May 03, 2013

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Great Skua W, adult light-phase Arctic Skua loitering & 7 Whimbrel W (seawatch 19:00-19:45, wind 6 SW), another 10 Whimbrel in fields (MAD, PMW)
DRUMLOHAN: Stock Dove (PMW).
HELVICK HEAD: 2 Puffins W singly (seawatch 13:15-13:45, wind 5 SW, MAD, PMW).
BALLYSHUNNOCK RESERVOIR: 2 Common Sandpipers (MC).

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: 2 Gadwall (male & female) (").

Nr DUNHILL POOLS: 5-6 Whimbrel in fields (").

Thursday, May 02, 2013

CARRIGAVRANTRY: 63 Whimbrel this evening (LR).
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 2 Blackcaps (m & f - male ringed), Sedge Warbler, 4 Whitethroats, 6+ Willow Warblers, 3 Wheatears, pair of Tree Sparrows & 8 Whimbrel, 0600-1330 (PMW). 

Wednesday, May 01, 2013

BALLYVOYLE: 2 Dippers & a Great Northern Diver (summer plumage) (JF).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Sedge Warbler & adult summer Great Northern Diver (PMW).
BLACKWATER VALLEY: 2 Reed Warblers at Raheen Quay, Clashmore (ADM).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Tree Sparrow, 2 Whitethroats & 10 Wheatears best this evening (MC).
WATERFORD CITY: Grasshopper Warbler singing in Ballygunner at lunchtime (PA).
Nr LISMORE: Treecreeper singing at Glencairn / Castlerichard Cross Roads, pair of Swifts at Glencairn Abbey, pair of Stock Doves at Ballyvecane, 6 singing Blackcaps Lismore to Glencairn (PMW).

LISMORE:  2+ Swifts over town (").
Nr TALLOWBRIDGE: 3 Jays (including a pair) at Knockroe wood, 10:45-12:30 (PMW).
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Nice morning on the head but quiet - 6-8 Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap,  small nos of Willow Warbler & Chiffchaff (PA).
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Whitethroat, 3 Sedge & 2 Willow Warblers, 2 Wheatear and 97 Whimbrel at Lisselan; 5 Long-tailed Ducks feeding off the spits at the backstrand (DS)