HELVICK HEAD:  Cuckoo calling & sometimes on view (CF).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  60+ Whimbrel & 2 Barnacle Geese at Lisselan, Wheatear on new link road bhind caravan park (JF).

RAM HEAD:  3 Great Skuas, hundreds of Manx Shearwaters & quite a few Common or Arctic Terns (seawatch 10:00-11:45, ADM).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  45 Whimbrel roosting west of the spits (PMW).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  Red-throated Diver (W), 19 Whimbrel (8 W), House Martin, 2 Sand Martins, Wheatear, 2 Whitethroats, 3 Blackcaps, 12 Willow Warblers & 2 Tree Sparrows (PMW).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 19 Whimbrel, 2 Barnacle Geese & a Sedge Warbler at Lisselan (JF), 5 Whimbrel at Clohernagh (JDP).

FERRYPOINT: Summer-plumaged Great Northern Diver (ADM).

Near TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  CATTLE EGRET immediately N of Corballymore Wood, nr Saleen, in field with cattle at 10:45, then flew E over road (JDP).

SEAFIELD (nr Bunmahon):  Swift (DW) - first of year for Co Waterford.

CLONEA:  Roseate Tern & 2 Arctic Terns with Sandwich Terns off Ballinard (CF).

WHITING BAY:  Sedge Warbler singing (NJB).

HELVICK HEAD: 

Seawatch 07.45 - 09.05 (JAP, BS, RAW): 

Great Skua: 8.

Puffin: 2.

Black Guillemot: 2.

Red-throated Diver: 1.

Manx Shearwater, Fulmar, Gannet, Kittiwake, large auks: light passage.

Sandwich Tern: large numbers.

HELVICK HEAD:  Red-legged Partridge today (MW, CF), near top of hill where Red-breasted Flycatcher was seen last autumn; one of at least 3 reported in area in last few days, presumably a gun-club release.

Nr TALLOW: Woodcock roding over forestry in two tetrads tonight (SO'C, PMW).

CLONEA:  Several hundred Whimbrel arriving in from sea, adult dark-bellied Brent Goose & 20+ White Wagtails at Ballinard (FO'C).

ARDMORE:  67 Whimbrel landed on rocks at Curragh c1600 (ADM).

CALISO BAY:  Merlin (").

LISMORE:  Common Sandpiper on Blackwater, 3 Whitethroats in disused quarry (ADM).

CLONEA:  45 Whimbrel, 2 Wheatears & a Whitethroat around Ballinclamper (MC snr).

KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS:  Cuckoo heard (NR) - first of the year for Co Waterford.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  23 Wheatears, 4 Willow Warblers, 3 House Martins, 3 Whimbrel & a Golden Plover this evening (MC).

ARDMORE:  3 Wheatears on rough ground at Dysert, 2 Stock Doves at Goat Island (NJB).

BUNMAHON:  Female MARSH HARRIER around midday today, heading east (NL).

WHITING BAY:  Sedge Warbler singing (NJB).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: female Blackcap, 14 Willow Warblers, 3 Chiffchaffs & a Wheatear the best this afternoon (PMW).

SOUTH KILKENNY:  Buzzards during last week (PSi).

MONAVULLAGH MOUNTAINS: Pair of Hen Harriers sky-dancing (CF).

CARRIGAVRANTRY: Sedge Warbler singing & Orange-tip butterflies (LRy).

Nr CLASHMORE:  Pair of Yellowhammers (JAP, BS).

WHITING BAY:  2nd-calendar-year Iceland Gull in freshly ploughed field at Whiting Bay (").

BALLYMACART:  6 House Martins (").

BRICKEY CANAL:  Stoat on road (").

Nr CLASHMORE:  Holly Blue buterfly (").

Nr KINSALEBEG:  Orange-tip (").

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: Common Sandpiper (CF, DW).

NEWPORT EAST: Barnacle Goose with  Shelduck (JAP, BS).

WATERFORD NATURE PARK (Kilbarry):  Water Rail (LR).

Off BALLYVOYLE (from boat):  Great Skua & 15 Whimbrel (FO'C).

DUNGARVAN:  3 Long-tailed Ducks near Ballynacourty pier, flying out (").

HELVICK HEAD:  Whitethroat & 2 Willow Warblers (CF).

EAST WATERFORD:  RED KITE (DH per CF).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  2 Barnacle Geese still at Lisselan, also Wheatear & lots of Sand Martins (MDe).

BALLYSCANLAN LAKE: 1st-year Iceland Gull (EAMacL).

BUNMAHON:  Sedge Warbler (first of year) & Whitethroat (DW).

ARDMORE:  Whimbrel & Common Sandpiper at Curragh (ADM).

WEST WATERFORD:  Buzzard (").

TRAMORE:  Whitethroat (AJ).

Nr BELLE LAKE:  Grasshopper Warbler (first of year) reeling south of Belle Lake, plus lots of Blackcaps in song in that area & around Pickardstown, Tramore (PA).

DUNGARVAN: HOOPOE at the Cunnigar at 5 pm today.

EAST WATERFORD:  4 Buzzards (AJ),

TRAMORE TOWN:  3 House Martins (").

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 2 Barnacle Geese again at Lisselan, also 3 Gadwall (MC).

GLENSHELANE:  2 Dippers (NT).

BROWNSWOOD (nr Portlaw):  first House Martin here, nest-inspecting (FJ).

RAM HEAD: >>500 Manx Shearwaters & a Porpoise this morning (ADM).

RIVER SUIR nr KILSHEELAN:  2 Common Sandpipers (EAMacL).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 2 Barnacle Geese (displaying!), 213 Brent, c200 Swallows & c15 Sand Martins at Lisselan (AJ), also 3 Gadwall there (JF).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Pair of Tree Sparrows & just 1 Willow Warbler (PMW).

BALLYVOONEY: Great Northern Diver & 2 Red-throated Divers (AJ).

BALLYVOYLE: Willow Warbler, male Blackcap & Dipper (").

STRADBALLY: Dipper (").

MID WATERFORD: Buzzard (").

BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  Tree Sparrow (PMW).

CALISO BAY:  6+ Blackcaps (ADM).

BALLYVOYLE: 3rd-yr Glaucous Gull (AJ).

GOAT ISLAND: c60 Manx Shearwaters feeding with Gannets (").

DUNGARVAN: 3 Swallows at White Strand, Barnawee (MC snr).

IDA PARK (Cork Road): 3 Willow Warblers singing (DS).

Nr WATERFORD CITY:  RED KITE flying NW over Holy Cross, Cork Road, c16:00, then headed NE in general direction of Carriganore (DS).

DUNGARVAN:  5 Swallows at Ballynacourty (SMH).

SOUTH KILKENNY:  Swallow (BB).

TRAMORE:  4 Swallows (AJ).

DUNGARVAN:  5 Swallows over St. Augustine's College, Dungarvan (EC).

BALLINARD:  Adult Glaucous Gull & White Wagtail (MC).

HELVICK:  4 Black Guillemots (").

ARDMORE:  Wheatear, 2 Swallows & an Otter at Curragh (ADM).

WEST WATERFORD:  Buzzard (MC).

CALISO BAY:  an early Whitethroat (ADM) - first Co Waterford record of the year, and earliest in last 10 years at least.*  *First dates reported to waterfordbirds.com from 2005 onwards were: 30 Apr 2005, 30 Apr 2006, 27 Apr 2007, 19 Apr 2008, 23 Apr 2009 (also 14 Apr 2009 south Kilkenny), 24 Apr 2010, 18 Apr 2011, 28 Apr 2012, 20 Apr 2013.

WHITING BAY:  Female Merlin (").

Nr LISMORE:  Blackcap singing (ADM).

ARDMORE:  20+ Sand Martins & 2 Sandwich Terns at Curragh (ADM).

FERRYPOINT:  Wheatear & 2 Sandwich Terns (").



Sunday, April 06, 2014

ARDMORE:  Red-legged Partridge (presumed escaped or released) along New Line road, 5 Sand Martins & 11 Sandwich Terns at the Curragh (NJB).

WEST WATERFORD:  Buzzard (").

BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  2 Black Guillemots & 10 Sandwich Terns, quiet on land (AJ).

TRAMORE:  2 Chiffchaffs (").

WATERFORD CITY:  Chiffchaff at Arbourmount, Ferrybank (LR).

HELVICK: 2CY Glaucous Gull. (MC)

Friday, April 04, 2014

KILMACTHOMAS: Swallow & 2 Sand Martins (FO'C).

CLONEA BEACH: 2 House Martins near hotel (").

TRAMORE:  3 Sand Martins at boating lake, Chiffchaff & 2 Siskins in garden at Cairnwood (JF).

DUNGARVAN:  Female Merlin hunting & 2 Swallows at Ballyneety (JAP).

Nr CAPPOQUIN:  Jay (NR).

SEAFIELD (nr Bunmahon): 2 Swallows & 2 Sand Martins (DW),

ARDMORE:  21 Sandwich Terns & 3 Sand Martins at Curragh (ADM).

DUNGARVAN:  3 Swallows in town centre (FO'C) - first definite report of the year for Co Waterford.

CLONEA:  23 Sandwich Terns & 2 Wheatears at Ballinard (FO'C).

EAST WATERFORD:  2 Buzzards (AJ).

NEWTOWN GLEN (Tramore Bay):  3 Chiffchaffs & a Siskin (JF).