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, October 31, 2014

BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  FIRECREST still present this morning in main garden, calling, also a Hummingbird Hawk-moth near the chalet & 3-4 Chiffchaffs (PA).

WATERFORD CITY:  10 Swallows over The Glen this morning (DS).

WHITING BAY:  Black Redstart (KC per irishbirding.com)

TRAMORE:  2 Whooper Swans, 26 Gadwall & 3 Tufted Duck at Lisselan; c500 Golden Plover on Backstrand (AJ); Redwing heard, Tramore town (TB).

Thursday, October 30, 2014

BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  FIRECREST & 2 Blackcaps (NL & AD per irishbirding.com)

DUNGARVAN: Adult Mediterranean Gull at Barnawee (FO'C, MC snr); also Common Sandpiper at Barnawee, 2 Swallows in town centre & (yesterday & today) an Otter sleeping under the pontoon at Dungarvan quay at low tide (FO'C).

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

ARDMORE:  Wheatear at Curragh (ADM).

TRAMORE TOWN:  18 Swallows over Lidl / Bank of Ireland (JF).


Tuesday, October 28, 2014

TRAMORE:  GLOSSY IBIS again at Clohernagh, 09:30 (JDP); male Blackcap, Tramore town (TB).

Monday, October 27, 2014

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Merlin & 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls @ Saleen. 7 Gadwall, 3 Whooper Swans, Female-type Scaup & 2Tufted Ducks @ Lisselan. (MC)

BALLYSHUNNOCK: 10 Whooper Swans. (")

ARDMORE:  2 Chiffchaffs & lots of Goldcrests (NJB).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  2 Sooty Shearwaters & a Siskin (EAMacL), 2 Chiffchaffs & a Goldcrest (PMW).

CASTLETOWN FEN: A late Migrant Hawker at pond (EAMacL).

ARDMORE:  9 Mediterranean Gulls (8 adults & 1 first-winter) & 2 Sandwich Terns at Curragh Strand (JAP, BS). 

WHITING BAY: Female Blackcap at Moord (").
HELVICK HEAD: Black Redstart (JAP, BS).

DUNGARVAN: Ruff still at Killongford (").

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: c1700 Golden Plover, 158 Dunlin & 7 Knot at Pickardstown (AJ).

Sunday, October 26, 2014

TRAMORE: Female-type Scaup & 2 Gadwall at Lisselan, 9 Gadwall & adult Mediterranean Gull @ boating lake (MC).

BALLYSHUNNOCK RESERVOIR: 2 Gadwall & 6 Whoopers (2 juvs & 4 ads) (").

CLONEA:  2 Great Northern Divers at Ballinclamper (PMW).

ARDMORE:  Mediterranean Gull on Ardmore beach, c25 Skylarks along Goat Island road (NJB).

Saturday, October 25, 2014

CLONEA:  2 Arctic Skuas offshore at Ballinclamper (MC).

DUNGARVAN:  Kingfisher at Dungarvan quay flying in above pier next to Devonshire Bridge (EB).

Friday, October 24, 2014

BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  Quiet - Chiffchaff & 2 Goldcrests around gardens, 2 Clouded Yellows on head, 2 presumed Teal flushed from pond near towers (DS).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  Scaup, 2 Tufted Duck, 2 Gadwall, 3 Whooper Swans & 6 Coot at Lisselan (").

WATERFORD CITY:  8 Skylarks heading S over Ballybricken this a.m. (").
RAM HEAD:   c15 Mediterranean Gulls W, also a single large white gull & a Great Northern Diver past, 17 Ravens, Fin Whale & 40-50 Common Dolphins (ADM).

ARDMORE:  Another 5+ (update: 8+) Mediterranean Gulls at Curragh afterwards, eating flies, plus 2 Sandwich Terns & a Redwing (").

Thursday, October 23, 2014

DUNGARVAN: 20 Brent Geese at Barnawee bridge (SMH).

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

ARDMORE:  5 Mediterranean Gulls (2 1st-winter & 3 adult) & 3 Sandwich Terns at Curragh (ADM).

TRAMORE:  Merlin at landfill site (JF).

DUNGARVAN:  Ruff at Killongford (JAP).

HELVICK:  Great Northern Diver (").

Monday, October 20, 2014

CLONEA: 3 Great Northern Divers, 3 Sandwich Terns, Merlin, Whimbrel & Wheatear at Ballinclamper (DC, PV).
TRAMORE:  Grey Phalarope still at Lisselan, also 3 Whooper Swans, 4 Shoveler & 10 Gadwall there (DS): Shoveler at boating lake (LR).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  Redwing, Chiffchaff, female Blackcap & 3 Tree Sparrows (DS).

DUNGARVAN TOWN:  7 House Martins W over town centre at 11:30, also 50+ Skylarks W (FO'C).

Sunday, October 19, 2014

TRAMORE:  Grey Phalarope, Common Sandpiper, 3 Whooper Swans & 2 Swallows at Lisselan, c500 Golden Plover overhead; eastern-type Jackdaw at Ballycarnane Woods estate, Tramore town (AJ).

CLONEA:  Great Northern Diver & Whimbrel at Ballinclamper (PMW).
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Grey Phalarope still present on main pond @ 14:25 (immediately S of narrow causeway across pond), also 3 Whooper Swans & 490 Black-tailed Godwits at Lisselan; 450 Brent Geese around Backstrand (PMW).
BROWNSTOWN HEAD:
Seawatch 08:55-11:55 (PMW, wind 7 SW):
Great Skua: 1 W.
Arctic Skua: 1 E.
Common Scoter: 2 E.
Manx Shearwater: 1 W.
Fulmar: 1 W.
Gannet: 11 E, 205 W.
Kittiwake: 3 E, 32 W.
Large auks: 70 E, 20 W.
Porpoise: 1 E.

Saturday, October 18, 2014

HELVICK HEAD: Storm Petrel, Great Skua, Arctic Skua & Red-throated Diver ( (MC).

KILMACTHOMAS to LEMYBRIEN: 4 Swallows (").

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 2 Sandwich Tern @ Saleen ("), Grey Phalarope still at Lisselan 15:20 (KA).
DUNGARVAN: 3 female Pintail & 6 Shoveler between Quann's & Western Bay, 2 Kingfishers at Killongford pools (DW, CF).
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Grey Phalarope on main pond at Lisselan, also 3 Whooper Swans, Tufted Duck & Painted Lady there (MC).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Merlin, Wheatear, Bar-tailed Godwit & Hummingbird Hawk-moth (").

BELLE LAKE: 3 Stock Doves (").
WATERFORD CITY:  OSPREY flying W over ring road near Ardkeen, seen from petrol station opposite Collins Avenue (MC).

HELVICK HEAD:  Pomarine Skua, 2 Storm Petrels & 5 Manx Shearwaters, also a Merlin hunting over sea (seawatch 08:15-09:45, CF).

Thursday, October 16, 2014

CLONEA:  FIRECREST at Clonea (DC).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Female Blackcap (PMW).
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: GLOSSY IBIS, 3 Whooper Swans, 8 Shoveler, 4 Gadwall, c30 Wigeon & a Small Copper at Lisselan; 12 Pintail & 306 Brent Geese (incl 10 juvenile) on Backstrand, c700 Golden Plover overhead (AJ).

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

DUNGARVAN:  Kingfisher at Dungarvan quay (Eoghan Burke).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Male Blackcap (MC).
DUNGARVAN: Ruff still at Killongford (JAP).

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  4 Wheatears (JF).

EAST WATERFORD:  Buzzard (").

Sunday, October 12, 2014

DUNMORE EAST:  Adult or subadult WHITE-TAILED EAGLE flew E past the Shanooan, DE, then N towards Creadan Head (GP per PMW).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 3 Whooper Swans, 6 Gadwall, female Tufted Duck & male Shoveler at Lisselan; 100+ Brent Geese on the backstrand (JF).
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 6 Whooper Swans at Lisselan (AJ).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Wheatear, 3 Tree Sparrows, 2 Chiffchaffs, Goldcrest, Mistle Thrush 8+ Redpolls (6 ringed). 2 House Martins, 40+ Swallows & 2 Clouded Yellows (MAD, PMW).

Saturday, October 11, 2014

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: No further sightings of Dotterel. Also a Short-eared Owl, Merlin, Whinchat, Wheatear, male Blackcap, 4+ Chiffchaffs, 5+ Goldcrests, 10 Tree Sparrows. 200+ Skylarks (mainly W), 5+ House Martins, Siskin, 6 Redpolls, Mistle Thrush & 6+ Clouded Yellows (MC, DW, CF, JF, AJ, MAD, PMW).
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: White Wagtail & 5 Brent Geese (incl 3 juv) at Saleen (AJ).

TRAMORE BAY:  c300 Wigeon in tight flock in open bay at low tide (AJ, PMW, MAD).
ARDMORE: 10+ Mediterranean Gulls at Curragh, Great Skua in bay (ADM).

RAM HEAD: Adult and juv Fin Whale & 120 Common Dolphins this afternoon (").
BROWNSTOWN. HEAD: DOTTEREL near towers at tip 11:40 ( DW, CF) circled calling & appeared to land near tip but not relocated yet; also a Short-eared Owl

Friday, October 10, 2014

DUNGARVAN: 25 Brent Geese (23 adult & 2 juvenile) at Barnawee (MC snr).

Thursday, October 09, 2014

KILMEADEN: Jay. (MC)

CLONEA: Little Stint @ Ballinclamper. (")
ARDMORE: 6 Mediterranean Gulls harbour / Curragh, lots of Swallows flying W & 12+ Sandwich Terns (ADM).
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: GLOSSY IBIS at Lisselan, 10:55, also 5 Shoveler, 2 Gadwall & 15 Swallows there (JF).

RAM HEAD: Pomarine Skua (ADM).

EAST WATERFORD: 3 Buzzards (DS).

Wednesday, October 08, 2014

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  GLOSSY IBIS now between Somerville / Ballinattin and the old dump, just off entrance to new road (AJ).

Tuesday, October 07, 2014

CLONEA: 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls at Ballinclamper (MC snr).
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: GLOSSY IBIS still at Clohernagh (KA)
CLONEA: 3 Brent Geese at Ballinclamper (SMH).


Monday, October 06, 2014

CLONEA: Juvenile Little Stint, 5 Mediterranean Gulls & >1000 Black-headed Gulls at Ballinclamper (DC).

SOUTH KILKENNY:  Buzzard (DM).

Sunday, October 05, 2014

ARDMORE:  Swallow at Goat Island road, also 35 Skylarks at stubble field there (NJB).
CLONEA:  Ruff (DC).

HELVICK HEAD: Great Skua W (PMW).
BALLYSHUNNOCK RESERVOIR: Male RING-NECKED DUCK still present (MC).

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: Stock Dove (").

WATERFORD HARBOUR: Adult Mediterranean Gull & 13 Sandwich Terns at Woodstown beach (").
BROWNSTOWN HEAD:
Seawatch 08:40-10:40 (wind 4 SSW-SW, PMW)
Balearic Shearwater: 1W.
Manx Shearwater: 1 E, 7 W.
Common Scoter: 4 E.
Gannet: 275 E, 170 W.
Kittiwake: 1 E, 4 W.
Sandwich Tern: 5 E, 17 W.
Black Guillemot: 1 E, 1 W.
Large auk species: 33 E, 134 W.
Razorbill: 3 E, 6 W.
Guillemot: 2 on sea.

Saturday, October 04, 2014

ARDMORE:  6 Mediterranean Gulls & 3 Swallows at Curragh, Swallow & 52 Skylarks W (08:10-08:30) at Goat island road (NJB).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 5 Blackcaps (in Coolum valley), 6 Chiffchaffs, 6 Goldcrests, a Redpoll, 145+ Meadow Pipits & 24+ Red Admirals (MAD PMW).
DUNGARVAN: Spotted Redshank, Curlew Sandpiper & Common Sandpiper at Killongford (MC, CF, DW, MC snr).

ARDMORE: Adult Mediterranean Gull at Ardmore, 1 CY Med Gull at Curragh (").

WEST WATERFORD: 4 Buzzards (").

CLONEA: Juvenile Little Stint & 2 juv Ruff at Ballinclamper (").
EAST WATERFORD: 5 Buzzards (LR).

Friday, October 03, 2014

BALLYSHUNNOCK RESERVOIR: Drake RING-NECKED DUCK on main lake (MC).

KILMEADEN POOLS: Green Sandpiper (").

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Very quiet - 2 Red-throated Divers & 2 Porpoises offshore, 37 Choughs on land (DS).

Wednesday, October 01, 2014

BLACKWATER VALLEY:   Ruff at Ballybrack, Lackaroe (JAP, BP).

CALISO BAY: 2 Clouded Yellows (").

WEST WATERFORD: 4 (possibly 6) Buzzards (").
CLONEA: Juvenile Ruff, juvenile Curlew Sandpiper & 2 juvenile Little Stints at Ballinard (FO'C, LO'B).

DUNGARVAN: Adult Mediterranean Gull at Barnawee (").
ARDMORE:  5 Mediterranean Gulls at Curragh stream (ADM).

RAM HEAD:  80 Common Dolphins (").

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  Curlew Sandpiper & 4 Wheatears at Lisselan (AJ).