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.



Saturday, February 28, 2015

DUNGARVAN: SIBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF seen and heard well behind Nissan garage, nr Springfield waterworks; 7 Goldeneye opposite pitch and putt; Kingfisher ballyneety (BS, FO'C, JAP).

BALLYVOONEY COVE: 8-10 Red-throated Divers (").

HELVICK: Summer-plumage Black Guillemot (").

STRADBALLY: Red Squirrel (").

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 2nd-calendar-yr (1st-winter) SPOONBILL & a Spotted Redshank opposite McCarthy Fuels (MC).

RATHMOYLAN: Black Redstart (").


Friday, February 27, 2015

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: Drake RING-NECKED DUCK still present (MC).

Thursday, February 26, 2015

DUNGARVAN: 2 Long-tailed Ducks showing well off sports centre (IS).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Merlin at Pickardstown (AJ).
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  2 GLOSSY IBISES opposite McCarthy Fuels at Pickardstown (IS) - first definite confirmation of >1 bird here this winter.

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR:  RING-NECKED DUCK still present (").

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

HELVICK: Adult Glaucous Gull & 9 Black Guillemots (8 summer plumaged) (JAP, FO'C).

DUNGARVAN: 2 Long-tailed Duck & 4 Goldeneye off lookout, 2 Goldeneye at Ballyneety (").
BALLYVOYLE;  6 Common Scoter & a Red-throated Diver (MC snr).

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

TRAMORE: Black Redstart at W end of strand, male Blackcap at Pickardstown (AJ).

Sunday, February 22, 2015

Nr LISMORE: Barn Owl tonight (ADM).
Nr KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS:  Hen Harrier (NR).
KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR:  Drake RING-NECKED DUCK still present (MC).

TRAMORE:  Adult Yellow-legged Gull at boating lake, before flying high & W (").
HELVICK: 1st-winter Glaucous Gull (JAP, BS).
CARRIGNAGOUR (nr Lismore): Long-eared Owl calling in garden again last night after 3 nights' absence (ADM).

Saturday, February 21, 2015

DRUM HILLS:  Woodcock, female Merlin & female Crossbill (RAW, BS, JAP, FO'C).

BLACKWATER VALLEY:  Male Merlin & 2 Red-legged Partridge at Newport East (").

Nr WHITING BAY:  5 Tree Sparrows at usual feeders at W end of bay (").

ARDMORE:  1st-winter Glaucous Gull & 20+ Red-throated Divers off Curragh (").

HELVICK HEAD:  Summer-plumaged Black Guillemot (").

DUNGARVAN:  4 Pintail (1 m, 3 f), 15+ Shoveler & 4 Goldeneye (2 m, 2 f) off Western Bay (").

VARIOUS LOCATIONS:  90 species for the day, including 6 Buzzards, 4 Sparrowhawks & 2 Kestrela (").
DUNGARVAN: Kingfisher at rear of Civic offices, Davitt's Quay, 13:45; also Otter same location yesterday (EB).

Friday, February 20, 2015

YOUGHAL HARBOUR:  1st-winter Iceland Gull, uner JJ's chuck wagon on Co Waterford side (CF).

BALLYVOYLE: 30+ Red-throated Divers & summer plumage Black Guillemot (KA, AJ).

BOATSTRAND:  Adult Great Black-backed Guyll with blue ring '1TP' on right leg (").

TRAMORE:  Eastern-type Jackdaw at bkiating lake (AJ).
Nr WHITING BAY:  2 Tree Sparrows at usual feeders, & 7 Stock Doves (MC snr).

ARDMORE:  2nd-winter Mediteranean Gull on strand (").

Thursday, February 19, 2015

DUNGARVAN: 2nd-winter Yellow-legged Gull at Quann's (FO'C).
CALISO BAY:  Black Redstart (ADM).

TRAMORE:  3rd-calendar-year (2nd-winter) Iceland Gull & 10 Shoveler at boating lake (AJ).

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

DUNGARVAN:  2 Glaucous Gulls off pitch & putt course (JAP).

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  GLOSSY IBIS at Pickardstown, 2 Pintail & c3000 Golden Plover at Kilmacleague (AJ).

ARDMORE:  2 Great Northern Divers (").

Monday, February 16, 2015

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

BLACKWATER VALLEY:  147 Whooper Swans midway between Cappoquin and Camphire Bridge (MC snr).

Sunday, February 15, 2015

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  3 Short-eared Owls seen together (report per AJ).

DUNGARVAN:  Adult Yellow-legged Gull at the Cunnigar (MC).

Saturday, February 14, 2015

CARRIGNAGOUR (nr Lismore):  Long-eared Owl calling again tonight & last night (ADM).

TRAMORE: Spotted Redshank in saltmarsh between old dump & spits (just NNW of first hillock), 96 Grey Plover W of spits, 2nd-winter Glaucous Gull off Saleen, 2 Pintail (male & female) & 8 Gadwall in Backstrand off N saltmarsh (PMW); adult Ring-billed Gull & 20 Shoveler at boating lake, 16 Gadwall & 27 Little Grebes at Lisselan (AJ, PMW); Whimbrel at Clohernagh, 9 Reed Buntings at N saltmarsh (AJ).
DRUM HILLS:  7+ Crossbills, Jack Snipe & Jay; 2 Yellowhammers between Toor North and Clashmore (JAP, BS).

BLACKWATER VALLEY: 2 Stock Dives near Clashmore Broads (").

Nr WHITING BAY: 10+ Tree Sparrows at usual feeders (").

ARDMORE: 2 Red-throated Divers (").

DUNGARVAN: 2 Long-tailed Duck off pitch and putt (").

VARIOUS LOCATIONS: Total 80 species including 5 Sparrowhawks (").

Thursday, February 12, 2015

DUNGARVAN: 2 SPOONBILLS (adult & 1st-winter) on the Cunnigar, opposite pitch & putt course, also 2 Long-tailed Duck, 4 Pintail (1 male), 17 Shovelet & 6 Goldeneye off P&P; 2 Whimbrel at Ballynagaul; Water Rail at Springfield; 48 Great Crested Grebes & 8 Red-throated Divers around bay (PMW).

CLONEA BAY: 3 Red-throated Divers & 2 Great Northern Divers (").

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

CARRIGNAGOUR (nr Lismore): Long-eared Owl calling again tonight (ADM).

DUNGARVAN:  Jack Snipe at Sallybrook Bog, Clonea Road, Abbeyside (MC snr).
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: GLOSSY IBIS (AJ).

DUNGARVAN: 2 SPOONBILLS (").

BALLYVOYLE: Black Redstart (").

TANKARDSTOWN (nr Bunmahon): Red-throated Diver (").


Monday, February 09, 2015

ARDMORE:  Mediterranean Gull & 3 Great Norther Divers at Curragh (ADM).

RAM HEAD:  Porpoise & 30 Common Dolphins (").

CARRIGNAGOUR (nr Lismore):  Long-eared Owl hooting in garden the last few nights (").

Sunday, February 08, 2015

COMERAGH MOUNTAINS:  A wing-tagged WHITE-TAILED EAGLE (tag "10") flew N overhead (MMacR); flock of 20 Snow Buntings at Coum Iarthar ridge on Comeragh plateau, grid reference S308125 (MD).

BLACKWATER VALLEY:  Green Sandpiper downriver from old railway bridge, Cappoquin (MC snr).

TRAMORE : GLOSSY IBIS again in channel off The Estuary housing estate, Riverstown area, NW corner of Backstrand (MC, DS); also adult Ring-billed Gull at Riverstown (DS); 2 Iceland Gulls at E end of beach (JB).

DUNGARVAN: Kingfisher at end of pier at Dungarvan Quay,13:30 (EB).

Saturday, February 07, 2015

DUNGARVAN: Also 2 Long-tailed Ducks, 2 Shoveler & 2 Pintail off pitch+putt  (FO'C).
TRAMORE: Black Redsart by Tramore lifeboat, Cove pier (EAMacL).
TRAMORE: GLOSSY IBIS showing well in channel in front of McCarthy Fuels, Riverstown (CF, MC); white 2nd-winter Glaucous Gull off seawall at Backstrand, then flew towards Saleen, Water Rail at Lisselan, adult Ring-billed Gull & adult Mediterranean Gull at boating lake (MC).
DUNGARVAN: Adult Ring-billed Gull at Ballynacourty pier, male Black Redstart at Abbeyside Church grounds (FO'C); Kingfisher at Dungarvan quay before flying under Devonshire Bridge (EB).

Friday, February 06, 2015

Nr GRACEDIEU (Tramore Road): Long-eared Owl at 06:05 this morning (JF).

Tuesday, February 03, 2015

TRAMORE:  Black Redstart at the harbour (KA).

Sunday, February 01, 2015

TRAMORE:  Adult Ring-billed Gull at boating lake (RZ, MC); GLOSSY IBIS at Backstrand (PC per irishbirding.com).