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, April 30, 2016

DUNGARVAN: 2 Great Skuas flying out of Dungarvan harbour in a westerly direction overland at height (BS EAMacL FO'C JAP).

HELVICK: 2nd-cal-yr Mediterranean Gull (").

DRUM HILLS: Cuckoo calling at Toor North (").

VARIOUS: Groups of Whimbrel all along the coast from Dungarvan to Ferrypoint; total 77 species for the day (").

ARDMORE: 2 2nd-cal-yr Iceland Gulls at Curragh beach ("), Wheatear at Dysert (NJB).

Thursday, April 28, 2016

ARDMORE:  Grasshopper Warbler reeling in brambles at far side of stream, east end of Curragh beach (MC).

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

DUNGARVAN: Little Tern at Quann's, fishing off the sports centre (MC).

ARDMORE: 2 Common Sandpipers, 22 Whimbrel & 2nd-cal-yr Iceland Gull at Curragh (ADM).

Sunday, April 24, 2016

RAM HEAD: 500+ Manx Shearwaters (rafts feeding & flying by), 3 Great Skuas, 5 Commic Terns & 5 Common Dolphins, also House Martins, Sand Martins & Swallows arriving (seawatch 10:30-12:00) (ADM).


Saturday. April 23, 2016

LISMORE:  2 Common Sandpipers at River Blackwater (ADM).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 20+ Wheatears, 2 Whitethroats (1 carrying nest material) & small numbers of Willow Warblers & Chiffchaffs (MC, CF, PMW).

BALLYSCANLON HILLS:  2nd-calendar-yr Iceland Gull on Ballyscanlon lake, 2 Sedge Warblers at Carrigavrantry (CF).

ANNESTOWN / ANNE VALLEY:  Good numbers of Sedge Warblers (").

Friday, April 22, 2016

TRAMORE STRAND:  48 Sanderling, 13 Whimbrel, 30+ Dunlin. 16 Bar-tailed Godwits, Great Northern Diver & Red-throated Diver (AJ).
BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  Another male Redstart found today (MC) - last seen heading south along low ditch towards head, last field on left before gate at end of main track. Also 2 Whitethroats, Grasshopper Warbler, 30+ Common Terns, & plenty of Willow Warblers, Whimbrel & Wheatears.

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

COMERAGH MOUNTAINS:  Cuckoo calling above Kilclooney wood at 15:00 (NR).

ARDMORE:  2 Whimbrel at Curragh beach (ADM).


Tuesday, April 19, 2016

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Great Skua E over land & 20+ Wheatears this evening (MC).

BALLYSCANLON: Iceland Gull, Siskin & many Willow Warblers & Chiffchaffs; also Red Admiral, Peacock & orange-tip butterflies (AJ). 


Monday, April 18, 2016

BOATSTRAND:  1st-winter (faded spring) Glaucous Gull (MC snr).

DUNGARVAN:  Dead Short-eared Owl found on the tideline on Cunnigar point (per FO'C).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  43 Whimbrel W, Red-throated Diver E; 2 Chiffchaffs & 3 Wheatears on land (DS).

BALLYSCANLON:  2nd-calendar-yr Iceland Gull & 6+ Crossbills (inflcuidng full song/display) (MC).


Sunday, April 17, 2016

BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  Grasshopper Warbler, Blackcap, Wheatear & a few phylloscs this evening (MC).

KILMURRIN COVE:  2nd-calendar-yr Iceland Gull (").

Saturday, April 16, 2016

ANNESTOWN: Whitethroat - 1st report of the year for Co Waterford (JAP, BS, RAW).

CLONEA: 5 White Wagtails & 20+ Whimbrel (").

DUNGARVAN: 30+ Whimbrel at the Cunnigar (").

HELVICK HEAD: Short-eared Owl (").


Friday, April 15, 2016 

HELVICK HEAD:  Grasshopper Warbler singing, also 2 Blackcaps & small numbers of Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs & hirundines (CF).


Thursday, April 14, 2016

DUNGARVAN:  50+ Whimbrel over town heading towards the Cunnigar (FO'C).


Wednesday, April 13, 2016

 ARDMORE: 'Scandinavian' (littoralis) Rock Pipit at Curragh (ADM).

BALLYMACART:  Cuckoo this morning (RAW).

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

EAST WATERFORD:  GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKERS heard drumming at 3 separate (but nearby) locations 9th-12th April & for several weeks now (LR, BS, FO'C, JAP et al.) - full details are being kept offline to minimise potential disturbance if breeding is attempted.

LISMORE: Male Blackcap singign at Glencairn (TM).

Monday, April 11, 2016

BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  Male Common Redstart found c17:30 (MC).

Nr TRAMORE ROAD:  Grasshopper Warbler singing along the Green Road (Six Cross Roads to Tramore road) (L Ryan).

CARRIGNAGOUR (nr Lismore):  Willow Warblers & Chiffchaff singing this morning (ADM).

WATERFORD CITY: Holly Blue butterfly (DS).

Saturday, April 09, 2016

ANNESTOWN:  Female Ring Ouzel (BS, FO'C, JAP).

CLONEA BAY:  3 Red-throated Divers off Ballyvoyle, 2 off Clonea (").

HELVICK:  2 Red-throated Divers & 2 Black Guillemots (").

DUNGARVAN: Whimbrel at Poulaphouca, Harbour Seal (").

FENOR BOG:  Water Rail calling (").

BALLYSCANLON:  5 Crossbills (adult male, female &b 3 1st-yr males) (").

VARIOUS:  Total 81 bird species, also 2 Green-veined White butterflies (").

KILBARRY BOG:  2 Chiffchaffs singing & 2 Swallows at waterford nature Park (L Roche).

LISMORE: Sand Martins (ADM).

Friday, April 08, 2016

ARDMORE: Iceland Gull at Curragh & good passage of Sandwich Terns (ADM).

WATERFORD CITY: Female Blackcap in garden (KB, BB).
PORTLAW TOWN:  House Martin (JF).

Thursday, April 07, 2016

CORBALLY BEG (nr Ballymacaw):  HOOPOE at farm at bad bend along road from Corbally Church to Ballymacaw (SJ), also yesterday.

DUNGARVAN: 5 House Martins W together at Abbeyside (FO'C).
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  GLOSSY IBIS again at Clohernagh (JF).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  Tree Sparrow & 2 Chiffchaffs (").

Wednesday, April 06, 2016

ARDMORE: Yellow-legged Gull & 6 Sandwich Terns on Curragh strand (ADM).

Nr KILBARRY BOG:  Chiffchaffs singing at Sheep's Bridge opposite Kilbarry Bog (KB, BB).
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  Glaucous Gull at Pickardstown (AJ).

Tuesday, April 05, 2016

Nr DUNGARVAN:  Female/immature Hen Harrier (EB).

PORTALLY COVE:  Great Northern Diver (LR).

LISMORE:  Chiffchaffs singing in Lismore castle woods (ADM).

CARRIGNAGOUR (nr Lismore): Swallows present (").

KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS:  Pine Marten on Co Tipperary side of the Vee (AT).

Monday, April 04, 2016

DUNGARVAN: OSPREY W over Abbeyside, chased by crows (FO'C).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  10+ Cgiffchaggs, 6 Willow Warblers, 2 female Black Redstarts & 2 Tree Sparrows (DS).

WATERFORD CITY:  Chiffchaffs in garden (LR).

DUNGARVAN:  2 Swallows at Clash, Ballynacourty (SMH).

Sunday, April 03, 2016

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 3 female Black Redstarts, 3 male Blackcaps, and good numbers of  Willow Warblers & Chiffchaffs (MC).

BUNMAHON:  Female Black Redstart, male Blackcap & 15 Willow warblers (DW).

HELVICK HEAD:  3 Great Skuas, 52 Manx Shearwaters & 6 Sandwich Terns (seawach 16:10-16:40); Blackcap, 5 Willow Warblers & 5 Chiffchaffs on land (EAMacL).

DUNGARVAN: Willow Warbler singing in trees in town centre, 6 Swallows W (FO'C).

CLONEA: 6 Wheatears at Ballinard (").


Saturday, April 02, 2016

Nr CARRICK-ON-SUIR:  House Martins upstream from Carrick (FJ).

Friday, April 01, 2016

DUNGARVAN: Swallow flying W (FO'C)