YOUGHAL BAY: Great Northern Diver (Andrew Malcolm).

RAM HEAD: 300+ Manx Shearwaters, also a large diver species (apparently summer-plumaged Great Northern but with pale-looking bill) off Ardmore Bay, in afternoon (Andrew Malcolm). 2 Great Northern Divers in evening (one adult summer but dark-billed, one winter or immature plumage), with good numbers of Manx Shearwaters passing west (Micheal Cowming & Colum Flynn).

CLONEA STRAND: c110 Whimbrel, 10 Sanderling, 12 Dunlin & 5 Wheatears at Ballinclamper (Declan Clarke).

DALLIGAN RIVER: Dipper flew up river near Killineen (Declan McGrath).

RINCREW (Tourig estuary): 8 CATTLE EGRETS on Waterford side of Tourig river, 1st-winter Mediterranean Gull off Youghal dump (both sides of Cork/Waterford border) (Paul Moore).

Near BALLYDWAN: Male WOODCHAT SHRIKE still present (Jim Power).

CLONEA STRAND: 40 Whimbrel & 2 Wheatears (Declan Clarke).

DUNGARVAN: 95 Whimbrel at the Cunnigar (DC).

CROHAUN: Whitethroat (DC).

CAPPAGH: Red-legged Partridge (escapee from shoot) (DC).

Near BALLYDWAN: Male WOODCHAT SHRIKE still in same field (John Joe Cahill).

BALLYSHUNNOCK RESERVOIR: White Wagtail (Micheal Cowming).

BALLINLOUGH: Cuckoo (MC & Colum Flynn).

BALLYVOYLE COVE: Whitethroat (MC).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 2 Whimbrel at Clohernagh (Jim Power), 14+ Whimbrel at Lisselan & Ballinattin (PMW).

CLONEA STRAND: 42 Whimbrel, 110+ Turnstone, 26+ Sanderling, 35+ Dunlin & a White Wagtail at Ballinclamper, 7.35-8 pm (PMW).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Quiet (afternoon at least) - a Swift heading north (probably just in off sea), 4 Willow Warblers & a Chiffchaff, 2.50-4.50 pm (PMW).

KILMOYLIN (nr Kilmacthomas): Whitethroat singing (PMW).

BUNMAHON: Common Sandpiper (PMW).

Near BALLYDWAN: Male WOODCHAT SHRIKE still present, showing well up to at least 1.20 pm (Micheal Cowming, Declan Clarke, Sean Hogan, Ronan McLaughlin, PMW et al.).

CASTLECRADDOCKBOG (nr Dunhill): 2 Sedge Warblers singing & 2 Snipe drumming, 8.30-8.50 am (PMW).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Grasshopper Warbler, Whitethroat, 7 Willow Warblers & 2 Wheatears, 6.30-8.40 pm (PMW). Several of the Willow Warblers were foraging on vegetated cliff-slopes at tip and west side of the head, sheltered from the northerly wind, and the Gropper flew down into a cliff gully from the cliff-top.

Near BALLYDWAN: Male WOODCHAT SHRIKE refound (4.15 pm) at same location as on Tues 20th (when found by Declan McGrath) - grid ref X389987 in hawthorn hedge of boggy field (with horse) at north side of Stradbally to Ballydwan road, immediately west of house beside road (PMW). Seen carrying a Wren on one occasion. County tick for at least 4 local birders today! Previous three county records involved birds at Brownstown Head in May 1993, Clonea in March 1990 and Westown (near Great Newtown Head) in June 1974.

Further updates 6.15 pm:

HELVICK HEAD: Several Common Terns (first of spring for Co Waterford) (MC, CF).

CLONEA STRAND: 250 Brent Geese, 5 Common Scoter (flew west), 1 Great Northern Diver, 30+ Whimbrel, 24 Sanderling, 1 Swift in off sea, 1+ White Wagtail (Micheal Cowming, Colum Flynn, PMW).

BALLYVOONEY COVE: 4 Common Sandpipers (looking like fresh arrivals), 7 Whimbrel, 1 Dunlin, 6 Turnstones & 2 Wheatears (PMW).

KILCANNON, DUNHILL: Cuckoo (first of spring for Co Waterford), Grasshopper Warbler & many Sedge Warblers (JJ Cahill, John Power, Bernie Sheridan).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 10 Whimbrel at Ballinattin, 3 Whimbrel at Clohernagh (PMW).

DUNGARVAN TOWN: Swift over the quay (Fran O'Connell).

ARDMORE: 30 Whimbrel at Curragh (Sean Hogan).

Helvick : Noticeable arrival of common migrants including 20+ Willow Warblers and 3 Sedge Warblers (2 in song.)

Ballinclamper to Ballinard: 30+ Whimbrel, Common Sandpiper, 6 White Wagtails, 11 Sanderling and 2 Gadwall (on sea with Shelduck). (M Cowming & F O'Connell)

HELVICK HEAD: First Swift of the year for Co Waterford, @ 4.05 pm (JJ Cahill).

Thursday April 23, 2009

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Whitethroats & 5 Willow Warblers (Declan Clarke).

CLONEA STRAND: 3 White Wagtails, 1 Ruff, 45 Whimbrel, 30 Sanderling, 11 Dunlin, 44 Bar-tailed Godwits, 3 Sandwich Terns, and 1 Basking Shark offshore, @ Ballinclamper (Micheal Cowming & Fran O'Connell, Declan Clarke).