KILBARRY BOG:  Water Rail heard, Chiffchaff, 7-8 Siskins & 4-5 Fieldfares along Tramore road walkways (DMcG).

WATERFORD CITY:  Blackcap and 2 Siskins at King's Channel (").

Nr CARRICK-ON-SUIR:  c20 Sand Martins just upriver (FJ).

GLENCAIRN (nr Lismore):  Female Blackcap at bird-table (TM).

EAST WATERFORD:  2 Buzzards (BF).

Nr CARROLL'S CROSS:  Grey Squirrel found dead (roadkill) on N25 between Carroll's Cross & Haughton's Pub (LC).

DUNHILL:  Swallow at Dunhill Ecopark (AJ) - first of year for Co Waterford.

DUNGARVAN:  Wheatear at soccer pitch, Abbeyside (JAP, BS).

NEWPORT EAST:  11 Stock Dove feeding in field (").

LISMORE to CAPPOQUIN:  Another 12 Stock Dove feeding in field (").

CLASHMORE BROADS:  Jay (").

WEST WATERFORD:  Buzzard (").

DUNGARVAN: 2 Long-tailed Ducks off the Lookout. Black Guillemot off Ballinacourty Pier. (MC, CF)

HELVICK: 3 Chiffchaffs & 6 Black Guillemots. (")

CLONEA: 2 Wheatears @ Ballinard. (")

BALLYMACART: Otter. (")

ARDMORE:  Female Brambling with finch flock in ploughed field next to castle on Goat Island road (CF, MC).

MID-WATERFORD:  4 Buzzards (DW).

DUNGARVAN: Chiffchaff at Ballynagaul (JAP, BS).

BALLYMACART:  Male Blackcap (").

WHITING BAY:  18+ Sandwich Terns (").

HELVICK HEAD: Female Black Redstart (JAP, BS).

CLONEA: Adult Dark-bellied Brent Goose & a Sandwich Tern @ Ballinclamper. (MC)

CLONEA STRAND:  9+ Sandwich Terns, in appalling conditions (JAP).

DUNGARVAN:  Sandwich Tern, 2 Great Northern Divers & 2 summer-plumaged Black Guillemots close inshore at Ballinacourty pier (JAP).

NEWPORT EAST:  Water Rail, calling from reedbed (JAP, UP).

WEST WATERFORD:  Buzzard (").

WHITING BAY:  2 immature Iceland Gulls (ADM).

RAM HEAD: Immature Iceland Gull flew past, 20+ Common Dolphins offshore (ADM).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  2 Merlins, otherwise very quiet (DS). [Sign up here for BrownstownBirds tweets.]

DUNGARVAN:  2 Sandwich Terns at Ballynacourty (MC snr) - first of year for Co Waterford.

TRAMORE:  Merlin, 2 Long-tailed Ducks (male & female), Spotted Redshank & 2 Wheatears (male & female) at Backstrand (AJ).

RAM HEAD:  5 Red-throated Divers E & W, & 3 Bottlenose Dolphins close inshore (ADM, AT).

ARDMORE BAY:  2 Great Northern Divers (").

CLONEA STRAND: 3 Wheatears (2 male 1 female) at Ballinard (JAP, BS, MC), also Chiffchaff & adult dark-bellied Brent Goose there & anything up to 50 Rock Pipits at Ballinclamper but no obvious littoralis (MC).

FERRY POINT: Adult & 2 2nd-winter Mediterranean Gulls (MC).

COOLFIN: 80+ Greylag Geese & 6 Whooper Swans (JAP, BS).

CURRAGHMORE (nr Portlaw):  Dipper, 6 Mistle Thrush, 3 Jay, 2 Treecreeper & singing Chiffchaff (").

BALLYLEEN: 2 Water Rail calling (").

BALLYVOYLE: Merlin (").

TRAMORE: Adult Ring-billed Gull still at boating lake, Spotted Redshank at Backstrand (AJ). 

WEST WATERFORD: Buzzard (JAP).

Nr WATERFORD CITY: 2 Chiffchaffs at the IDA park on the Cork Road today (DS).

HELVICK: 2 Chiffchaffs. (MC)

WEST WATERFORD: 3 Buzzards (ADM).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Merlin & Red Admiral but no passerine migrants; single Manx Shearwater W, Black Guillemot E, Red-throated Diver & 2 Great Northern Divers W (seawatch 1345-1430) (PMW).

TRAMORE: 42 Sanderling on beach, Great Northern Diver & 2 Red-throated Divers in bay (").

TRAMORE: Adult Ring-billed Gull & 12 Gadwall at the boating lake. (MC, CF, MC Sr. & DW)

KILBARRY BOG (nr Waterford city): Water Rail calling, Little Egret & Redwing at the Nature Park.

ANNESTOWN: Male Wheatear, Annestown beach (JAP, BS).

BALLYVOONEY: 4 Red-throated Divers (").

LISMORE: Male Yellowhammer singing (ADM).

WEST WATERFORD: Buzzard (").

HELVICK:  2nd-winter Glaucous Gull (JAP, UP).

Waterfordbirds on Twitter

A Twitter news service (waterfordbirds @watbirds) is now available for rapid circulation of bird news highlights for the county - sign up here to follow. More comprehensive sightings will as usual be posted to waterfordbirds.blogspot.ie & waterfordbirds.com.

See also Brownstown Birds (@BrownstownBirds) for up-to-date news from Brownstown Head

LISMORE: First Sand Martins (dozens) of the year just arrived, also Yellowhammer along Lady Louisa walk (ADM).

WEST WATERFORD:  Buzzard (").

BALLYQUIN (nr Ardmore):  2 male Wheatears (ADM).

KILBARRY BOG (nr Waterford city):  Female Blackcap along Tramore road walkway (AJ).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 3 Long-tailed Ducks in Backstrand, Wheatear on main beach (AJ).

Nr WATERFORD CITY: 2 Treecreepers & 77 Golden Plover at IDA park (DS).

EAST WATERFORD: Buzzards at 2 locations (MC, DS).

DUNGARVAN:  Brambling at feeder, also male & female Blackcap, lots of Siskins, Abbeyside (JH).

WATERFORD CITY:  Pair of Blackcaps at King's Channel, also 2 Siskins at feeders for past week (DMcG).

DUNGARVAN:  Chiffchaff on shore midway between Ballynacourty lighthouse and Gold Coast (MC snr).

WATERFORD CITY: Chiffchaff in garden, Francis Street (DS).

HELVICK: 2nd winter Glaucous Gull & a Chiffchaff. (MC)

RING: 2 Chiffchaffs & a female Blackcap @ Knockanpower Lower. (")

SEAFIELD (nr Bunmahon): Chiffchaff singing (DW).

BLACKWATER CALLOWS:  65 Whooper Swans - 24 between Lismore & Ballyduff, 41 west of Ballyduff (TM).

RIVER BRIDE:  26 Whooper Swans in field beside river & N72 between Tallow & Fermoy, c3 km from Tallow (").

TRAMORE:  Another male Wheatear at sandhills carpark (AJ).

TRAMORE: Male Wheatear at Lisselan seawall - first spring migrant of the year (AJ).

Nr PORTLAW: Dead Pine Marten at the side of the road at Clodiagh Bridge, Coolfin (MC).

Nr DUNGARVAN: Long-eared Owl calling at Kilmurray tonight (EP).

DUNGARVAN:  4 Long-tailed Tits at Southways, Abbeyside (EB).

HELVICK: 2nd winter Glaucous Gull. (MC)

GORTEEN (nr Dungarvan):  12+ Siskins at feeders (since 27 Feb) & a Redpoll at peanuts (also yesterday) (Moira Keaney).

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: RING-NECKED DUCK drake still at small lake (DS).

EAST WATERFORD: Buzzard (").

BALLYSCANLAN: 32 Crossbills (DS).

MONEYGORM (nr Lismore):  Blackcap (ADM).

Off RAM HEAD: Otter (").

ARDMORE: Adult Mediterranean Gull (full summer plumage) at Curragh (").

WEST WATERFORD: Buzzard (").

TRAMORE: Adult Ring-billed Gull & 6 Gadwall at the boating lake. (MC)

BALLYSCANLON LAKE: Adult Mediterranean Gull. (")

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: Adult male RING-NECKED DUCK still present, viewable from from high road (BS, FO'C, JAP).

EAST WATERFORD: Buzzard at two locations (JF, DMcG).

CLONEA STRAND: Red-throated Diver & 4 Great Northern Divers (PMW).

DUNGARVAN: SPOONBILL opposite pitch & putt club, Jack Snipe & Green Sandpiper at Brickey canal, 3 Long-tailed Duck (male & 2 females) between Gold Coast & Helvick (BS, FO'C, JAP); also male Common Scoter, 5 Red-throated & 2 Great Northern Divers off Ballynacourty pier (PMW).

NEWPORT EAST: 2-3 Water Rail calling (BS, FO'C, JAP).

KINSALEBEG: 3 Stock Dove (").

Nr WHITING BAY: 8 Tree Sparrows (").

CALISO BAY: Red-throated Diver (")

HELVICK: 2nd-winter Glaucous Gull (MAD, PMW).

BALLYSCANLAN:  12 Crossbills (AJ).

FENOR:  48 Redwings at GAA pitch (").

GARRARUS:  7 Common Scoter & 3 Red-throated Divers (").

EAST WATERFORD:  Single Buzzards at 3 locations (MC).

TRAMORE BOATING LAKE:  17 Gadwall (JF).

EAST WATERFORD:  3 Buzzards (").

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 4 Long-tailed Ducks ((AJ).

TRAMORE BAY: 11 Common Scoters (9 male, 1 female & 1 1st-winter)  in NE corner, also 3 Red-throated Divers, a Great Northern Diver &  a Great Crested Grebe (PMW).

DUNGARVAN: Green Sandpiper at Brickey canal (JAP).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Merlin, 17 Red- throated Divers on sea & 52 adult Guillemots on cliff at Benlea (PMW).

EAST WATERFORD:  Buzzard (MC).

COOLFIN / DERRIGAL:  13 Whooper Swans & 4 Greylag Geesee at Derrigal crossroads (PV).

KILMACTHOMAS:  Dipper on Mahon river, underneeath N25 (").

Nr DUNGARVAN: Barn Owl @ 1900 (EB).

DUNGARVAN:  Otter feeding in Quay @ 1300 (").

LISMORE:  2 Dippers swimming below the castle (PV).

BLACKWATER CALLOWS:  Crossbills heard aong the roadway, 63 Whoooper Swans, 250 Wigeon. 150 Teal & 100 Curlew (").
RAM HEAD:  7 Common Scoter on sea (ADM).

COLLIGAN WOODS:  Dipper & Treecreeper (FO'C).

BROWNSWOOD (nr Portlaw):  Long-tailed Tit (FJ).

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

TRAMORE:  Male Hen Harrier flying east (AJ).

DUNGARVAN:  Slavonian Grebe off Ballynacourty pier, Red-throated Diver & 2 Common Scoter off Ballynacourty lighthouse (MC snr).

DUNGARVAN: Jack Snipe flushed just above Ballyneety bridge (JAP).

HELVICK:  2nd-winter Glaucous Gull (PV).

BALLYNEVIN (nr Mothel):  3 Jays (JAP, BS, FO'C).

DUNHILL:  Water Rail calling (").

DUNGARVAN:  Slavonian Grebe & 2 Long-tailed Ducks between Gold Coast & Abbeyside, SPOONBILL roosting on Cunnigar opposite pitch & putt course, Merlin at Ballyneety & near Ballynagaul (").

TRAMORE:  Spotted Redshank at backstrand, 2 Great Northern Divers in Bay, Ring-billed Gull, 8 Shoveler & 14 Gadwall at boating lake (DS).

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: Adult male RING-NECKED DUCK visible from high road (JAP, FO'C, BS).

DUNGARVAN: Slavonian Grebe off Ballynacourty pier (CF).

BALLYVOONEY COVE:  2 Common Scoter (JAO, FO'C, BS), 

WATERFORD CITY: 2 Redpolls on feeder.

HELVICK HEAD: 2nd-winter Glaucous Gull (PMW) - was Iceland...

DUNGARVAN: 1st-winter Iceland Gull at Ballynagaul pier, 1st-winter Glaucous Gull & 2 Long-tailed Ducks off pitch & putt course, & total 6 Great Northern Divers around bay (3 inside Cunnigar (").

EAST WATERFORD:  Buzzard (DS).

WEST WATERFORD:  Buzzard (DC).

TRAMORE BOATING LAKE:  Adult Ring-billed Gull, 8 Shoveler (2m 6f) & 22 Gadwall (DS).

EAST WATERFORD:  Buzzard (DS).

HELVICK:  1st-winter Glaucous Gull (MC snr).

DUNGARVAN:  Slavonian Grebe showing well at Ballynacourty (AJ).

DERRIGAL: 12 Whooper Swans (GH).

DUNMORE EAST: 7 Purple Sandpipers (Geoff Hunt).

MONAVULLAGH MOUNTAINS:  12 Stock Doves (flock) & 15-20 Ravens at Coumaraglinmountain, Grey Heron near Crohaun (JAP, FO'C, BS, RAW).

BALLYSCANLAN:  12 Crossbills (AJ).

WEST WATERFORD:  Buzzard (MF).

Nr KILMACTHOMAS:  Tree Sparrow (DW, MC snr).

TRAMORE:  Ring-billed Gull at boating lake (").

EAST WATERFORD:  Single Buzzards at two locations (").

DUNGARVAN:  Male Hen Harrier (MC).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  Long-tailed Duck, 41 Ringed Plover, 18 Grey Plover (AJ).

TRAMORE BOATING LAKE:  Ring-billed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, 3 Shoveler & 14 Gadwall (7 pairs) (AJ).

DUNGARVAN:  Slavonian Grebe & 2 Long-tailed Ducks off Ballinacourty pier (MC snr).

RAM HEAD:  Fin Whale & c15 Common Dolphins (ADM).

BLACKWATER VALLEY:  2 Green Sandpipers at Dromana Bridge (ADM).

TRAMORE:  Spotted Redshank, 3 Long-tailed Duck, 28 Red-breasted Mergansers & 64 Ringed Plover at backstrand, single Red-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver & Great Crested Grebe in Tramore Bay off the prom (AJ).

BALLYVOYLE HEAD:  Fin Whale off head this afternoon (ADM).

Nr DRUM HILLS:  Male Hen Harrier (MC snr).

HELVICK:  2 2nd-winter Iceland Gulls (MC snr).

TRAMORE:  Merlin, Water Rail & Small Tortoiseshell butterfly at Lisselan (JAP, FO'C, BS); total 1100 Brent Geese at Backstrand including Lisselan, 4 Shoveler & 31 Gadwall at boating lake (PMW),

BUNMAHON:  2 Red-throated Divers (JAP, FO'C, BS).

BALLYVOONEY:  5 Red-throated Divers (").

DUNGARVAN:  Slavonian Grebe & 3 Long-tailed Ducks (male & 2 female) off Ballinacourty (").

DUNGARVAN: SPOONBILL at Killongford (MC).

HELVICK HEAD: 2nd-winter Iceland Gull (").

BROWNSTOWN HEAD / TRAMORE BAY: Total 235 Red-throated Divers (a record county total) on almost flat-calm sea - 160 SE of the head (east to at least as far as Benlea), & another 75 in Tramore Bay, off east coast (west to Great Newtown Head & Tramore pier); also 4 Great Crested Grebes, a Great Northern Diver & 2 Porpoises in the Bay (PMW).

DERRIGAL: 13 Whooper Swans & 1 Brent Goose with Greylag flock (250+) (MC, CF, DW).

CLOHERNAGH (nr Tramore Backstrand): 8 Crossbills (7 male & 1 female) just NE of Corbally church (JAP, FO'C, BS).

LISSELAN: Merlin (MC, CF, DW).

DUNMORE EAST: 1st-winter CASPIAN GULL showing well @10:10 but left later, also 1st-winter Iceland Gull (JAP, FO'C, BS).

DUNGARVAN:  Long-tailed Duck off Ballynacourty pier (MC).

KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS:  Hen Harrier @ c17:40 (ADM).

HELVICK:  2nd-winter Iceland Gull (MC snr).


WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY O6, 2013

ARDMORE: 3+ Mediterranean Gulls including colour-ringed 2nd-winter 'E666' - ringed in Antwerp, Belgium, in June 2011 (ADM).


TUESDAY, FEBRUARY O5, 2013

DUNGARVAN:  Brambling, Blackcap & 17 Siskins at Strandside, SPOONBILL & 2 Long-tailed Ducks at the Cunnigar (DC).

VILLIERSTOWN: Long-eared Owl (").

 LISMORE:  Kingfisher (").

WEST WATERFORD: Buzzard (").

WATERFORD CITY:  Siskin in another garden today - female at Francis Street, 2nd record there in 6 years (DS).

DUNGARVAN:  Male Brambling in garden at Clonea Road (MC snr).

WATERFORD CITY:  Male Siskin on peanut feeder.

BLACKWATER CALLOWS:  158 Whooper Swans - 123 Lismore to Ballyduff, 35 west of Ballyduff (TM).

DUNMORE EAST:  2nd-winter Iceland Gull & 3 1st-winter Glaucous Gulls (Dermot Breen).

DUNGARVAN / HELVICK: 3 Iceland Gulls (2nd-winter & 2 1st-winters) moving between Helvick & the Cunnigar, 2nd-winter Mediterranean Gull at Killongford (MC).

WATERFORD CITY:  c10 Waxwings at Ardkeen village (Mark Redmond per MC).

DUNMORE EAST:  CASPIAN GULL outside harbour wall & Little Gull (JF), 3rd-winter Iceland Gull & 2nd-winter Glaucous Gull at pier. Lots of activity offshore with 100+ Common Dolphins and 5+ Fin Whales (DS).

ARDMORE:  Otter on Curragh strand early this morning (ADM).

BALLINCLAMPER:  Merlin (DC).

LISMORE:  Jay & 2 Treecreepers (").

DUNGARVAN: SPOONBILL off pitch & putt course, Water Rail at Killongford (MC, CF); 2 male Crossbills at Ballynacourty (MC, MC Sr.); Slavonian Grebe off Ballynacourty pier (MC).

WHITING BAY: 65 Sanderling, Great Northern Diver, 4 Red-throated Divers, 14 Brent Geese (MAD, PMW).

ARDMORE BAY:  5 Red-throated Divers W, Great Northern Diver & Great Crested Grebe in bay (").

TRAMORE:  Short-eared Owl,  Kingfisher & 4 Ravens at Lisselan, also dead Fox washed up on shore no obvious injuries (AJ).

DUNGARVAN:  Kingfisher at Brickey canal (DC).

LISMORE: Kingfisher at canal (").

TALLOW: Dipper on Bride river (").

DUNMORE EAST: 2nd-winter and 3rd-winter Iceland Gull still present at pier (RZ).

DUNGARVAN: Black Redstart fem, Promenade, Abbeyside, by soccer field (MC, CF).

SEAFIELD: 3 Green Sandpipers (DW).

EAST WATERFORD: Buzzard (JAP).

LISMORE:  2 Kingfishers at canal (DC).

WEST WATERFORD:  2 Buzzards (").

DUNGARVAN:  3 Long-tailed Ducks, 8 Great Northern Divers & 5 Goldeneye inside Cunnigar (").