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, March 31, 2012

CLONEA STRAND:  2 Sandwich Terns at Ballinard (PV).

BALLYVOONEY:  2 Great Northern Divers (PV).

KILMURRIN:  Wheatear (RZ).

BUNMAHON / SEAFIELD: PURPLE HERON seen again late this afternoon (DW), also Green Sandpiper, 3 Swalalows & numerous Chiffchaffs along river valley, Red-throated Diver & 10 Sandwich Terns at Bunmahon beach (PV).

KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS:  Pair of Hen Harriers displaying (DC).

ISLANDIKANE:  Male Blackcap (MC et al.)

BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  Male Blackcap (MC et al.), 2Willow Warblers, 4 Common Scoter flew W (PMW).
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Sandwich Terns & a Merlin (DS, AJ); 4 Wheatears (RZ).

EAST WATERFORD: 2 Buzzards (DS).

Friday, March 30, 2012

BALLYSCANLAN / CARRICKAVRANTRY:  3 Willow Warblers (TB). 

BUNMAHON: Merlin (DW, CF).
BUNMAHON / SEAFIELD: PURPLE HERON again present up to at least 12:25, also a Green Sandpiper, Greenshank, singing Willow Warbler & 2 Sand Martins (DW, PA, MC snr, DS, PMW).
BROWNSTOWN  HEAD:  Male Blackcap, c5 Willow Warblers & c5 Chiffchaffs in main garden (PA).

DUNGARVAN:  House Martin (FO'C).
DUNGARVAN:  Swallow (FO'C).
Nr STRADBALLY:  RED KITE (untagged bird) (Eamon O'Donnell).

BUNMAHON / SEAFIELD:  PURPLE HERON still present (").

Thursday, March 29, 2012

BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  2 Wheatears (RZ).

BUNMAHON: Adult PURPLE HERON still present (DW, PC).
BALLYSCANLAN:  Willow Warbler (TB).

TRAMORE:  Willow Warbler (").

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 'SIBERIAN' CHIFFCHAFF still present in gardens area, calling frequently, now sound-recorded (PA) - further details including call. Also 2 Wheatears (RZ).
BUNMAHON: RED KITE (possibly an untagged bird) flew east, being mobbed (Philip Clancy).

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

BLACKWATER VALLEY:  Swallow at Newport east (Robert Dawson).

ARDMORE:  5 Common Scoter flew into bay, Sandwich Tern at Curragh strand (ADM).

CLONEA STRAND:  3 Great Northern Divers, 3 Sandwich Terns & 2 Black Guillemots (PMW).

BUNMAHON / SEAFIELD:  Adult PURPLE HERON again present up to at least 12:25, also a Green Sandpiper, Greenshank, singing Willow Warbler & 2 Sand Martins (DW, PA, MC snr, DS, PMW) - photos.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  'SIBERIAN' CHIFFCHAFF Phylloscopus collybita tristis in main garden & heard calling (PA, KM) - photos.

SEAFIELD / BUNMAHON:  Adult PURPLE HERON (1st county record) between Seafield & Bunmahon (DW) - photos & videos.
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  2 Sandwich Terns (DS).

Monday, March 26, 2012

CLASHMORE BROADS: ringtail Hen Harrier (PMW).
 WEST WATERFORD:  Buzzard (FO'C).

LISMORE: 2 Swallows & 5 Sand Martins at River Blackwater (ADM).

COMERAGH MOUNTAINS: Adult male Crossbill nr Boolabrien Upper / East Munster Way @ S190170 (PMW).
COMERAGH MOUNTAINS: Jay nr Boolabrien Upper (PMW).

Sunday, March 25, 2012

HELVICK: Female Black Redstart. (MC)
Nr WATERFORD CITY:  2 HOOPOES (MG).

EAST WATERFORD:  Buzzard (").

BALLYSCANLON: 5 singing Chiffchaffs & 7 Choughs (DS).

CLONEA STRAND: White Wagtail & Whimbrel at Ballinclamper (MAD, PMW).

DUNGARVAN: Sandwich Tern at Gold Coast (").

BELLE LAKE: Willow Warbler singing (").

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Tree Sparrow, Willow Warbler & 3 Chiffchaffs (").

Saturday, March 24, 2012

BALLYSCANLAN / CARRICKAVRANTRY:  8 Chiffchaffs (TB).

ARDMORE: Female Black Redstart & 2 Black Redstarts @ Goat Island. (MC, CF, DW, SH, MC Sr., IS). 1st winter & 2nd winter Iceland Gulls @ Whiting Bay (MC, CF, DW, SH), also female Hen Harrier & 2 Sand Martins there (SH).

HELVICK: Male Blackcap & 1 Swallow. (MC, CF, DW)
ARDMORE:  WOODCHAT SHRIKE (8th county record) along Goat island road, near 2nd last house on right (MC, DW, CF, SH) - photos & video.

Friday, March 23, 2012

STRADBALLY COVE:  Willow Warbler (1st of year) & Chiffchaff singing at Stradbally Cove (JJC).

BALLINLOUGH: 3 singing Chiffchaffs (DW).

SEAFIELD: 2 singing Chiffchaffs & a Green Sandpiper (").
DUNGARVAN:  Sand Martin (1st of year) (FO'C).

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

DUNGARVAN:  Adult Ring-billed Gull at Ballyneety (MC).
SEAFIELD:  Swallow (1st of year) (DW).
SEAFIELD: Jack Snipe (DW).

Monday, March 19, 2012

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  Spotted Redshank at Pickardstown (DS).

EAST WATERFORD:  Buzzard (BF).

NIRE VALLEY:11 Crossbills. (MC, CF, DW)

COMERAGH MOUNTAINS: 2 Red Grouse. (")

CLONEA: 8 Whimbrel & 2 Sandwich Terns. (")

KNOCKADERRY: Female RING-NECKED DUCK & 2 Gadwall (Male & Female). (MC, DW)

Sunday, March 18, 2012

RAM HEAD:  2nd-winter Iceland Gull (ADM).

WHITING BAY:  HOOPOE (Ciaran Foley).

DRUM HILLS:  7 Crossbills (4 & 3 at two locations) & a female Hen Harrier (JAP, BS).

MONAVULLAGH MOUNTAINS:  Male Hen Harrier (MC, DC).

WEST WATERFORD:  2 Buzzards (").

EAST WATERFORD:  Buzzards at 2 or 3 locations (BF, JF, RZ)

BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  2 Chiffchaffs (MAD, PMW).

CLONEA STRAND:  3 Whimbrel at Ballclamper/Ballinard, 2 Red-throated Divers offshore (").

HELVICK HEAD:  2 Red-throated Divers (").
BALLINARD: Common Scoter, 4 Sandwich Terns & 2 Whimbrel. (MC)

Saturday, March 17, 2012

RATHMOYLAN COVE: Male Wheatear & female Black Redstart. (MC, CF, DW)

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Chiffchaff, White Wagtail and 3 Black Redstarts (including adult male). (")

TRAMORE BOATING LAKE: 2nd winter Iceland Gull. (")

BALLYVOILE: 25 Choughs. (")

HELVICK: 2 Sandwich Terns, Common Scoter & 4 Black Guillemots. (")

CLONEA: Dark-bellied Brent Goose, male Wheatear & female Black Redstart. (")
FERRY POINT:  Male Wheatear (JAP, BS).

DUNGARVAN:  Female-type Black Redstart at Ballynacourty pier, 2 Long-tailed Ducks between pier & 'the lookout' (").

CLONEA STRAND:  Male Wheatear & female-type Black Redstart at Balinclamper (").

CARRIGNAGOUR (nr Lismore):  60 Redpolls (ADM).

Friday, March 16, 2012

CLONEA: Female-type Black Redstart and male & female Wheatears @ Ballinclamper. (MCS)
Thursday, March 15, 2012


DUNGARVAN: Female-type Black Redstart at Gold Coast, Ballynacourty (MC snr).

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

SEAFIELD:  Green Sandpiper & Chiffchaff (DW).

ARDMORE:  Sandwich Terns, 1st-winter Glaucous & 1st-winter Iceland Gull at Curragh strand (ADM).

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  Chiffchaff  & Black Redstart (PA) - Chiffchaff also heard Cappoquin / Lismore in last 10 days (PG).

Sunday, March 11, 2012

BALLINTLEA: Long-eared Owl. (MC)

DUNGARVAN:  2 Long-tailed Ducks off Ballynacourty pier, Greylag Goose with Brent off pitch & putt course, also a Common Seal there (DS).

BALLYVOYLE:  Dipper (DS).
DUNGARVAN: 4 Common Scoter & a Slavonian Grebe at Ballynacourty (MC), 4 Red-throated Divers, 20 Great Crested Grebes, 8+ Greenshank & 4+ singing Chiffchaffs at Meitheal Tra, Ring, leucistic Hooded Crow near the Brickey canal (PV).

HELVICK: 4 Black Guillemots. (")

CARRIGNAGOUR (nr Lismore):  c20 Redpolls (AM).



Saturday, March 10, 2012

CLONEA STRAND:  2 Sandwich Terns (1st of year) at Ballinard (FO'C), Dipper at Ballyvoyle & Red-throated Diver offshore (PV).
.
MONAVULLAGH MOUNTAINS:  Male Hen Harrier & 18 Ravens (DC).

ARDMORE:  1st-winter Glaucous Gull at Curragh strand (AM).

RAM HEAD:  50 Common Dolphins (").

Wednesday, March 07, 2012

ARDMORE:  1st-winter Glaucous Gull again at Curragh strand (AM).

Monday, March 05, 2012

ARDMORE:  1st-winter Glaucous Gull on Curragh strand (AM).

Sunday, March 04, 2012

COUMARAGLIN:  c20 Stock Doves (JAP).

CARRIGNAGOUR (nr Lismore):  100+ Redpolls (AM).

Saturday, March 03, 2012

CARRIGNAGOUR (nr Lismore): 53 Redpolls (AM).

DUNGARVAN:  2 male Long-tailed Duck, Great Northern Diver, 2 Red-throated Divers & 42 Great Crested Grebes off Ballynacourty pier, 2nd-winter Yellow-legged Gull, 2nd-winter Glaucous Gull & 215 Lesser Black-backed Gulls at Ballyneety (PMW).

CLONEA STRAND:  Red-throated Diver & 9 Great Northern Divers off Ballinard / Ballinclamper, Red Admiral at Ballinard (").

CARRIGAVRANTRY RESERVOIR:  Greenshank (").

TRAMORE:  4 Gadwall & 7 Snipe at boating lake, 560 Lesser Black-backed Gulls in backstrand (").

BLACKWATER VALLEY:  Female/imm Hen Harrier at Clashmore Broads (JAP).
DUNGARVAN: Adult Ring-billed Gull @ Ballyneety & SPOONBILL off the pitch & putt course. (MC, CF, DW)

BOATSTRAND: 2nd winter Glaucous Gull. (")

LISSELAN: Male Gadwall & 1st winter male Shoveler. (")


Friday, March 02, 2012

DUNGARVAN:  Adult Mediterranean Gull at Ballyneety (FO'C).

CLONEA STRAND:  Adult dark-bellied Brent Goose & Purple Sandpiper at Ballinard (").

Thursday, March 01, 2012

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

CLONEA STRAND:  Female-type Black Redstart & a Chiffchaff at Ballinclamper (FO'C).