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, June 30, 2012

BALLYSCANLAN LAKE:  10+ Common Newts in the plantation, near road (JJC).

BLACKWATER VALLEY:  2 Common Sandpipers at Ballynatray, 2 juv Spotted Flycatchers at Newport East (JAP, BS).
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 6 Crossbills flew SW over main gardens @ 15:55 - possibly only 2nd-ever site record (PMW).

DUNGARVAN: 2 ad Roseate Terns at Killongford. At least 8 Med Gull imms here too (CF).
DUNGARVAN; No sign of Gull-billed Tern at Ballyneety this morning. 4 Med Gulls (1 ad and 3 1st summers) and adult Whooper Swan!! (CF) Med Gulls included 35L8 White darvic-ringed bird, also a Black-head Gull 25D7 White darvic (MC).

Friday, June 29, 2012

DUNGARVAN:  GULL-BILLED TERN found at Ballyneety this evening (MC) - first county record. Present up to 20:05 at least.

Monday, June 25, 2012

DRUM HILLS: Pair of Woodcock nr Moyng Little, tetrad X28C tonight (DMcG).

BALLYSCANLAN:  Long-eared Owl at dusk (TB).
MONAVULLAGH MOUNTAINS:  Male Hen Harrier (DW).
Nr LISMORE:  Spotted Flycatcher near Towers (DMcG).

Sunday, June 24, 2012

DRUM HILLS: 3-5 Woodcock roding tonight, Toor Cross Roads / Reamanagh West area (1-2 tetrad  in X18U & 2-3 in X18V) (DMcG).
CARRICKAVRANTRY:  HOBBY very briefly, also Merlin (MC).

EAST WATERFORD:  Buzzard (").

RAM HEAD:  Cuckoo same place as yesterday (ADM).

DRUM HILLS:  Spotted Flycatcher (JAP, BS).

BLACKWATER VALLEY:  2 Reed Warblers at Clashmore Broads - 1 carrying food at Dooneen Quay,  X113841 (JAP, BS) & 1 singing south of Clashmore Quay @ X103844, also a Hairy Dragonfly there (PMW); pair of Spotted Flycatchers nr D'Loughtane Cross Roads, 3 Stock Doves over Ballynatray (PMW).

WEST WATERFORD:  Buzzard (PMW).

Saturday, June 23, 2012

MONEYGORM: 4 Woodcock roding this evening (ADM).

COMERAGH MOUNTAINS:  WHITE-TAILED EAGLE (Joe Proudfoot per www.irishbirding.com).

HELVICK HEAD:  Dark-phase Arctic Skua W, Storm Petrel W, 2 Black Guillemots W (with fish) & 1 E, 14 Puffins W & 4 E (mostly pairs & mostly hanging around) (seawatch 16:55-17:55, MC).
RAM HEAD:  Cuckoo - very dark individual (AM).
BUNMAHON:  2 Storm Petrels W (seawatch 13:50-14:40, DW).

Nr FENOR:  Merlin (JAP).

DUNGARVAN:  Common Sandpiper at Ballyneety, 150+ Bar-tailed Godwith nr Ballynagaul (").

HELVICK HEAD:  2 Pomarine Skuas, 3 Puffins, 2 Black Guillemots & 50+ Manx Shearwaters (seawatch 1330-1400, ").

Friday, June 22, 2012

EAST WATERFORD:  Buzzard (MC).

Nr KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS:  Male Hen Harrier (AT).

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

CROHAUN:  Long-eared Owl chicks calling (DC).

EAST WATERFORD:  2 Buzzard chicks (").

MOCOLLOP GLEN (nr Ballyduff): Spotted Flycatcher, Treecreeper & 2 Jays (PMW).

WEST WATERFORD:  Buzzard (").

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Nr VILLIERSTOWN: 3 Long-eared Owls (adult  & 2 juvs) (DW).
DUNGARVAN: Brown-morph female Cuckoo near Cunnigar car-park, 4 Grey Plover & c20 Dunlin at Cunnigar (JAP, BS).
BUNMAHON:  1 Storm Petrel W (DW).

HELVICK HEAD:  6 Storm Petrels W, 12:30-13:00 (MC).

Thursday, June 14, 2012

KILBARRY BOG: Grasshopper Warbler seen along south margin of reedbed (PMW).

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

WATERFORD CITY:  Hummingbird Hawk-moth in a city garden, attempting to feed from yellow wing-bar of a Goldfinch! (AJ).

Nr VILLIERSTOWN:  Long-eared Owls at two locations (adult & 3 young at one, 2 or 3 birds at other) (DC).

RAM HEAD: 8+ Fin Whales (ADM).

ARDMORE: Red-breasted Merganser at Curragh strand (").

KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS: Pair of Spotted Flycatchers at Glentanagree Bridge (PMW).

WEST WATERFORD: Buzzard (").

Monday, June 11, 2012

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR:  Male & female GARGANEY again (DS, AJ).

Sunday, June 10, 2012

DRUM HILLS:  2 Grasshopper Warblers singing (1 seen well) nr Barranastook X160911, 6 Stock Doves (JAP, BS).  Also 3 Woodcock (pair + 1) and Long-eared Owl at 3 locations, Barranastook/Knocknaglogh area (DMcG).

BALLYSCANLAN:  HOBBY, 40+ Crossbills, pair of Great Crested Grebes, family of 4 Ravens & 3 families of Chough, 3-5 pm (AJ).
KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS: Cuckoo calling just south of the Vee (MC); Spotted Flycatcher & Jay nr Keane's Bridge / Knocknasheega (MAD, PMW).

Saturday, June 09, 2012

CURRAGHATESKIN:  2 Painted Lady butterflies (JAP, JJC, BS).

RAM HEAD:  6 Fin Whales (ADM, AT); 117 occupied Kittiwake nests in study plots (most of colony), a slight improvement on 108 nests last year but well down from 174 nests in 2010 (PMW).

Nr VILLIERSTOWN:  Treecreeper & 3 Jays (PMW).


Friday, June 08, 2012

TRAMORE:  2 Arctic Skuas chasing terns at Rinneshark (PW).

Thursday, June 07, 2012

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR:  Male & female GARGANEY (Dc).

BALLINLOUGH:  Reed Warbler (DW).

Wednesday, June 06, 2012

KILMURRAY (nr Dungarvan): Merlin (JAP).
CARRICKAVRANTRY:  Now 2 HOBBIES at Carrickavrantry Lake @17:00 (CF, MC Sr, JF).

BALLYSCANLAN:  HOBBY c15:20 (AJ).

Tuesday, June 05, 2012

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: Male GARGANEY (MC).

EAST WATERFORD:  Buzzard (").

Monday, June 04, 2012

EAST WATERFORD: Buzzard. (MC, DW)

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: 2 GARGANEY (Male & Female). (")

BALLYSCANLON LAKE: 2 Stock Doves. (")
KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS:  Cuckoo & 4 Green Hairstreak butterflies between Melleray & the Vee (JAP, NS, ADM, AT), another Cuckoo SW of the Vee (JAP, BS).

DRUM HILLS:  8 wood white butterfies at Coolroe (JAP, BS).

BLACKWATER VALLEY: 2 Reed Warblers at Castleview, Villerstown, Spotted Flycatcher nr Strancally (").

WEST WATERFORD: Buzzard (").

Nr MILLSTREET: Spotted Flycatcher at Mountaincastle (PMW).
 


Sunday, June 03, 2012

DRUM HILLS:  Woodcock nr Knocknahoola (tetrad X28E) (DMcG).

DUNGARVAN:  295 late or summering Bar-tailed Godwits (all winter/immature), 52 Black-tailed Godwits & 12 Knot roosting at Kilminnin (PMW).

MID-WATERFORD:  Buzzard (").

Saturday, June 02, 2012

HELVICK HEAD:  Puffin off car park (MC).

Friday, June 01, 2012

ARDMORE:  Turtle Dove nr round tower (ADM).

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR:  Male & female GARGANEY still present at 06:15, also 2 Stock Doves, a Water Rail & 2 Cuckoos (DS).

FENOR BOG:  Another Cuckoo (").



Thursday, May 31, 2012

Nr DUNGARVAN:  Barn Owl @ 23:10 (JAP).