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.



Tuesday, July 31, 2012

DUNGARVAN:  2 Little Terns & a Mediterranean Gull at the Cunnigar (DC).

HELVICK HEAD:  Sooty Shearwater, 10 Common Scoter, Great Skua, Arctic Skua & 28 Puffins W (seawatch 19:15-20:30, MC, MC snr, CF).

Monday, July 30, 2012

DUNGARVAN:  2 Little Terns off pitch & putt (DW).

Saturday, July 28, 2012

DUNGARVAN:  6 Little Terns off pitch & putt @ 20:40 (DC per MC).

CLONEA STRAND:  2 adult Mediterranean Gulls flew south at Ballinclamper this evening (MC).



Saturday, July 28, 2012

KNOCKADERRY: Common Sandpiper. (MC, CF, DW)

CARRIGAVANTRY: 7 Crossbills & 2 Common Sandpipers. (")

DUNGARVAN: Adult Mediterranean Gull & 4 Whimbrel @ Barnawee. Kingfisher, Green Sandpiper, 3 Common Sandpipers & 3 Mediterranean Gulls ( 2nd summer and 2 adults including 3H97 ) @ Ballyneety. 7 Mediterranean Gulls ( 4 adults & 3 1st summers ) & 2 Common Sandpipers @ Killongford. (")



Friday, July 27, 2012

ARDMORE:  4 Common Sandpipers at Curragh (ADM).

WHITING BAY:  3 Common Sandpipers (").

Thursday, July 26, 2012

ARDMORE:  1st-summer & 2nd-summer Mediterranean Gulls at Curragh (ADM).

KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS:  Family of Grasshopper Warblers (").

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

DUNGARVAN:  4 Green Sandpipers, 8 Common Sandpipers & 2 Kingfishers at Ballyneety (MC).
RAM HEAD: 22 Puffins, 21 Sandwich Terns & 157 Manx Shearwaters W (63 Manx E) (seawatch 18:50-19:20, near-calm); only 2 large Kittiwake chicks present from 117 occupied nests counted in June (PMW).

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

DUNGARVAN:  ROSE-COLOURED STARLING still present at Seapark, Abbeyside (AD).

Monday, July 23, 2012

CLONEA STRAND:  Adult Mediterranean Gull at Ballinclamper (MC snr).

RIVER SUIR:  Manx Shearwater still present at 18:30, resting on the water above Mt Congreve, obviously disoriented - very misty conditions all day & yesterday (DMcG).
HELVICK: 1 Puffin & 3 Black Guillemots (visibility very poor late this evening). (MC)

DUNGARVAN: Green Sandpiper & 1 Common Sandpiper @ Ballyneety. 5 Mediterranean Gulls ( 2 adults, 2 1st summers including red darvic ring HK36 & 1 2nd summer) @ Barnawee late this evening. (")
DUNGARVAN:  5 Mediterranean Gulls (2 adult, 2 1st-summer & a 2nd-summer) at Killongford, 4th-summer Yellow-legged Gull, Green Sandpiper & 3 Common Sandpipers at Ballyneety (CF).
HELVICK HEAD:  Seawatch 08:30- 14:00:  85 Puffins, including 83 W (5-6 from sea) & 2 juveniles on sea just off head (one not flying, one trying to fly a few yards at a time); also 3 adult Pomarine Skuas, 2 Arctic Skuas (dark adult & 2nd-summer), 1 Great Skua  & 4 Common Scoters flew W, Manx Shearwaters c250 W per hour (CF).
RIVER SUIR nr POULDREW:  Manx Shearwater flying down middle of river just before 08:30! (DMcG) - maybe only the 2nd-ever inland record for Co Waterford.

Sunday, July 22, 2012

HELVICK HEAD: Storm Petrel, Arctic/Pomarine Skua & 15 Puffins , 71 Manx Shearwaters W (seawatch 17:35-18:35, PMW); 3 Arctic Skuas, 2 Puffins, 1 Common Tern & c270 Manx Shearwaters W (seawatch 19:30-21:00, CF).

DUNGARVAN: Green Sandpiper, 8 Common Sandpipers & an adult Mediterranean Gull @ Ballyneety. (MC)
HELVICK HEAD:  56 Puffins west, 1 east, 1 Pomarine Skua, 1 Common Term & 10-15 Common Scoter west (seawatch 14.35-16.05, MC).
BUNMAHON: Storm Petrel W (DW).
DUNGARVAN: ROSE-COLOURED STARLING still at Seapark, Abbeyside (JAP, BS).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD:
Seawatch 06:40-09:4 (wind 5 S, vis good/excellent; JB, PMW)
Manx Shearwater: 41 E, 865 W
Fulmar: 6 E, 39 W
Gannet: 28 E, 37 W
Common Scoter: 41 E (8, 4, 10, 1, 12, 2, 4), 12 W
Arctic Skua: 6 E (1, 6)
Arctic/Pomarine Skua: 2 W
Great Skua: 1 E
Kittiwake: 59 E, 22 W
Sandwich Tern: 2 E, 5 W
Common/Arctic Tern: 4 E, 3 W
Puffin: 5 W
Razorbill: 7 W, 3 sea
Guillemot: 7 W, 5 sea
unidentified large auk: 2 E, 26 W

Saturday, July 21, 2012

BROWNSTOWN HEAD:
Seawatch 18:45-19:45 (2 SW, vis excellent, PMW)
Manx Shearwater: 620 E, 11 W
Common Scoter: 9 W, later 7 E
Guillemot 4 E
Sandwich Tern: 2 feeding
Fulmar, Gannet, Kittiwake: not counted
DUNGARVAN: 5 Common Sandpipers & 4 Mediterranean Gulls ( 2 adults & 2 1st summers ) @ Killongford this evening. (MC)
DUNGARVAN: ROSE-COLOURED STARLING still present at Seapark, Abbeyside up to 17:30 (JF).
DUNGARVAN: 2 Yellow-legged Gulls at Ballyneety (3rd- & 4th-calendar-yr) (MC).
DUNGARVAN:  ROSE-COLOURED STARLING @ Seapark Estate. 3CY & 4CY Yellow-legged Gulls, 8 Common Sandpipers & 3 Green Sandpipers @ Ballyneety. Adult Mediterranean Gull (White Darvic Ring 3H97) @ Barnawee. 3 adult & 1 2nd summer Mediterranean Gulls @ Killongford. (MC, CF, DW)
DUNGARVAN: Adult ROSE-COLOURED STARLING still at Seapark, Abbeyside (JAP, BS).

RAM HEAD: 4 Sooty Shearwaters & a HUMPBACK WHALE (early morning seawatch, ADM).

Friday, July 20, 2012

DUNGARVAN:  ROSE-COLOURED STARLING giving excellent around Seapark, 19:50. Now down to a few metres feeding on fat balls (JAP, BS, UP, AD).
DUNGARVAN:  ROSE-COLOURED STARLING still present at seapark at 16.30; 4 Mediterranean Gulls at Barnawee (DS, AJ)

Nr ANNESTOWN:  Adult Mediterranean Gull feeding in freshly cut field just west of Annestown (").
RAM HEAD:  Sooty Shearwater, Balearic Shearwater, 500+ Manx Shearwaters, 32 Common Scoter (23 W & 9 on water), 2 Minke Whales, 2 Bottlenose Dolphins & 3 Porpoises (ADM).

KNOCKBRACK QUARRY (nr Clashmore):  Emperor dragonfly (").
DUNGARVAN:  ROSE-COLOURED STARLING still present at Seapark, Abbeyside from 07:35 onwards (DW, MC snr, ADM et al).

Thursday, July 19, 2012

HELVICK: Puffin flying west. (MC)
DUNGARVAN: ROSE-COLOURED STARLING at Seapark, Abbeyside 8 pm (JAP) - 2nd county record.

TANKARDSTOWN (nr Bunmahon): 117 Manx Shearwaters and 1 Great Skua E (seawatch 15.10-15.40, DS).

IDA (Cork Road, Waterford city):  Emperor dragonfly and Brown Hawker (").

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

DUNGARVAN: 2nd summer Mediterranean Gull @ Barnawee. (MC)

ARDMORE:  Juvenile Cuckoo & 2nd-summer Mediterranean Gull at Curragh (AM).

RAM HEAD:  House Martin with abnormally long tail feather(s) - photo here (").

WEST WATERFORD:  Buzzard (").

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

HELVICK HEAD:  2nd-summer SABINE'S GULL, Balearic Shearwater, Puffin & 350 Manx Shearwaters W (seawatch 18:40-19:40, PMW), then quieter, with Manxies flying both directions & feeding (19:40-20:15, MC, PMW). Also 3 Black Guillemots at yellow buoy.

BUNMAHON: Adult pale-phase Pomarine Skua W & an unseasonal, non-breeding plumage Great Northern Diver on sea (DW).
BUNMAHON:  3 Great Skuas, Pomarine Skua & 5 Storm Petrels W off Bunmahon (seawatch 09:40-10:40, DW).

Monday, July 16, 2012

DUNGARVAN:  20 Mediterranean Gulls - 6 at Ballyneety (2 adults, 2 2nd-summers & 2 1st-summers) & 14 at Barnawee (7 adults, 4 2nd-summers & 3 1st-summers) (DW, CF); later, 5 at Barnawee (3 adults, 1 2nd-summer & 1 1st-summer) (MC snr).
HELVICK HEAD:
Seawatch 10:30-13:00 (CF, DW)
Balearic Shearwater: 1
Sooty Shearwater: 2
'large' shearwater: 2 (distant)
Storm Petrel: 1
Pomarine Skua: 1
Arctic Skua: 5 (2 adult, 3 juvenile)
Puffin: 2
Manx Shearwater, Fulmar, Gannet: good movement.

Sunday, July 15, 2012

WOODSTOWN BOG:  Reed Warbler singing & 2 Water Rails calling (MAD, PMW).
DUNGARVAN: 9 Mediterranean Gulls (2 Adults, 3 2nd summers & 4 1st summers) @ Barnawee. (MC)

Saturday, July 14, 2012

KILMURRAY (nr Dungarvan): Merlin this evening (JAP).

RAM HEAD: 3 Fin Whales east of Ram, 9 Common Scoter flew W, several hundred Manx Shearwaters E (ADM).

CLASHMORE BROADS: 8 Common Sandpipers (JAP, BS).

KINSALEBEG: 3 Green Sandpipers (").

WHITING BAY: 9 Tree Sparrows & female Hen Harrier (").

BALLYVOYLE: 2 Common Sandpipers (").

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 2 Common Sandpipers at Clohernagh (PMW).
DUNGARVAN: Common Sandpiper @ Killongford. 5 Common Sandpipers, 1 Green Sandpiper & 3 Mediterranean Gulls ( 2 adults including 3h97 & a 1st summer bird ) @ Ballyneety. 3 Mediterranean Gulls ( adult, 1st summer & 2nd summer ) late this evening @ Barnawee. (MC)
DUNGARVAN: 7 Mediterranean Gulls (green darvic ringed 2nd-summer R27R, 5 adults & a  1st-summer) at Barnawee (DW, CF).

Friday, July 13, 2012

BALLYSCANLON: 2-3 Crossbills. (MC, PV)

BALLYVOILE: Common Sandpiper. (MC)
Nr KNOCKADERRY: Bank Vole running about on road (MC).

Thursday, July 12, 2012

DUNGARVAN: 3 Green Sandpipers, 6+ Common Sandpipers & 2 Mediterranean Gulls (adult & 1st-summer ) @ Ballyneety (MC), also 2 juv Kingfishers there (DC).

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

DUNGARVAN: 10+ Common Sandpipers, 4 Green Sandpipers & 6 Lapwing @ Ballyneety. (MC)
ARDMORE: Adult Mediterranean Gull (ringed bird) at Curragh (ADM).

MONAVULLAGH MOUNTAINS:  Male Hen Harrier (JJC).

TALLOW FOREST:  Crossbill nr Kilcalfmountain @ X007884, also 2 Stock Doves, 3 Jays, 2 Treecreepers & a Red Squirrel (PMW).

Monday, July 09, 2012

KNOCKBRACK QUARRY (nr Clashmore):  2 Yellowhammers, 100+ each of Ringlet & Meadow Brown, & 4 species of dragonfly - Azure Damselfly 15+, Emerald Damselfly 80+, Four-spotted Chaser 2 & Common Darter 2 (JJC).

DUNGARVAN:  3 Green Sandpipers & Otter at Ballineety above bridge, 2 Common Seals at park hotel (DC).

KILMEADEN POOLS:  Pair of Little Grebes with 4 recently fledged young (MC).

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR:  5 Tufted Duck (").
BALLINLOUGH:  5 Spotted Flycatchers, incl 3 juvs (DW).

Sunday, July 08, 2012

DUNGARVAN: 4 Green Sandpipers, Water Rail & Otter at Balyneety (DC).
DUNGARVAN: Whimbrel, 4 Common Sandpipers, 4 Green Sandpipers and 3 Mediterranean Gulls ( Adult white darvic ring 3H97 returning for its 6th year & 2 1st summers) @ Ballyneety. Common Sandpiper & 2nd summer Mediterranean Gull @ Killongford. (MC)


Saturday, July 07, 2012

DUNGARVAN:  10+ Common Sandpipers (JAP, BS) & 5 adult Mediterranean Gulls (one with white darvic ring, CF).

Friday, July 06, 2012

CLONEA: 2 Adult Mediterranean Gulls & 1 Common Sandpiper @ Ballinclamper. (MC)

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  Stock Dove & 3 Ravens nr Riverstown industrial estate (JF).

Thursday, July 05, 2012

SEAFIELD: Green Sandpiper (DW).
CLONEA: 3 Mediterranean Gulls (2 Adults & 1st Summer) & a Common Sandpiper @ Ballinclamper. (MC, MC Sr.)

Wednesday, July 04, 2012

CLONEA STRAND: 6 Mediterranean Gulls (4 adults, 1st-summer & 2nd-summer) at Ballinclamper (MC).

HELVICK HEAD: Puffin & Arctic Skua (").
CLONEA STRAND:  Adult Mediterranean Gull at Ballinclamper (MC snr).

Tuesday, July 03, 2012

CLONEA: 4 Common Terns @ Ballinclamper. (MC)



Monday, July 02, 2012

BUNMAHON:  Black Guillemot (DW).

Sunday, July 01, 2012

HELVICK HEAD: 3 Puffins & 100+ Manx Shearwaters W (seawatch 1525-1545) (PMW).

DUNGARVAN:  3 Mediterranean Gulls (2nd-summer with green darvic ring & 2 1st-summers), Common Sandpiper & adult Whooper Swan at Ballyneety (MC).
KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: Female GARGANEY (JAP, BS).

DUNGARVAN: Whooper Swan & 3 Common Sandpipers (").