DUNGARVAN:  Grey Squirrel found freshly dead (still warm) on road at Ringcrehy, nr Whelan's Signs @ 17:00 (JJC).

EAST WATERFORD:  Buzzard (DMcG).

ARDMORE:  20+ Skylarks & 15+ Tree Sparrows, Goat Island road (JAP, BS).

WHITING BAY:  2nd-winter Mediterranean Gull (").

BUNMAHON:  Kingfisher (DC).

BRICKEY CANAL:  15 Redwing (").

DUNGARVAN: Female Eider @ Ballinacourty. (MC, CF, DW, JAP, BS)

CLONEA: 2 Black Redstarts @ Ballinclamper. (")

CLONEA STRAND: 4 Great Northern Divers on sea, Whimbrel, 35 Sanderling, 2 Fin Whales blowing on horizon (PMW)

RAM HEAD: 2nd-winter Mediterranean Gull & 500+ Gannets feeding, 2 Fin Whales blowing, 15:10-15:30 (MAD, PMW).

ARDMORE BAY: 3 Mediterranean Gulls (2nd-winter & 2 adults) & a Great Crested Grebe (MAD, PMW).

WHITING BAY: Adult Mediterranean

Gull (").

HELVICK HEAD: 3 Fin Whales & 2 Merlins (ADM).

RING: Male Hen Harrier (").

DUNGARVAN: 2 Spotted Redshanks & 2 Shoveler @ Killongford. (MC)

DUNMORE EAST:  1st-winter Mediterranean Gull off seawall, late pm (PMW).

DUNGARVAN:  RED KITE flew east at Cunnigar c11:30 mobbed by corvids, also 2 Wheatears there (ADM, AT); female-type Eider off Gold Coast (MC); 3 Green Sandpipers at Brickey canal, female/immature Black Redstart at Ballynacourty (JAP, BS).

HELVICK HEAD: Fin Whale, Minke Whale & 30-40 Common Dolphins within 1k of head (ADM).

DUNGARVAN:  9 Crossbills at Gold Coast golf course, Ballynacourty (MC snr).

ARDMORE: 3 Mediterranean Gulls (Adult, 1st W & 2nd W) @ Whiting Bay. (MC, SMH). 5 White-fronted Geese flew east @ Whiting Bay. (MC, SMH, CF, DW). 30 Tree Sparrows @ Goat Island ("). Merlin @ Ballyquin. (MC, CF, DW)

EAST WATERFORD: 3  Buzzards. (MC, DW)

BALLYSHUNNOCK: 7 Whooper Swans & 1 Green Sandpiper. (")

LISSELAN: Whooper Swan, adult White-fronted Goose, 4 Shoveler & 11 Gadwall. (")

RAM HEAD: Porpoise, 2 Red-throated Divers E & medium-sized falcon species over sea heading towards Mine Head (ADM).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  2 adult White-fronted Geese at Lisselan : 16:35, later flew east after disturbed by helicopter; also Merlin, 5 Shoveler & 9 Gadwall (MC).

SEAFIELD:  Crossbill (DW).

AT SEA:  22 Bonxies, 1 Great Northern Diver, 1 Red-throated Diver, 50 Starlings, 1 Fin Whale & max 160 Common Dolphins offshore between Helvick Head & Ballycotton from the R.V. Celtic Explorer (NTK).

BUNMAHON:  1 White-fronted Goose & 32 Greylag Geese flew E (6,7, & 9 with White-front) (DW).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER in main willow garden @ 11:50, feeding in willows, also 4 Blackcaps on head (3 male, 1 female), Chiffchaff, 6 Goldcrests, 10 Long-tailed Tits, 1+ Redpoll & 2+ Siskins (PMW, PA, JF).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Short-eared Owl at Lisselan (AJ).

Nr WATERFORD CITY: 11 Redwing at IDA park near Whitfield clinic (DS).

AT SEA:  12 Great Skuas, Black Redstart, male Blackcap, 2 Redwings, 2 Meadow Pipits, 1 Robin, 48 Starling, 2 Minke Whales & 18+ Common Dolphins from R.V. Celtic Voyager between 2 &7 miles offshore south of Hook Head - Brfownstown Head - Helvick Head) area  (Niall Keogh).

LISMORE:  4+ Barnacle Geese (feral/introduced?) & a Jay (SMH).

DUNGARVAN:  180+ Brent Geese at Barnawee (").

HELVICK HEAD:  6 Sooty Shearwaters, 14 Great Skuas & 2 Arctic Skuas (SMcE per www.irishbirding.com).

SEAFIELD:  Ring Ouzel flew overhead & across river (DW).

CLONEA STRAND:  15+ Choughs, 4+ Sandwich terns & 1 Great Northern Diver at Ballinclamper (SMH).

HELVICK HEAD:  15 Great Skuas, 3 Pomarine Skuas, 4 Arctic Skuas, 3 Common Scoter, 1 Black Guillemot, 1 large whale species (blow 15-20 ft high) & brief view of an Ocean Sunfish @ c16:15 (seawatch 15:00-17:00, CF).

CLONEA STRAND: 2 Great Skuas harassing gulls offshore, adult Mediterranean Gull, 2 Great Northern Divers, 2 Sandwich Terns , 27 Choughs, 18:00-17:45, & an Ocean Sunfish c17:45 (PMW, SMH).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD:

Seawatch 08:50-11:50 (wind 3-4 S-SE, vis excellent, dry, JB, PMW)

Mediterranean Gull: 2nd-winter feeding.

Eider: 1st-winter male on sea briefly.

Common Scoter: 15 E, 1 W.

Great Northern Diver 1 E, 4 W.

Red-throated Diver: 1 W, 3 on sea.

Brent Goose: 10 W.

Sandwich Tern: 3 W.

Large auks: 167 E, 79 W.

Gannet, Kittiwake: not counted.

Skylark: 7 E.
On land, a male Blackcap.

DUNGARVAN: 2 Green Sandpipers at Brickey canal (JAP, RAW, BS).

ARDMORE: Green Sandpiper on the small stream at Curragh beach (").

BALLINACOURTY POINT: 5 Redpoll near Ballinacourty lighthouse (").

CLONEA: Great Northern Diver & Whimbrel (").

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 580+ Brent Geese (PMW).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Merlin, a late Willow Warbler and mating pair of Migrant Hawker dragonflies (PMW).

HELVICK: 2 Chiffchaffs & 20 Swallows. (MC)

LISMORE CALLOWS: 2 drake Shoveler. (")

DUNGARVAN: 2 female Common Scoter & 1 Black Guillemot @ Ballinacourty. 1 Great Northern Diver @ Ballinclamper. (")

ARDMORE: 2 ad & 4 1st-winter Mediterranean Gulls at Curragh Beach. Also 1st-winter Ringed Plover with green ring below ankle joint on left leg and blue above joint on right (CF).

CAPPOQUIN: 3 Jays (DC).

WEST WATERFORD: 2 Buzzards (").

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Merlin, 4 Shoveler (1 male), 3 Gadwall, 36 Little Grebes & 280 Black-tailed Godwit at Lisselan, 10:55 (PMW).

CLONEA STRAND:  Merlin, 50+ Choughs, 8+ White Wagtails &  12+ Brent Geese at Ballinclamper (SMH).

DUNGARVAN:  Great Northern Diver at Ballynacourty (").

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  Grey Phalarope at Lisselan, on pond behind seawall (AJ), also 2 Kingfishers, 4 Shovelers and 7 Whooper Swans at Lisselan (DS).

AT SEA (Western Approaches off Co Waterford):  Snow Bunting, Merlin, Meadow Pipit, 40 Great Skuas, 3 Sooty Shearwaters & 6 Puffins (Stephen McAvoy per www.irishbirding.com).

CLONEA STRAND:  20+ Choughs, 10+ Brent Geese & 3+ White Wagtails at Ballinclamper (SMH).

BUNMAHON:  Juvenile SABINE'S GULL & 1st-winter Little Gull (seawatch 17:00-18:00, DW).

TRAMORE BOATING LAKE:  8 Gadwall (JF).

HELVICK HEAD: BLYTH'S REED WARBLER still present & calling up to 13:00 but only brief views (PA, CF) - grid reference approx X309886.

HELVICK HEAD: BLYTH'S REED WARBLER still present, same location as yesterday, heard but not yet seen, up to 09:40, also a Jay (MC snr, SMH).

KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS:  Merlin at the Vee (ADM).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  7 Whooper Swans, 2 Shover, Wheatear & 2 Kingfishers at Lisselan (DS).

Nr WATERFORD CITY:  1 Whooper Swan at the iDA park, Cork Road (flyover with 3 Mute Swans) (").

HELVICK HEAD:  BLYTH'S REED WARBLER (1st county record) at ivy-covered farm building along eastern road up to high car-park, 11:00-16:20 at least, but very skulking, heard calling; also 2 Ring Ouzels (male & female) nearby but flew SW and lost to view (CF et al).

RAM HEAD: 4 Fin Whales, 50 Common Dolphins & 2 Risso's Dolphins, 11:30-13:50 (ADM).

ARDMORE:  YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER at the Round Tower this afternoon (Ian Stevenson).

WATERFORD CITY:  2 Jays flew W over Collins Avenue (PA).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  Tree Sparrow, 8+ Redpolls & 2+ Siskins (AA, MAD, PMW).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Mediterranean Gull at Riverstown, 2 Stock Doves & White Wagtail at  Pickardstown (JF).

ARDMORE: 2 Mediterranean Gulls (adult & 2nd-winter) at Curragh (JAP, BS).

WHITING BAY: 7 Redpoll (").

WEST WATERFORD: Buzzard (").

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Reed Warbler along west ditch of main lane, Chiffchaff, 2 Siskins & 2+ Redpolls (MAD, PMW).

HELVICK HEAD: Large influx of Coal, Great & Blue Tits plus Siskins and Redpolls 08.00 - 09.00 (JAP).

DUNGARVAN:  Green Sandpiper at Brickey canal (JAP, RAW).

BLACKWATER VALLEY: 2 Jays near Camphire, Red Squirrel at Newport East (").

WHITING BAY:  2nd-winter Mediterranean Gull (").

WEST WATERFORD:  Buzzard (MAD, PMW).

ARDMORE:  Adult Mediterranean Gull at Curragh (ADM).

BLACKWATER VALLEY:  OSPREY seen twice today (Keith @ Camphire).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  Male Blackcap & Chiffchaff (PA).

ARDMORE: YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER & Redstart along Goat Island road (JAP).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Tree Sparrow, female Blackcap, 6+ Redpolls, Chiffchaff, 3 Goldcrests, also a Moorhen (new to site - several reported present at a small pond for last 6-7 weeks) (MAD, PMW).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  Updated totals 5 Blackcaps (3 male, 2 female), Willow Warbler, 4 Chiffchaffs, 12 Goldcrests, 60+ Swallows, 5+ House Martins, Wheatear, 2 Redpolls, 2 Brent Geese (flew W), Little Egret (landed at puddle on road) & fairly obvious 'fall' of thrushes - 7+ Song Thrushes & 25+ Blackbirds (MAD, PMW).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 2 male Blackcaps, 2 Chiffchaffs, 7 Goldcrests, Wheatear, 2 Redpolls (PMW).

DUNGARVAN: Spotted Redshank at Ballyneety (DC).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Female Blackcap, 3 Mistle Thrushes, 40+ Redpolls (19 ringed) & 3 Siskins (MAD, JDP, PMW).

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR:  2 Scaup again (DS).

Nr LEMYBRIEN:  Jay (").

DUNGARVAN:  16 Wheatears, 3 Chiffchaffs & male & female Blackcap at the Cunnigar early this morning (").

ARDMORE:  Pied Flycatcher at St Declan's Well (MC, CF).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  3 Blackcaps, 7 Chiffchaffs, 3 Goldcrests, Wheatear, 41 Redpolls (mainly flying W), 850+ Swallows (including peak passage of 800+ E in an hour 10:40-11:40), 120 Linnets & 2 Migrant Hawker dragonflies (MAD, PMW); 2 Great Skuas (harassing Gannets),Great Northern Diver E & W, Common Scoter E & W, 28 Brent Geese W, Porpoise & probable Risso's Dolphin (seawatch 08:20-09:20, wind 1 NE, vis excellent, PMW).

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR:  2 Scaup still present, with 2 Tufted Duck (CF).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  c1200 Golden Plover at Pickardstown (AJ).

ARDMORE:  Adult Mediterranean Gull at Curragh (ADM).

RAM HEAD:  Canada Goose flew past (").

PORTALLY COVE:  White Wagtail (MAD, PMW).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  Also 200+ swallows later & 3 Chiffchaffs (PMW).

RAM HEAD: 2 Red-throated Divers E, 2 Bonxies & 2 Arctic Skuas W, 20 Common Dolphins & 4 Fin Whales (seawatch 09.50 to 12.50, ADM).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 10 Crossbills W overhead, also 15+ Redpolls, 2 House Martins, 6+ Swallows & 65 Meadow Pipits around head (MAD, PMW).

EAST WATERFORD:  Buzzard (DC).

KILMEADEN:  Jay (").

BALLYMACARBRY:  Long-eared Owl at 6 am (").

BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  Flock of 17 Crossbills flew W @ 11:45, female Blackcap, 2 Willow Warblers, 5 Chiffchaffs, 4 Goldcrests, 6 Coal Tits, 75 Meadow Pipits, 2 Siskins & 6+ Redpolls (MAD, PMW).

BONMAHON:  2 Green Sandpipers (DW).

ARDMORE:  White Wagtail & Wheatear at Curragh (ADM).

CLONEA STRAND:  Whimbrel & 4 White Wagtails at Ballinclamper (MAD, PMW).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  3 Wheatears, Chiffchaff & 6+ Redpolls (").

BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  Arctic Skua W, White Wagtail, Wheatear, 2 Wheatears & 26 Choughs (MAD,PMW).



MONDAY, OCTOBER 01, 2012

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR:  2 juvenile Scaup (MD).

RATHMOYLAN COVE:  White Wagtail & Wheatear (MAD,PMW).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  265 Brent Geese & 22 Sandwich Terns off Saleen (").

BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  3 Redpolls W, 1 Chiffchaff (").