DUNGARVAN:  3 Green Sandpipers at Brickey canal (JAP).

DUNGARVAN:  Long-tailed Duck showing very well c20 m off the Lookout (ADM), also visible (& SPOONBILL) from pitch & putt, plus Slavonian Grebe & another Long-tailed Duck off Ballinacourty (CF & MS).

DUNMORE EAST:  4 Iceland Gulls (3rd-winter, 2nd-winter & 2 1st-winters), 2 Glaucous Gulls (1st-winter & 2nd-winter) & a Mediterranean Gull (RZ).

Nr KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS:  Female Hen Harrier (ADM).


TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013

DUNGARVAN: Green Sandpiper at Brickey canal, Brambling & Blackcap at Strandside (DC).

DUNGARVAN: 2 Long-tailed Ducks off lookout (JAP).

TRAMORE:  Adult Ring-billed Gull at boating lake (JDP), 2 Blackcaps (male & female) in garden at Pickardstown (NMcC).

DUNMORE EAST:  1st-winter CASPIAN GULL (4:20 pm for c15 mins) (P. Archer et al. per irishbirding.com), 2 Glaucous Gulls (1st-winter & 2nd-winter) (JDP) & 1st-winter Iceland Gull (RZ).

DUNGARVAN:  SPOONBILL off pitch & putt course (AJ).

DUNGARVAN:  Blackcap & 2 Bramblings at Strandside (DC).

Nr WATERFORD CITY:  Blackcap in garden at King's Channel the last few days (DMcG).

DUNGARVAN:  Female Blackcap at Strandside, Abbeyside (DC).

BLACKWATER CALLOWS:  60 Whooper Swans nr Ballyduff (").

DUNMORE EAST:  CASPIAN GULL came in & out of harbour @ c1325; 10 Purple Sandpipers and 2 Porpoises also at DE (MC, CF, DW). Adult Mediterranean Gull off seawall  & 2nd-winter Glaucous Gull later (PMW).

TIBBERAGHNY (Co Kilkenny): 282 Greylag Geese, 36 Whooper Swans & 3 Little Egrets @11:45 (PMW).

COOLFIN / DERRIGAL / PORTNASCULLY; Green Sandpiper at Clodiagh Bridge, 18 Whooper Swans, 67 Greylag Geese & a hybrid goose (Barnacle x?) at Derrigal cross, 120+ Fieldfares opposite Portnascully (").

DUNMORE EAST: 2nd-winter Iceland Gull & 1st-winter Glaucous but no sign of Caspian Gull yet by 09:00 (MC, CF, DW).

ANNESTOWN: 2 Water Rail calling (BS, RAW, FO'C, JAP).

TRAMORE: Adult Little Gull at strand, adult Ring-billed Gull at boating lake (").

DUNMORE EAST: 1st-winter CASPIAN GULL still present this morning (PA).

DUNMORE EAST:  1st-winter CASPIAN GULL (2nd county record) - photos - & 1st-winter Mediterranean Gull (PA).

LISMORE CANAL:  Kingfisher (DC).

WEST WATERFORD:  2 Buzzards (").

DUNGARVAN (I-WeBS count): 2 redhead Goosanders at Killongford, SPOONBILL nr pitch & putt course, adult dark-bellied Brent Goose at Cunnigar tip, 1st-winter SURF SCOTER inside Cunnigar tip, Slavonian Grebe & 2 Long-tailed Ducks off Ballynacourty pier, & totals of 103 Great Crested Grebes & 12 Great Northern Divers around bay (BD, PS, PMW).

CLONEA STRAND (I-WeBS count):  350 Brent Geese, 6 Great Northern Divers & 11 Red-throated Divers (PMW).

Nr KILMACTHOMAS:  26 Yellowhammers (DW).

RAM HEAD:  5 Common Scoter & 11 Red-throated Divers flew E, 2 Fin Whales (one close inshore) (ADM).

TRAMORE BOATING LAKE:  Adult RING-BILLED GULL, 13 Gadwall & 5 Shoveler - lake is partially frozen (JF).

Nr WATERFORD CITY:  Brambling again with finch flock at IDA Park, Cork Road (DS).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Spotted Redshank in pool to north of first hillock (AJ).


SUNDAY, JANUARY 21, 2013

Nr DUNGARVAN:  Barn Owl (EP per JAP).

BALLYSHUNNOCK RESERVOIR: 35 Whooper Swans (AJ, RZ).

TRAMORE: Adult Ring-billed Gull, 26 Gadwall & 7 Shoveler at boating lake, Gadwall at Lisselan (MC).

DUNMORE EAST: 7 Purple Sandpipers at pier (DS).

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: Male RING-NECKED DUCK on small lake (viewable with telescope from high road), also male Shoveler & pair of Gadwall (MC).

TRAMORE: 14 Waxwings at Ard na Groi estate (JDP), 9 Shoveler, 10 Gadwall, 3 Wigeon & a Kittiwake at boating lake, Fin Whale off Tramore Bay (AJ).

DUNMORE EAST:  Mediterranean Gull & 2 Glaucous Gulls (1st-winter & 2nd-winter) (RZ).

WATERFORD BIRD-RACE:  2 teams recorded day-totals of 91 & 92 species seen or heard by 3+ observers (overall total 103 species) (92 species PV, DW, PMW, 91 species FO'C, DO'S, JAP, BS).

KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS:  Red Grouse & Woodcock (JAP et al).

DUNGARVAN: SPOONBILL on the Cunnigar, 10+ Great Northern Divers (PV, DW, PMW), Jack Snipe at the Cunnigar (FO'C), 2 Brambling at Abbeyside (FO'C, DO'S, JAP, BS).

CLONEA STRAND:  Whimbrel at Balinclamper (PV, DW, PMW).

HELVICK HEAD:  6 Great Northern Divers (").

Nr WHITING BAY:  Adult Mediterranean Gull & 2 Tree Sparrows (").

BALLYVOYLE:  2 Red-throated Divers  (").

STRADBALLY COVE:  Dipper (PV, DW, PMW, FO'C, DO'S, JAP, BS).

BUNMAHON/SEAFIELD:  Kingfisher (PV, DW, PMW).

BOATSTRAND:  1st-winter Glaucous Gull at pier (").

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  2 Long-tailed Ducks (").

Nr WATERFORD CITY:  Male Brambling at IDA estate, Cork Road (JF).

HELVICK: 1st Winter Glaucous Gull. (MC, CF)

DUNGARVAN: 1st Winter male Surf Scoter & 2 Long-tailed Ducks off the Lookout. (")

BALLINACOURTY: 2 Long-tailed Ducks. (MC)

EAST WATERFORD:  Buzzard (Brian Whitty).

DUNGARVAN: 2 Brambling at Strandside, Abbeyside (DC).

WEST WATERFORD: Buzzard (").

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

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Short-eared Owl, 2 Kingfishers, female Shoveler, Great Northern Diver & 31 Little Grebes at Lisselan (DS).

DUNGARVAN:  SURF SCOTER off the Lookout (JAP), 3 Bramblings at Strandisde, Abbeyside (DC).

TRAMORE:  12 Waxings at Crobally Heights, flycatching (JF).

BLACKWATER CALLOWS:  133 Whooper Swans - 76 Lismore to Ballyduff, 57 west of Ballyduff (TM).

DUNMORE EAST:  1st-winter Glaucous Gull & Purple Sandpipers (PA).

TRAMORE:  Adult Ring-billed Gull & colour-ringed adult Mediterranean Gull at boating lake (Med Gull ringed as a chick at Lady's Island Lake, Co Wexford in 2005 & last seen in 2007, again at Tramore) (").


TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

RAM HEAD:  5 Red-throated Divers but no cetaceans (lunchtime seawatch, ADM).

BLACKWATER CALLOWS:  73 Whooper Swans (15 juveniles) just west of Lismore (PV).

WEST WATERFORD:  Buzzard (").

WATERFORD CITY:  Male & female Blackcap in garden at Francis Street (DS).

EAST WATERFORD:  2 Buzzards (RZ).

DUNGARVAN:  2 Green Sandpipers at Brickey canal (PV).

CLONEA STRAND:  2 Whimbrel at Ballinclamper (MC).

BROWNSWOOD (nr Portlaw): Jay (MC).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Great Northern Diver & 3 Long-tailed Ducks (AJ).

DUNMORE EAST: 1st-winter Glaucous Gull (MC) & 4 Purple Sandpipers (RZ).

DUNGARVAN: Single Waxwing feeding on berries on the Coolagh road roundabout (RZ).

BALLYVOYLE: 3 Great Northern Divers (").

BALLYVOONEY: Common Scoter (").

RAM HEAD: Male Merlin (ADM).

TRAMORE BOATING LAKE: Merlin flew over carpark towards town (JF).

Nr WATERFORD CITY: Male Brambling again at IDA Park, Cork Road (DS).

DUNGARVAN: SPOONBILL roosting off pitch and putt course, SURF SCOTER off lookout, BLACK-NECKED GREBE off Ballinacourty (JAP, BS).

DUNGARVAN: 3 Bramblings at Strandside, Abbeyside (DC).

DRUM HILLS:  Woodock flew over N25 near Coolroe @ 17:15 (PMW).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Spotted Redshank in pool to north of first hillock (AJ).

DUNGARVAN: BLACK-NECKED GREBE off Gold Coast & dark-bellied Brent Goose at Duckspool (PV), 5 Common Scoter on sea off Ballynacourty pier (PMW).

BALLYVOONEY:  Common Scoter (AJ).

TRAMORE: 3 Shoveler, 31 Gadwall & 1 adult Ring-billed Gull @ the boating lake. (MC)

FERRY POINT:  Great Northern Diver (TK).

DUNGARVAN:  Pair of Crossbills at 'drinking tree' behind Gold Coast (MC snr).

DUNGARVAN: SURF SCOTER showing extremely well off lookout @ 0900 (JAP).

LEMYBRIEN:  Woodcock flew over N25 around dusk (MC).

BLACKWATER CALLOWS:  142 Whooper Swans - 68 between Lismore & Ballyduff, 74 west of Ballyduff (TM).

WEST WATERFORD:  Pair of Buzzards (ADM).

TRAMORE BOATING LAKE:  Ring-billed Gull, Shoveler & 25 Gadwall (JF).

RAM HEAD: 3 Red-throated Divers flew west & 30 Common Dolphins this afternoon (ADM).

SOUTH KILKENNY:  Buzzard (JB).

KILBARRY BOG (nr Waterford city):  Kingfisher, Kestrel, 2 Moorhens, 25 Siskins, 5 Bullfinches, Redpoll & 6 Goldcrests along Tramore Rd walkway, Superquinn to Black Rock (AJ, DS).

TRAMORE BOATING LAKE:  Ring-billed Gull, 24 Gadwall, 2 Wigeon & 4 Snipe - 2 Snipe seem to be fishing heron-style (AJ).

DUNGARVAN:  SURF SCOTER back off Lookout (JAP), female Blackcap in Dungarvan town (MC).

HELVICK HEAD:  20 Common Dolphins (ADM).

DUNMGARVAN TOWN:  Update - 5 Waxwings at Byrneville today (per MC).

SEAFIELD (nr Bunmahon):  2 Green Sandpipers (DW).

DUNGARVAN TOWN: Single Waxwing feeding on apple in garden at Byrneville (per MC).

DUNGARVAN:  Male Brambling in garden, Abbeyside (MC snr).

Nr CASTLE DODARD:  Woodcock after dusk (ADM).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  Adult dark-belled Brent Goose at Lisselan, 2 Gadwall west of spits, & totals including 700 Brent Geese, 64 Shelduck, 375 Teal, 500 Black-tailed Godwit, 96 Grey Plover & 130 Lesser Black-backed Gulls  (PMW).

Nr MOTHEL  / CLONEA POWER:   Male Hen Harrier (GP).

HOLYCROSS: Male Brambling. (MC)

TRAMORE: 4 Shoveler & 2 Goldeneye @ Lisselan. 4 Shoveler & 35 Gadwall @ the boating lake. (")

DUNMORE EAST: Purple Sandpiper. (")

DUNGARVAN: Black-necked Grebe & a Black Guillemot @ Ballinacourty Pier. (")

TRAMORE TOWN: 10 Waxwings at Ard na Groi estate (AJ).

DUNGARVAN: SPOONBILL roosting off pitch & putt course (JAP, BS).

BLACKWATER VALLEY:  12 Stock Doves & 40+ Yellowhammers at Newport east (CF).

DUNMORE EAST:  5 Purple Sandpipers (JAP, BS, RZ).

TRAMORE:  14 Waxwings at Seafield cul-de-sac (").

BALLYVOONEY COVE:  Female Common Scoter (").

DUNGARVAN:  3 Long-tailed Duck off pitch & putt course, Chiffchaff at Brickey canal, 60+ Snipe at Killongford pool (").

DUNGARVAN: Black Brant off the pitch & putt club. (MC, JNM, FG)

Nr WATERFORD CITY: Male Brambling at the IDA park, Cork Road. Feeding in stubble field north of main office building with mixed flock of Chaffinches, Redpolls and Reed Buntings (DS).

ARDMORE: 2 Mediterranean Gulls (adult & 2nd-winter) (DW, MC snr).

BLACKWATER CALLOWS:  140 Whooper Swans & 2 Shoveler (DW, MC snr).

WHITING BAY:  Tree Sparrow (").

DUNGARVAN:  BLACK-NECKED GREBE & Black Guillemot off Ballynacourty pier ("), SURF SCOTER still off Lookout (JAP).

TRAMORE TOWN:  6 Waxwings at Seafield (CF).

BLACKWATER CALLOWS:  Total 168 Whooper Swans - 119 between Lismore & Balldufff, 49 west of Ballyduff (TM).

TRAMORE:  15 Waxwings, 24 Gadwall & 2 Long-tailed Duck (DW, MC snr).

DUNMORE EAST:  2nd-winter Glaucous Gull & 5 Purple Sandpipers (").

TRAMORE TOWN:  11 Waxwings at Seafield cul-de-sac (MC snr).

TRAMORE TOWN:  15 Waxwings just before entrance to Newtown Hill estate, flycatching from treetops (DS).

EAST WATERFORD:  Buzzard (MC).

CLOHERNAGH: Kingfisher. (MC, CF, DW)

TRAMORE: 38 Gadwall & 5 Shoveler @ the boating lake. Shoveler & long-tailed Duck @ the backstrand. Female Black Redstart & 2 Chiffchaffs @ western end of beach. (")

BUNMAHON: Green Sandpiper @ Seafield. (")

KILMEADEN:  2 Jays (").

PORTLAW: ~300 Greylag Geese, 14 Whooper Swans & a Green Sandpiper @ Derrigal Cross. (")

MID WATERFORD: 2 Buzzards. (")

DUNGARVAN: Spoonbill off the pitch & putt club. Black Brant in the pitch & putt grounds. 1st winter male Surf Scoter off the Lookout (MC, CF).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Spotted Redshank.

DRUM HILLS: Male Hen Harrier flew N over main road (CB).

TRAMORE: Ring-billed Gull at boating lake, 15 Waxwings at Seafield estate (RZ).

DUNMORE EAST: 6 Purple Sandpipers (").

DUNGARVAN: Crossbill nr Gold Coast (MC snr), Green Sandpiepr at Brickey canal (DC).

ARDMORE: 60 Brent Geese in field at Curragh (ADM).

RAM HEAD: 2 Pomarine Skuas & 2 Porpoises (").