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.



Monday, March 31, 2014

HELVICK HEAD:  2 female Wheatears & 2 Chiffchaffs (JAP).

MID WATERFORD:  2 Buzzards (TC).
KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR:  Male RING-NECKED DUCK still present (MC).

HELVICK HEAD:  2 1st-winter Glaucous Gulls & a Willow Warbler (").

FERRYPOINT:  Wheatear & Sandwich Tern (ADM).

DUNGARVAN:  Willow Warbler in town centre (FO'C).
CLONEA:  1st-winter Glaucous Gull, 13 Sandwich Terns & a male Wheatear at Ballinard (MC snr).

DUNGARVAN:  Sandwich Tern off Ballynacourty pier (").

Sunday, March 30, 2014

ARDMORE:  House Martin (first of year) flew W over bay, Chiffchaff near coastguards (NJB).

DUNGARVAN:  2 Sand Martins passed over town centre c18:55 (FO'C).

Nr KILL:  7 Sand Martins over water treatment facility just outside village (DS).

MID WATERFORD:  Pair of Buzzards (").

BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  Merlin, 2 Wheatears, 2 Sand Martins, 5 Willow Warblers, 12 Chiffchaffs (including one eastern-type) & an Otter (MDe, PMW).

WATERFORD CITY:  Hummingbird Hawk-moth at Arbourmount, Ferrybank (LRy).

Saturday, March 29, 2014

DUNGARVAN:  Male GARGANEY still just upriver from Barnawee Bridge (MC snr).

WATERFORD NATURE PARK (Kilbarry):  Kingfisher & Chiffchaff (LR).

GOAT ISLAND, ARDMORE:  Glaucous Gull (NJB); 3 Stock Doves (SMH, MC snr).

WHITING BAY:  12 Greenshank in flooded field, Great Northern Diver in bay (NJB).

FERRY POINT:  4 Sandwich Terns (").

WEST WATERFORD:  Buzzard (").

SOUTH TIPPERARY:   3 Buzzards together (FJ).

Friday, March 28, 2014

BALLYVOYLE COVE:  2 Wheatears (ADM).

DUNGARVAN:  Sandwich Tern at Ballynacourty pier (").

Nr CAPPOQUIN:  Chiffchaff (").

WEST WATERFORD:  Buzzard (").

NORTH WATERFORD:  3 Buzzards together (FJ).

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

WHITING BAY:  1st-winter Glaucous Gull (ADM).

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR:  Drake RING-NECKED DUCK on small lake (MC).

WHITING BAY:  1st-winter Glaucous Gull feeding on Grey Seal carcase; Tree Sparrow & 2 Siskins on feeders near west end (MC snr).

Sunday, March 23, 2014

BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  Red-throated Diver (JF, MH).

TRAMORE:  Great Northern Diver in Bay, 13 Gadwall at Lisselan (").

MONAVULLAGH MOUNTAINS:  Male Hen Harrier (MC).

EAST/MID WATERFORD:  Buzzard at two locations (FJ, DS).
HELVICK: 2 Sandwich Terns on buoy off Helvick plus 1st-winter Glaucous Gull on sea (JAP).

DUNGARVAN: Male Wheatear at Abbeyside church (").

Saturday, March 22, 2014

SEAFIELD:  Sand Martin (DW).
DUNGARVAN:  Green Sandpiper at Killongford pools (JAP, BS).

WHITING BAY:  1st-winter Glaucous Gull; 3 Tree Sparrows at usual feeder near west end of bay (").

CALISO BAY:  Male Wheatear (").

CLASHMORE BROADS:  Stock Dove (").

WEST WATERFORD:  2 Buzzards (").
CLONEA:  5 Sandwich Terns at Ballinclamper (first of year), 2 1st-winter Glaucous Gulls at Ballinard (MC, CF).

DUNGARVAN: Male GARGANEY at Barnawee (MC, CF), 5 Long-tailed Ducks off Abbeyside beach, Black Guillemot at Ballynacourty & in harbour (MC, CF, EB).

HELVICK: 3 Black Guillemots (MC, CF).

Friday, March 21, 2014

DUNGARVAN: Male GARGANEY still present at Barnawee (SMH).

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

DUNGARVAN:  Male GARGANEY again at Barnawee, just upriver from bridge (MC snr).

CLONEA:  2 1st-winter Glaucous Gulls at Ballinclamper (").

WHITING BAY:  1st-winter Glaucous Gull (ADM).

ARDMORE:  2 Great Northern Divers, Curragh / Ardmore Bay (").



Tuesday, March 18, 2014

DUNGARVAN:  Male GARGANEY still showing well just upriver from Barnawee Bridge, very close to road at low tide (MC snr).

Monday, March 17, 2014

DUNGARVAN: Male GARGANEY still at Barnawee (JAP, BS).

CLONEA: 2 1st-winter Glaucous Gulls at Ballinard, 2 Common Scoter at Ballinclamper (CF).

BALLYVOONEY: Black Guillemot (").

STRADBALLY COVE: Dipper (").

Sunday, March 16, 2014

DUNGARVAN: Male GARGANEY showing well at Barnawee/Kilminnin, 1405 (MC snr) still present 1500 (EAMacL).


BALLINARD:  1st-winter Glaucous Gull (RD).

WHITING BAY:  12 Choughs (NJB).

WEST WATERFORD:  Buzzard (").
BALLYQUIN: Male Wheatear (ADM).

IDA PARK (nr Waterford city): Chiffchaff singing & a Merlin (DS).

Saturday, March 15, 2014

BALLINARD:  Wheatear & 1st-winer Glaucous Gull (RD).

CALISO BAY:  2 Wheatears (MC, CF, DW).

WHITING BAY:  2 Stock Doves (").

HELVICK:  3 1st-winter Glaucous Gulls (").

WEST WATERFORD:  3 Buzzards (2 locations) (").
DUNGARVAN:  Male GARGANEY at Barnawee / Kilminnin (MC snr).

TRAMORE:  Wheatear at sandhills car-park, adult Ring-billed Gull at boating lake, 10 Shoveler & 5 Gadwall at Lisselan (AJ).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Quiet on land - 1 Chiffchaff; 4 Red-throated Divers on sea (MAD, PMW).

Friday, March 14, 2014

BALLINARD:  1st-winter Glaucous Gull again feeding on dolphin carcase (FO'C).

Thursday, March 13, 2014

DUNGARVAN:  SIBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF again behind petrol station near Youghal Road roundabout, being harassed by a Robin (FO'C).

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

TRAMORE:  Adult Ring-billed Gull at boating lake, female Merlin near landfill site (JF).

WEST WATERFORD:  Buzzard at two sites (one, possibly two birds) (ADM).

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

HELVICK: 3 Glaucous Gulls (adult & 1st-winters) (JAP).

DUNGARVAN: 1st-winter Glaucous Gull at Ballynagaul ("), 12 Chiffchaffs at Brickey canal (FO'C).
BLACKWATER CALLOWS:  2 Sand Martin at Ballyduff Upper, 50 Whooper Swans at Lismore callows (DC).

Monday, March 10, 2014

RAM HEAD: Flock of 37 Manx Shearwaters, also Pomarine Skua, Red-throated Diver, Porpoise & 10 Common Dolphins (ADM).
HELVICK HEAD:  Male Wheatear on road to high car-park this morning (JAP) - first of spring for Co Waterford.

Sunday, March 09, 2014

BALLINARD:  1st-winter Glaucous Gull feeding on dolphin carcase, also Mediterranean Gull (FO'C).

WHITING BAY:  8 Greenshank in flooded field (NJB).
HELVICK:  Male Hen Harrier, female Merlin & 2+ Glaucous Gulls (2nd-winter & 1+ 1st-winter) (EAMacL).

Saturday, March 08, 2014

CASTLETOWN FEN POOL: 4 Shoveler. (MC)

LISSELAN: Shoveler. (")

TRAMORE: Adult Ring-billed Gull at the boating lake. (")

BOATSTRAND: 1st winter Iceland Gull. (")

STRADBALLY COVE: Dipper & Chiffchaff. (")

HELVICK: 2 1st winter Glaucous Gulls. (")

BALLYNEETY: 1st winter Glaucous Gull. (MC & MC Sr.)
DUNGARVAN: 1st-winter Glaucous Gull at Ballyneety (MC snr).

ARDMORE:  4 Great Northern Divers in Bay, adult Glaucous Gull at Ballyquin beach (NJB).

Friday, March 07, 2014

HELVICK: 3 Glaucous Gulls (adult & 2 1st-winter) & 1st-winter Iceland Gulls (JAP).

Wednesday, March 05, 2014

ARDMORE: Adult Glaucous Gull at Curragh (ADM).

WHITING BAY: 1st-winter Glaucous Gull & 17 Choughs (").

FERRYPOINT: 1st-winter Iceland Gull (").

BLACKWATER CALLOWS:  75 Whooper Swans at Ballyduff Upper (DC).

VILLIERSTOWN:  3 Otters (").

WEST WATERFORD:  Buzzard (").

Tuesday, March 04, 2014

TRAMORE:  Adult Ring-billed Gull at boating lake (RZ).

BALLYVOONEY COVE:  5 Red-throated Divers (").

BALLYVOYLE:  2 adult Glaucous Gulls & 26 Choughs (").

DUNGARVAN:  2nd-winter Glaucous Gulls at Ballynagaul (").

MID WATERFORD:  3 Buzzards at two locations (2 + 1) (").

CLONEA:  2 adult Glaucous Gulls at Ballinard feeding on dolphin carcase (FO'C).

DUNGARVAN:  Great Northern Diver found dead near Ballynacourty Pier (").

HELVICK:  Merlin near high car-park (JJC).

CAHERNALEAGUE (nr Ballinamult):  early Peacock (very fresh) and Small Tortoiseshell (tatty) on the wing (").


Monday, March 03, 2014

BALLYVOONEY: summer-plumage Red-throated Diver (AJ, KA).
FERRYPOINT:  Yellow-legged Gull (ADM).

WHITING BAY:  2 1st-winter Glaucous Gulls (").

ARDMORE:  Adult Glaucous Gull & 2 Great Northern Divers at Curragh (").

Sunday, March 02, 2014

BALLYVOONEY COVE:  Adult KUMLIEN'S GULL, adult Glaucous Gull & adult Yellow-legged Gull this pm (DO'S).

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR:  Male RING-NECKED DUCK still present, on main lake then flew to upper lake (").

ARDMORE:  4 Great Northern Divers in bay (NJB).

DUNGARVAN:  Great Northern Diver at Colligan estuary (").
DUNGARVAN: SPOONBILL off pitch @ putt course (MC); 4 Glaucous Gulls (1st-winter & 3 adults) at Ballynagaul / Poulaphuca & a Chiffchaff at Poulaphuca (BS, JAP).

Saturday, March 01, 2014

DUNGARVAN: Green Sandpiper at Brickey River, 1st-winter Mediterranean Gull at Barnawee, adult Dark-bellied Brent Goose at Ballyneety (MC, CF).

HELVICK:  3 Glaucous Gulls (1st-winter & 2 adults) (").

WHITING BAY: also 3 Glaucous Gulls (1st-w & 2 ads) (").

ARDMORE: 1st-w Glaucous Gull, 3 Whooper Swans & a Common Scoter at Curragh (").

WEST WATERFORD: 3 Buzzards (").
CLONEA: c12 Red-throated Divers, 4 Common Scoter & 2 Whimbrel (BS, FO'C, JAP, RZ).

BALLYVOONEY:  2 Red-throated Divers (").
ARDMORE: 1st-winter Iceland Gull at Curragh strand (BS, FO'C, JAP).

HELVICK;  Adult & 1st-winter Glaucous Gull & 2 Red-throated Divers (").
BALLYHEENY (nr Clashmore): Male Blackcap (BS, FO'C, JAP).

WEST WATERFORD: Buzzard (").

FERRYPOINT:  Adult Glaucous Gull (").

WHITING BAY:  2 Glaucous Gulls (adult & 1st-winter) & adult Mediterranean Gull (").
DUNGARVAN: SIBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF behind Topaz garage at Springfield (FO'C, JAP, BS) - first confirmed from photos & call 27/2 (FO'C) - also Water Rail there, Kingfisher & adult Mediterranean Gull at Ballyneety.