BLACKWATER CALLOWS:  114 Whooper Swans, also c150 Wigeon (CF).

BLACKWATER VALLEY:  No Whooper at Camphire (") - but usual Bride flock were feeding at one or two other locations nearby in mid January (PS).

HELVICK HEAD:  Glaucous Gull (JAP).

DUNGARVAN:  Whimbrel at Ballynagaul (JAP); Green Sandpiper at Brickey canal (CF); dead Kingfisher at window in Aldi car-park (DC).

CLONEA:  Long-eared Owl at Ballinclamper, also 6 Ravens there including one eating fat balls on garden feeder (DC).

Nr KILMEADEN:  Dead Barn Owl at Kilmeaden end of bypass/toll road (DC).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  Kingfisher at Clohernagh (DS).

TRAMORE:  Dead KILLER WHALE still on Saleen beach at Backstrand - looks like a young animal by size but old by teeth (ADM); 64 Shoveler on boating lake, new record count for the county? (MC).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  GLOSSY IBIS & 113 Knot at Pickardstown; Glossy Ibis also (or again) at Lisselan, possibly a second bird (not seen flying over); c2500 Golden Plover on Backstrand, Red Admiral on seawall; female KILLER WHALE washed up Saleen beach, c15 foot long with very worn teeth (AJ).


Wednesday, Jaunary 28, 2015

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR:  Drake RING-NECKED DUCK still present, on main lake (MC).


Tuesday, January 27, 2015

WATERFORD CITY:  Male Merlin with prey at O'Connell Street (JB).

LEAMYBRIEN: Woodcock. (MC)

RATHMOYLAN:  Black Redstart (JB).

SEAFIELD (nr Bunmahon): 2 Woodcock (DW).

ARDMORE:  2 Great Northern Divers in bay (NJB).

Saturday, January 23, 2015

WATERFORD BIRD RACE:  Totals of 105 species (FO'C, EAMacL, JAP, BS) & 101 species (AA, AJ, DS, PMW), or combined total of 110 species between two teams. Species missed by both teams (and not otherwise reported today) included Ring-billed, Mediterranean & Glaucous Gulls, Glossy Ibis, Pintail, Purple Sandpiper, all owls and Skylark.  County record for a single team (birds seen or heard by at least 3 of team) is still 105, first set on January 2 1993 but equaled today.

DERRIGAL (nr Portlaw):  2 PINK-FOOTED GEESE, 220+ Greylag Geese & 33 Whooper Swans (CF, AA, MC, AJ, FO'C, EAMacL, JAP, BS, DS, PMW).

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR:  Drake RING-NECKED DUCK, 20 Tufted Duck & 2 female Goldeneye (CF, MC et al).

RATHMOYLAN:  Black Redstart (MC).

TRAMORE:  Black Redstarts at the Cove & under O'Shea's (").

BLACKWATER VALLEY:  Jay & 2 Woodcock, Newport to Ballynatray (AA, AJ, DS).

DRUM HILLS:  2 Woodcock behind Marine Bar (").

Nr WHITING BAY:  16+ Tree Sparrows at Moord (AA, AJ, DS, PMW).

HELVICK HEAD:  4 Great Northern Divers (").

DUNGARVAN:  33 Great Crested Grebes off Ballynagaul, Chiffchaff & 2nd-winter Yellow-legged Gull at the Cunnigar, Common Sandpiper at Killongford Bridge, 20+ Redpoll, 2+ Siskin & 2+ Long-tailed Tits at Brickey canal, 2 SPOONBILLS off pitch & putt course, Long-tailed Duck off Cunnigar tip, Kingfisher at Barnawee (AA, AJ, DS, PMW).

CLONEA:  4 Great Northern Divers (AA, AJ, DS, PMW).

BALLYVOYLE:  2 Black Redstarts (").

Nr LEMYBRIEN:  Dipper (").

Nr CARROLL'S CROSS:  Male Blackcap (AA).

GREAT NEWTOWN HEAD:  Black Guillemot (").



Friday, January 23, 2015

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR:  Drake RING-NECKED DUCK & 20 Tufted Duck (MC).

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Nr WATERFORD CITY: Long-eared Owl near Couse Bridge roundabout (KB).

TRAMORE:  55 Shoveler on boating lake this afternoon (CF) - probably a Tramore (& county?) record count.

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: Male RING-NECKED DUCK on the small lake (AJ, KA).

BALLINLOUGH:  c200 Redwing (").

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  Chough & 124 Knot at Lisselan (AJ).

BLACKWATER CALLOWS:  98 Whooper Swans (71 adult & 21 juvenile) (MC) - none at Camphire.

BALLINLOUGH:  Water Rail calling & Chiffchaff in the reeds (PMW).

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: Male RING-NECKED DUCK on main lake with 18 Tufted Duck, 15:10 (PMW).

DERRIGAL (nr Portlaw): 3 PINK-FOOTED GEESE with 241 Greylags & 24 Whooper Swans (").

TIBBERAGHNY (Co Kilkenny): 6 Greylag Geese, 75 Whooper Swans & 21 Mute Swans (").

RAM HEAD / ARDMORE:  SIBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF in beet field near Fr O'Donnell's Well along the cliff walk (ADM, AT).

TRAMORE:  Adult Ring-billed Gull, 48 Shoveler & 15 Gadwall at boating lake, Long-tailed Duck at new wetland at Kilmacleague (AJ).

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

HELVICK: Black Guillemot. (")

DUNGARVAN: 2 Long-tailed Ducks, 4 Pintail (Male & 3 Females) & 9 Shoveler in the bay. Adult & juvenile Dark-bellied Brent Geese on Christian Brothers School sports field. (")

CLONEA: Chiffchaff @ Ballinclamper. (")

WATERFORD CITY:  2 Black Redstarts (adult male & female/immature) in garden in Ferrybank (SF per irishbirding.com).

RATHMOYLAN:  Black Redstart (JB).

TRAMORE:  Black Redstart at pier (").

WATERFORD CITY: Black Redstart again on mudflats by Tower Hotel (LR).

DUNGARVAN: 2 SPOONBILLS (adult & juvenile) & 3 Pintail (male & 2 females) off pitch & putt course, 2 dark-bellied Brent Geese (adult & juvenile separately) with 720 pale-bellied Brent on p&p course, 13 Great Northern Divers around bay (PMW).

TRAMORE: 2nd-cal-y Glaucous Gull on spits at Backstrand (AJ).

WATERFORD CITY:  Black Redstart again on mudflats beside Tower Hotel (LR).

BLACKWATER VALLEY:  Female/immature Hen Harrier (NR).

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

DUNMORE EAST: Now 2 Glaucous Gulls - 2nd-winter joined by 1st-winter (MC).

RATHMOYLAN: Female/immature Black Redstart (").

TRAMORE: Black Redstart at the Cove, adult Ring-billed Gull, Kittiwake & 25+ Shoveler at boating lake (").

KILFARRASY:  Black Redstart (").

TRAMORE: Ring-billed Gull at boating lake, 7 Common Scoter in the bay (AJ).

DUNGARVAN: Male Blackcap in garden at Southways, Abbeyside (EB).

ARDMORE: 2 Tree Sparrows. (MC, CF, DW)

CAPPOQUIN: 2 Yellowhammers. (")

NEWPORT: 2 Jays & 3 Red-legged Partridge. (")

TEMPLEMICHAEL: Jay. (")

HELVICK: Black Guillemot. (MC, DW)

DERRIGAL (nr Portlaw):  PINK-FOOTED GOOSE (KA).

TRAMORE:  GLOSSY IBIS at Clohernagh, Ring-billed Gull at boating lake (JAP, BS); PINK-FOOTED GOOSE with 600+ Brent Geese at new wetland between Lisselan and Kilmacleague, female Goldeneye at Pickardstown (AJ), Black Redstart at W end of beach (PA).

BLACKWATER VALLEY:  3 Red-legged Partridge in field behind last house at Newport pier, Jay at Templemichael (MC, CF, DW).

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: Drake RING-NECKED DUCK still present (MC).

DUNGARVAN: Kingfisher at Ballyneety (MC snr).



Thursday, January 08, 2014

LEMYBRIEN:  Woodcock (MC).

KILMACTHOMAS:  Woodcock ("), 6 Long--tailed Tits at Friars Walk, Abbeyside (EB).

TRAMORE:  GLOSSY IBIS at Clohernagh again (RZ), adult Ring-billed Gull, 14 Shoveler & 13 Gadwall at boating lake (JF).

TRAMORE: GLOSSY IBIS again, near Saleen (FO'C, MC snr); male Blackcap, Tramore town (TB).

DUNMORE EAST:  2nd-winter Glaucous Gull (").

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: Drake RING-NECKED DUCK still present (MC).

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

ARDMORE:  Great Northern Diver in bay (NJB).

DUNGARVAN: Green Sandpiper at Brickey canal (JAP).

BALLINVELLA (nr Lismore): 3 Yellowhammers (1m, 2 f) (").

Off BALLYVOYLE:  Great Skua seen from fishing boat 1 mile offshore (FO'C).

DUNMORE EAST: 2nd-winter Glaucous Gull (CF).

RATHMOYLAN: 1st-winter male Black Redstart (").

TRAMORE: 6 Shoveler at Lisselan, 12 Shoveler & 20 Gadwall at boating lake (").

DUNMORE EAST: 3CY (2nd winter) Glaucous Gull. (MC)

RATHMOYLAN: Female/immature Black Redstart. (")

CLOHERNAGH: Glossy Ibis. (")

TRAMORE BOATING LAKE: Adult Ring-billed Gull & 12 Shoveler. (")

KNOCKADERRY LAKE: Male Ring-necked Duck. (")

DERRIGAL/PORTLAW: 2 Pink-footed Geese & 1 hybrid goose. (")

DUNGARVAN: 2 Long-tailed Ducks off pitch & putt. 2 Spoonbills on the Cunnigar. 4 Pintail (male & 3 females) & 1 Shoveler @ Western Bay. Whimbrel @ Knockenpower Lower, Ring. (")

Note: From 1st January, records of Buzzard will no longer be published on the Waterford Birds website or blog, but submission of records is still encouraged (precise locations if possible, especially for birds showing breeding evidence) to allow monitoring of the species in the county.  As with Peregrine, the species is now quite widespread in the county but the risk of deliberate persecution remains high.

BLACKWATER VALLEY:  Jay, Stock Dove & 2 Red Squirrels at Newport East (RAW, EAMacL, BS, FO'C, JAP).

Nr WHITING BAY:  Male Blackcap & 6-7 Tree Sparrows (").

OLD PARISH:  Long-eared Owl & Woodcock (").

DUNGARVAN:  2 Long-tailed Ducks off pitch & putt course, Common Sandpiper at Brickey canal, felamel Goldeneye & male Blackcap at Ballyneety (").

ANNESTOWN:  Water Rail (").

TRAMORE:  adult Mediterranean Gull (").

VARIOUS SITES:  Total 95 species for the day (").

TRAMORE:  GLOSSY IBIS at Clohernagh, adult Ring-billed Gull at boating lake (MC), male Blackcap & 2 Chiffchaffs at upper slipway on Tramore beach (PA).

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR:  Male RING-NECKED DUCK, best viewed from high road (MC).

DUNMORE EAST: 2nd-winter (3rd-calendar-year) Glaucous Gull (").

DUNGARVAN:  2 Yellow-legged Gulls (adult & near-adult) at Ballyneety (CF).

DUNGARVAN: Whimbrel at Ballynagaul (JAP), both SPOONBILLS off pitch & putt course (JAP, MC snr).

DUNMORE EAST: 2nd-winter Glaucous Gull (MC).

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: Male RING-NECKED DUCK with 15 Tufted Duck at S end of main lake (CF).

DERRIGAL (nr Portlaw): 1 PINK-FOOTED GOOSE with c75 Greylags (").