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.



Saturday, October 31, 2015

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHER still present in main willow garden at 17:00, also a FIRECREST there (MC).
DUNGARVAN: 4 SPOONBILLS & 3 Pintail (1m 2 f) at the Cunnigar; Black Redstart & 2 Swallows at Ballynagaul; Green Sandpiper & calling Water Rail at Brickey canal (FO'C JAP RAW PV).

HELVICK HEAD: Jack Snipe, 4 Blackcaps & 5 Great Northern Divers (").

Total 82 species for the day (").
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHER in main ringing/willow garden, calling but elusive (PA) - 2nd Brownstown record this year, 3rd ever. 

HELVICK HEAD: Female/1st-winter Black Redstart (MC).

Friday, October 30, 2015

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Short-eared Owl again (JF).

Thursday, October 29, 2015

HELVICK HEAD: Great Skua W, 16:30 (TM).

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

DUNGARVAN: 3 SPOONBILLS on the Cunnigar (JAP).

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Adult male Black Redstart in last garden on left (AJ).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Short-eared Owl (").

Monday, October 26, 2015

HELVICK HEAD: Juvenile LONG-TAILED SKUA, 2 Arctic Skuas, 1 Pomarine Skua, 4 Great Skuas & 2 Balearic Shearwaters but no other shearwaters or petrels (seawatch 09:30-11:30, CF).

ARDMORE:  Black Redstart at Dysert (NJB).

Sunday, October 25, 2015

DUNGARVAN: SIngle SPOONBILL off the Cunnigar (JAP).

HELVICK HEAD: 4 Great Skuas (")

Saturday, October 24, 2015

DUNGARVAN: 4 SPOONBILLS on the Cunnigar (MC), female Common Scoter off pitch&putt (JAP, BS, MC), male & female Shoveler in Western
Bay (JAP, BS).

Nr BUNMAHON: Short-eared Owl by chimney stack, flew E towards Kilmurrin (MC).

CLONEA: Whimbrel (JAP, BS).
Nr ARDMORE: Female Hen Harrier (SH).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 2 Blackcaps, 7 Swallows, 60+ Skylarks & 6+ Goldcrests (MC, PMW).

Friday, October 23, 2015

TRAMORE BOATING LAKE: 19 Gadwall, 10 Shoveler & an adult Mediterranean Gull (MC).
HELVICK HEAD: 3 Great Skuas (17:00-17:30, TM).

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

HELVICK HEAD: A SPOONBILL flew in off the sea over high car park & landed in Ballynagaul area, Dungarvan bay @14:45 today (JJC, LC, SOC).

DUNGARVAN: Juvenile House Martin in town centre, female Common Scoter & a Wheater at pitch and putt (FO'C).
HELVICK HEAD: Short-eared Owl over sea then landed on Helvick, 13:40 (ADM).

Monday, October 19, 2015

BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  YELLOW-BROWED WARLER in sycamores at bottom of 'west boreen', i.e. access road to Rinneshark at base of headland, south of Saleen; also ringtail Hen Harrier, flock of Long-tailed Tits, 2 Merlin, Redwing & male Blackcap (MC).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  Adult Yellow-legged Gull & 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls at Saleen (").

Sunday, October 18, 2015

DUNGARVAN:  Shoveler & female Common Scoter off sports centre (MC).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  20+ Redpolls (12 ringed), 2+ Redwings, a Siskin & Chiffchaff (AA, MAD, PMW).

Saturday, October 17, 2015

DUNGARVAN: 2 SPOONBILLS off pitch & putt (KA), Water Rail at Springfield (PMW).

ARDMORE:  3 adult Mediterranean Gulls at Curragh (TM).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Blackcap & 2 Tree Sparrows (AA), Fieldfare & (feeding  offshore among 100s of gulls) a juvenile Mediterranean Gull (MAD, PMW).

Friday, October 16, 2015

ANNESTOWN:  1st-calendar-year Mediterranean Gull (MC).

TRAMORE:  12 Gadwall & a 2nd-winter Mediterranean Gull at boating lake (").

DUNGARVAN:  Kingfisher at Barnawee (MC snr).

Off MINE HEAD:  Single HUMPBACK WHALE & Fin Whale (ADM).
DUNGARVAN:  GREAT WHITE EGRET & 4 SPOONBILLS near pitch & putt course - the GWE flew from inland over main road by Topaz garage & landed in saltmarsh near pitch & putt course (ADM).

Thursday, October 15, 2015

DUNGARVAN:  4 SPOONBILLS & 100+ Brent Geese on the Cunnigar (FO'C).

CARRIGNAGOUR (N of Lismore):  Flock of 30+ Redwing overhead (ADM).

WATERFORD CITY:  Kingfisher along river by Bolton Street carpark.



Wednesday, October 14, 2015

TRAMORE:  Pair of Pintail at backstrand, Shoveler & 2 Gadwall at boating lake (MC).

Off RAM HEAD:  At least 2 HUMPBACK WHALES (ADM).

CARRIGNAGOUR (N of Lismore):  Small flock of Redwing overhead (").

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 207 Brent Geese & 52 Sanderling at Saleen, 1000 Golden Plover & 300 Wigeon at Kilmacleague (AJ).
WATERFORD CITY:  2 Kingfishers on river bank in People's Park (LR).
SE of HELVICK HEAD:  3 more Common Scoters going E 3 miles SE of Helvick, also 6 Meadow Pipits (FO'C).
SW of HELVICK HEAD:  3 Common Scoter SW of Helvick (FO'C).

Sunday, October 11, 2015

DUNGARVAN: 4 SPOONBILLS again, at KIllongford (adult & 3 juveniles, MC) & earlier on the Cunnigar (PV).

BALLYMACART: Dipper (PV).
BUNMAHON: 2 Green Sandpipers (MC).

WOODSTOWN: Adult Mediterranean Gull (").
W of MINE HEAD: Pomarine Skua 2 miles W of Mine Head lighthouse (FO'C).
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 60+ Swallows & 12 House Martins at Saleen, 13:30 (KA).
Off RAM HEAD: 3 Great Skuas 3 miles  south of Ram Head, also 2 Rooks going south out to sea a& an Arctic Skua (FO'C).


Saturday, October 10, 2015

DUNGARVAN: 4 SPOONBILLS roosting on the Cunnigar, 15:00 (JAP, FO'C, BS).

BALLYVOYLE: Redwing & Arctic Skua (").

HELVICK HEAD: Great Skua (").

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 7 Mediterranean Gulls (6 adults & a 2nd-winter) (MC) - a site record? - GLOSSY IBIS (AJ, PD), 350 Brent Geese (22 juv) & 800 Golden Plover (AJ).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Merlin, Spotted Flycatcher, Wheatear, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Redpoll, 6 Chiffchaffs & 8 Goldcrests (MC, PMW).


Friday, October 09, 2015

DUNGARVAN: SPOONBILL roosting on the Cunnigar, 15:00 (PMW).

Thursday, October 08, 2015

DUNGARVAN:  SPOONBILL on the Cunnigar between 12:00 & 14:00 but no sign of the Great White Egret (AJ).

ARDMORE:  5+ Mediterranean Gulls at Curragh strand, including adult with ring no. 'E713' (TM).

Wednesday, October 07, 2015

DUNGARVAN: GREAT WHITE EGRET on the Cunnigar (CF).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Jack Snipe along main lane (MC).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Whinchat at Lisselan (AJ).

Monday, October 05, 2015

CARRIGNAGOUR (nr Lismore):  20-30 Crossbills (ADM).


Sunday, October 04, 2015

DUNGARVAN:  Jack Snipe & juvenile Curlew Sandpiper on the Cunnigar (FO'C).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  Sub-adult Pomarine Skua & 2 Great Skuas W (seawatch 11:30-12:00); 3 Wheatears, 2 Chiffchaffs  & a Redpoll on land (MAD, PMW).

Saturday, October 03, 2015

BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  3 Blackcaps, 4 Chiffchaffs, 10 Goldcrests & a Siskin on land, c10 unidentified dolphin offshiore (MAD, PMW).

HELVICK HEAD: 8 Porpoises, 50 Common Dolphins & a Minke Whale, & steady passage of several hundred Swallows & House Martins (ADM).
HELVICK HEAD: LESSER WHITETHROAT in sycamores below the greyhound garden, 1225 (CF)

Friday, October 02, 2015

BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  2 male Blackcaps, Whitethroat, 8+ Chiffchaff & 6 Goldcrests in dense fog (DS).

Off MINE HEAD: 50-60 Swallows & 8 Meadow Pipits 3 miles south of Mine Head lighthouse (FO'C).

Thursday, October 01, 2015

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  GLOSSY IBIS at Clohernagh (MC).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  Willow Warbler (JF).

ARDMORE:  2 adult Mediterranean Gulls & 2 White Wagtails (TM).