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.



Sunday, January 31, 2016

BOATSTRAND:  1st-winter Glaucous Gull (MC).

ANNESTOWN:  1st-winter Mediterranean Gull (").

TRAMORE:  Ruff with small Black-tailed Godwit flock at the boating lake (").

CARRIGANORE (nr Waterford cit):  Green Sandpiper, 30+ Long-tailed Tits & 2 Red Squirrels (JF, AH).

DERRIGAL (nr Portlaw): 42 Greylag geese & 15 Whooper Swans (PMW).

PORTLAW / COOLFIN:  Green Sandpiper along River Clodiagh (").

TIBBERAGHNY (Co Kilkenny):  177 Greylag Geese (2 with red neck-bands) & 71 Whooper Swans (").


Saturday, January 30, 2016

BOATSTRAND:  2 1st-winter G;aucous Gulls (MC).

KILMACTHOMAS:  Male Brambling (").

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  Female Goldeneye & adult Mediterranean Gull at Lisselan (MC).

TRAMORE:  Female/immature Back Redstart at Ladies's Slip, west end of Tramore strand (RZ).

FERRY POINT:  1st-winter Glaucous Gull & adult Yellow-legged Gull (CF).

WHITING BAY:  6+ Tree Sparrows on usual feeders at Springfield Lower, 2 Stock Doves & 7+ yellowhammers in stubble north of west car park at Whiting Bay (").

DUNGARVAN:  5 SPOONBILLS on the Cunnigar, 3rd-winter Yellow-legged Gull at Boreenatra, 5 Pintail, 7 Shoveler & adult Long-tailed Duck in Western Bay (").


Friday, January 29, 2016

FERRY POINT:  1st-winter Glaucous Gull (ADM).

BOASTRAND:  2nd-winter Glaucous Gull at harbour (KA).


Thursday, January 28, 2016

DUNMORE EAST:  1st-winter Iceland Gull (MC).

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

LISMORE: Now 2 female Brambling at feeders, Glencairn (TM).

CLONEA: 2 Yellow-legged Gulls (adult & 2nd-winter) & 8 Great Northern Divers (FO'C).

DUNGARVAN: 2 SPOONBILLS on the Cunnigar, near-adult Yellow-legged Gull & a Long-tailed Duck off pitch&putt (").

FERRY POINT: 1st-winter Glaucous Gull (ADM).

Tuesday, January 26, 2016



Monday, January 25, 2016

TRAMORE ROAD:  Barn Owl at 20:30 (JF).

Sunday, January 24, 2016

ARDMORE: Mediterranean Gull at beach (NJB).

Nr ARDMORE:  Female/immature Hen Harrier (").

DUNMORE EAST: 1st-winter Glaucous Gull (MC, AJ, PMW).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 5 Yellowhammers at Lisselan (AJ).

ANNESTOWN: 1st- or 2nd-winter Glaucous Gull with gull flock in flooded field (MC).

Saturday, January 23, 2016

LISMORE: Female Brambling with large finch flock at feeders,  Glencairn (TM).

KILMACTHOMAS: Another female Brambling still present here (BS FO'C JAP).

COMERAGH MOUNTAINS: Barn Owl (").

RATHMOYLAN: Black Redstart (").

PORTLAW: Common Sandpiper (").

DUNGARVAN: 3 Goldeneye at Ballyneety (").

DUNMORE EAST: 1st-winter Iceland Gull & 1st-w Glaucous Gull (MC, PA, BS, FO'C, JAO).

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

BLACKWATER CALLOWS: 157 Whooper Swans (115 W of Ballyduff, 42 Lismore to Ballyduff (TM).

KNOCKNASKAGH (nr Cappoquin): 41 Whooper Swans (").

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

BOATSTRAND: 3rd-winter Iceland Gull & Mediterranean Gull (KA).

TRAMORE: Iceland Gull mobbing Kestrel at W end of strand (AJ).
DUNGARVAN: 5 SPOONBILLS roosting on the Cunnigar opposite pitch & putt course, 8 Pintail (2 along W side of Cunnigar, 6 along N side of p&p), 3 Shoveler by p&p, 2 'green' Chiffchaffs at Springfield, along stream behind Nissan garage (PS, PMW).

Sunday, January 17, 2016

DUNGARVAN: Drake Long-tailed Duck & 5 SPOONBILLS off pitch & putt course (MC)
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 2 GLOSSY IBIS at Lisselan (AJ), 16 Pintail off north saltmarsh (PMW).

Nr TRAMORE: Male Blackcap at the Glen Road (PMW).

DUNMORE EAST: 1st-winter Iceland Gull (AJ, PMW).

Saturday, January 16, 2016

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Drake AMERICAN WIGEON showing well at main lake, Lisselan, also 2 GLOSSY IBISES & a Chiffchaff there (MC); another GLOSSY IBIS at Clohernagh, Short-eared Owl at Backstrand (BS, FO'C, JAP).

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: 2 drake RING-NECKED DUCKS now present, also 2 Crossbills (BS, FO'C, JAP).

DUNGARVAN:  5 SPOONBILLS, adult Mediterranean Gull, male Long-tailed Duck & 3 Goldeneye off pitch & putt course (").

CARRIGANORE: Male GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER (MC).

BALLYSHUNNOCK RESERVOIR: Great Northern Diver & 3-4 Chiffchaffs (").

BALLYSCANLON: Jay (").

ANNESTOWN: 4 Chiffchaffs (").

BOATSTRAND: 3rd-cal-yr Mediterranean Gull (").

DUNMORE EAST: 1st-winter Iceland Gull (RZ, BS, FO'C, JAP).

RATHMOYLAN: Black Redstart, 25+ Commobn Scoter & 25-30 Red-throated Divers (BS, FO'C, JAP).

KILMACTHOMAS:  Female Brambling (").

COMERAGH MOUNTAINS: Woodcock (").

VARIOUS:  Total 101 species for the day (").

Friday, January 15, 2016

DUNGARVAN: 5 SPOONBILL, male Long-tailed Duck & 3 Shoveler (m & 2 f) off pitch & putt course (FO'C).

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

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: AMERICAN WIGEON, 5 GLOSSY IBIS & 40 Shoveker at Lisselan (DW, MC snr); another GLOSSY IBIS at Clohernagh (DW).

DUNMORE EAST: 3 Iceland Gulls (adult & 2 1st-winters) (DW).
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  AMERICAN WIGEON, 5 GLOSSY IBIS & 40 Shoveler at Lisselan; another GLOSSY IBIST at Clohernagh (DW, MC snr).

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  Drake AMERICAN WIGEON at Lisselan again today.

WATERFORD CITY:  Well-described sight record of a GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER in Maypark area on Sunday 10th January (details per DS).



Tuesday, January 12, 2016

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  Drake AMERICAN WIGEON found on main pond at Lisselan in late afternoon, also 9 GLOSSY IBIS at Lisselan (MC) - ID confirmed next day. 1st Co Waterford Record.

Monday, January 11, 2016

WATERFORD HARBOUR:  Adult CASPIAN GULL at Woodstown strand ["Raheen beach"] (SK per irishbirding.com) - only 3rd Co Waterford record if accepted; not clear if same bird as as Duncannon, Co Wexford the same day.

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  8 GLOSSY IBIS at Backstrand (SK per irishbirding.com)m also a GLOSSY IBIS landed in field at Corballymore (SJ).

BLACKWATER CALLOWS:  179 Whooper Swans - 86 Lismore to Ballyduff, 93 west of Ballyduff (TM).

Sunday, January 10, 2016

WATERFORD CITY:  GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER  in Maypark area (details per DS).

KILMACTHOMAS:  Female Brambling again present near Flahavan's factory (DW, MC snr).

DUNGARVAN: 5 SPOONBILLS on the Cunnigar, Kingfisher at pitch & putt club fishing very successfully (MC); Green Sandpiper at Brickey canal (FO'C).

BALLYVOONEY COVE to LADY'S COVE: Purple Sandpiper & 3 Red-throated Divers (PMW).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Only(!) 8 GLOSSY IBIS at Lisselan this evening, also 22 Shoveler (CF).

DUNMORE EAST: Adult & 1st-winter Iceland Gulls outside the harbour (JF).

Saturday, January 09, 2016

CURRAGHMORE: Jay, Grey Squirrel & Mink (JAP, FO'C, BS, RAW).

Nr PORTLAW: Common Sandpiper below Portlaw (").

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 18 GLOSSY IBIS at Lisselan, 2 Short-rated Owls (").

DUNGARVAN: 5 SPOONBILLS, male Long-tailed Duck & a Kingfisher from thelookout (").

VARIOUS: 81 species in total for the day (").
BALLYSHUNNOCK RESERVOIR: Great Northern Diver & Chiffchaff (MC).

HELVICK: Adult Iceland Gull inside pier, 3 Great Northern Divers & 6 Great Crested Grebes on sea (PMW).

CLONEA BAY: 12 Great Northern Divers & 9 Red-throated Divers around bay, 2 Purple Sandpipers at Ballinclamper (").

Friday, January 08, 2016

DUNGARVAN:  Black Redstart n the town, around carpark & trees by Lawlor's Hotel (FO'C).

CLONEA:  Purple Sandpiper & Red-throated Diver (").

Thursday, January 07, 2016

CARRIGANORE (nr Waterford city):  GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER again at Biodiversity Centre, watched going to roost (CF).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  19 GLOSS IBISES at Lisselan (AJ, JF), also a Grey Phalarope & Merlin there (AJ) & a Short-eared Owl in Backstrand area (JF).

DUNGARVAN:  5 SPOONBILLS on the Cunnigar, 2nd-winter Yellow-legged Gull, 3 Pintail (1 m 1 f), male Long-tailed Duck, 3 Shoveler & 4 Goldeneye off pitch & putt course (FO'C).

Wednesday, January 06, 2016

Nr KILMACTHOMAS:  Female Brambling & c20 yellowhammers amongs a large flock of Chaffinches (DW).

SEAFIELD, BUNMAHON: Green Sandpiper& Merlin (").

BALLYSCANLON:  c30 Crossbills (AJ).

Tuesday, January 05, 2016

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  20 GLOSSY IBISES again at Lisselan, at E side of pond (AJ).
WATERFORD CITY:  Male Blackcap in garden at St Herblain Park, first of the winter there (KB, BB).

Monday, January 04, 2016

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  20 GLOSSY IBISES, 3  Grey Phalaropes, Goldeneye, Tufted Duck & Kingfisher at Lisselan, also a Short-eared owl at the Backstrand (DS, AJ) - at least 2 of the Ibises colour-ringed (orange) above left 'knee' (PA).

WATERFORD CITY:  Chiffchaff in garden at Francis Street (DS).

Sunday, January 03, 2016

CARRIGANORE (nr Waterford City): GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER again, calling & seen briefly in flight (DS).

DUNGARVAN: 5 SPOONBILLS roosting at side of pitch & putt course (JF).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 1 GLOSSY IBIS roosting in trees at Clohernagh inlet at high tide this morning with 30 Little Egrets (20 of which flew in from E in a flock) (JDP)

Saturday, January 02, 2016

FERRY POINT:  Glaucous Gull (NJB).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 19 GLOSSY IBIS seen flying in Kilmacleague / Clohernagh direction at dusk (PD).

DUNGARVAN: 5 SPOONBILLS roosting on the Cunnigar, Long-tailed Duck off pitch & putt course (CF), also 4 Shoveler off P&P, female/1st-winter Black Redstart nr Abbeyside church, Whimbrel at Knockanpower Lower, Ring (MC).

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

CARRIGANORE (nr Waterford City): Green Sandpiper still in drainage ditch in front of WIT sports field (DS).

DERRIGAL (nr Portlaw): 120 Greylag Geese including 5 with orange neck-collars, also the hybrid goose species seen in previous winters (CF).

BALLYSHUNNOCK RESERVOIR: Great Northern Diver (calling regularly!) & a Chiffchaff (").

Friday, January 01, 2016

HELVICK HEAD: LITTLE AUK flew W close in at 13:08 (possibly flew out from
harbour), also a Chiffchaff at pier & an Otter off the head (CF).
CLONEA BAY:  3-4 Purple Sandpipers & a Whimbrel at Ballinclamper (CF).