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.



Tuesday, January 08, 2013

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).

Sunday, January 06, 2013

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).

Saturday, January 05, 2013

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).

Friday, January 04, 2013

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).

Thursday, January 03, 2013

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).

Wednesday, January 02, 2013

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

EAST WATERFORD:  Buzzard (MC).

Tuesday, January 01, 2013

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 (").


Monday, December 31, 2012

WATERFORD CITY:  c250 Pied Wagtails roosting in trees opposite the Tower Hotel at 17:30 (DMcG).
Nr KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS: Female Hen Harrier (ADM).
DUNGARVAN: SURF SCOTER off Lookout, Jack Snipe flushed above Ballyneety bridge (JAP, BS); 9 Great Northern Divers & 20 Great Crested Grebes off Ballynacourty pier, another 6 GNDs, 9 GCGs, 44 Red-breasted Mergansers & 2+ Goldeneye off Lookout (PMW).

TRAMORE; 31 Gadwall (including pair mating) at boating lake, 3 Shoveler (male & 2 females) at Lisselan (DS).

EAST WATERFORD: Buzzard (").
DUNGARVAN: Spoonbill & Black-necked Grebe @ Western Bay. Adult Black Brant & 2 Long-tailed Ducks by the pitch & putt club. (MC, CF)


DUNMORE EAST: 2nd-winter Glaucous Gull (RZ).
TRAMORE TOWN:  15 Waxwings still present at Seafield estate (RZ).

Sunday, December 30, 2012

TRAMORE:  Black Redstart at west end of beach (MC, DW).

DUNGARVAN:  Adult dark-bellied Brent Goose at Duckspool (MC).
DUNMORE EAST: 2nd-winter Glaucous Gull, adult Mediterranean Gull and 9 Purple Sandpipers at pier (MC, DW).
DUNGARVAN: BLACK BRANT at pitch & putt course, 1st-winter male SURF SCOTER, Long-tailed Duck, SPOONBILL & Otter off Lookout / p&p, BLACK-NECKED GREBE off Ballynacourty pier (JAP, KG, JFD, JAP, AW).
TRAMORE TOWN: 15 Waxwings at Seafield (opposite the entrance to Newtown Hill estate, near the roundabout to take the coast road west) (DS).

Nr KNOCKANORE: early (late) Frogspawn (ADM).

Saturday, December 29, 2012

KEEREEN (nr Aglish): 12 Whooper Swans (JAP, BS).

ARDMORE:  3 Mediterranean Gulls (1st-winter, 2nd-winter & adult) (CF).

HELVICK HEAD:  Great Skua, 12 Red-throated Divers & Merlin (").

DUNGARVAN:  Brambling at Strandside, adult BLACK BRANT at pitch & putt course (DC), SURF SCOTER & 3 Long-tailed Ducks off lookout, SPOONBILL in western bay, BLACK-NECKED GREBE off Ballynacourty pier (CF).

KILLOWEN ORCHARD (nr Portlaw): c12 Waxwings (DC).

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR:  Kingfisher (PV).

BALLYSHUNNOCK RESERVOIR: 23 Whooper Swans & 14 Tufted Duck (CF).

TRAMORE:  Ring-billed Gull & 17 Gadwall at boating lake (AJ, RZ), Spotted Redshank at Backstrand (JF).
Nr WATERFORD CITY: 5 Waxwings at IDA park, Cork Road (DS).
DUNGARVAN: SURF SCOTER still off lookout (JAP, BS).

Friday, December 28, 2012

TRAMORE:  Black Redstart & Chiffchaff at town end of beach (BH).

DUNGARVAN: Long-tailed Duck off the Lookout. (MC)
DUNGARVAN:  SURF SCOTER still present @ 09:25 (CF).

HELVICK HEAD:  Updated totals (seawatch 09:45-11:45):  2 adult Pomarine Skuas, 1 Manx Shearwater, 8 Red-throated Divers, c2000 Fulmars, c500 Gannets, c250 Kittiwakes & c1000 large auks (95% Guillemots) (").
HELVICK HEAD: 1 Manx Shearwater, 1 Pomarine Skua, 2 Red-throated Divers, c1000 Fulmar, many Gannets and auk passage just starting to become significant (seawatch 09:45-10:30, CF).

Thursday, December 27, 2012

BLACKWATER CALLOWS:  Total 218 Whooper Swans - 142 between Lismore and Ballyduff, 762est of Ballyduff (TM).

DUNGARVAN:  BLACK BRANT on pitch & putt course, 3 Long-tailed Ducks in inner harbour & 2 Shoveler (m&f) in western bay (CF).

LISMORE CANAL:  Kingfisher, also a (feral?) Barnacle Goose with farm geese (PV).

CLONEA STRAND:  3 Otters 100 m out to sea, 5 Great Northern Divers & 2 Whimbrel (").

EAST WATERFORD:  Buzzard (JAP, BS).
BALLINACOURTY: Black-necked Grebe. (MC)

TRAMORE: Black Redstart, 3 Chiffchaffs & 12 Gadwall. (")

TIBBERAGHNY (Co. Kilkenny): Approximately 360 Greylag geese. (")

MOUNTBOLTON: Jay. (")

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: Drake Shoveler. (")
TRAMORE BOATING LAKE: Ring-billed Gull (DW).

Nr ARDMORE: Kestrel feeding on dead Fox (roadkill?) (ADM).
DUNGARVAN: SURF SCOTER still off lookout (JAP, DC).

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

TRAMORE: 16 Waxwings again at Ard na Groi estate, 14:15 (MAD, PMW).

DUNGARVAN: Adult dark-bellied Brent Goose at Duckspool, Long-tailed Duck off Quann's (MC).
DUNGARVAN: Adult Yellow legged Gull at Ballyneety, then flew out towards harbour (MC); SURF SCOTER still off lookout (MC, JAP, BS).

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

TRAMORE: Waxwings still present at Ard na Groi estate (MD).


DUNGARVAN: 2 Great Northern Divers at Davitt's Quay (E&EB).

Monday, December 24, 2012

TRAMORE: 14 Waxwings still present Ard na Groi estate (JF).
DUNGARVAN: BLACK-NECKED GREBE from Ballinacourty towards land end (JAP, PV).
DUNGARVAN: 3 Pintail (female & 2 males) beyond pitch & putt club (PV).
DUNGARVAN: SURF SCOTER showing extremely well off lookout. also 3 Long-tailed Ducks (JAP).

Sunday, December 23, 2012

CLONEA STRAND:  2 Whimbrel at Ballinclamper, Great Northern Divers at Ballinclamper & Ballyvoyle (PV).

DUNGARVAN:  Great Northern Diver at Gold Coast ("), 12 Great Northern Divers, 3 Long-tailed Duck, 4 Goldeneye & 51 Shelduck in harbour (DC).

DUNGARVAN: BLACK-NECKED GREBE & male Long-tailed Duck off Ballynacourty. 2 Tufted Ducks off pitch and putt (MC).

HELVICK: Black Guillemot (").
TRAMORE: 16 Waxwings at Ard na Groi estate, near racecourse; 15 Gadwall & 300 Black-tailed Godwits at boating lake (JDP, JF).

Saturday, December 22, 2012

BALLYVOONEY COVE:  Female-type Common Scoter (DW).

Friday, December 21, 2012

BALLYMACMAGUE SOUTH:  Merlin (JJC).

SEAFIELD:  Green Sandpiper (DW).
DUNGARVAN:  BLACK-NECKED GREBE off Ballynacourty pier (MC, MC snr).

TRAMORE:  Female-type Black Redstart opposite O'Shea's Hotel, drake Shoveler & 8 Gadwall on boating lake (MC).

Thursday, December 20, 2012

EAST WATERFORD:  Buzzard (JJC).

TRAMORE:  Waxwing in back garden at Pickardstown (NMcC).

DUNGARVAN:  Brambling & 6 Siskins at Strandside (DC).

WEST WATERFORD:  Buzzard (").

CLONEA STRAND:  Black Redstart under Clonea hotel (MC snr).

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

BLACKWATER CALLOWS:  Total 183 Whooper Swans & 13 Mute Swans between Lismore and just west of Ballyduff (Tom Murphy).

Nr DUNGARVAN:  Barn Owl at 11 pm (DC).

DUNGARVAN: SURF SCOTER still between pitch & putt course & the Cunnigar (JAP).

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

EAST WATERFORD:  Buzzard (MC).

Monday, December 17, 2012

TRAMORE TOWN:  Male Blackcap (TB).

DUNGARVAN:  African-type Chaffinch at Strandside (DC) - see photographs of same bird taken 5 Dec.
Nr WATERFORD CITY:  40+ Fieldfares at Williamstown sports complex this morning (BB).

Sunday, December 16, 2012

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  2 Long-tailed Ducks (AJ).
DUNGARVAN: 2 Long-tailed Ducks, SURF SCOTER & 5 Goldeneye off lookout (JAP, PV).

Saturday, December 15, 2012

FIDDOWN/TIBBERAGHNY: 315 Greylag Geese & 56 Whooper Swans in fields at Tibberaghny (Co Kilkenny side), 375 Teal along River Suir (PMW).

COOLFIN / DERRIGAL: 61 Greylag Geese (40 at Coolfin, 21 at Derrigal) & 15 Whooper Swans (at Portnascully, Co Kilkenny) (").
DUNGARVAN:  SURF SCOTER & Long-tailed Duck off lookout, another Long-tailed Duck off Ballynacourty pier, & 8+ Crossbills in golf-course behind Ballynacourty pier (JAP, BS, RAW).

Friday, December 14, 2012

DUNGARVAN:  2 Bramblings in garden at Shandon (BS, JAP, MS).

Nr WATERFORD CITY:  50+ Fieldfares at Williamstown sports complex (Bob Barrett).
DUNGARVAN: SURF SCOTER still present between lookout and Cunnigar (JAP). 

Thursday, December 13, 2012

TRAMORE:  Flock of Waxwings at Crobally Upper (Dee Weekes), male Blackcap Tramore town (TB).
WATERFORD CITY:  Female Blackcap in garden on Francis Street, first there this winter (DS).
DUNGARVAN:  Brambling in garden at Abbeyside (JH).

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

DUNGARVAN:  2 Waxwings in town (junction of Wolfe Tone Road & Mitchell Street) (JAP), SURF SCOTER inside Cunnigar tip, 3 Crossbills in pines at pitch & putt club, 2 Great Northern Divers off Ballynacourty pier & a Chiffchaff at Knockanpower Lower, Ring (PMW).

CLONEA STRAND:  Barnacle Goose with Brent (near Ballyvoyle, later at Ballinclamper) & Great Northern Diver at Ballinclamper (PMW).

Monday, December 10, 2012

DUNGARVAN: 7 Crossbills on large sycamore (the drinking tree)  just up behind Gold Coast. (MC snr).

Sunday, December 09, 2012

TRAMORE TOWN:  3 Waxwings (TB).

DUNGARVAN: BLACK BRANT at Quann's, SURF SCOTER and 2 Long-tailed Ducks off lookout, 3 Shoveler off pitch & putt point, SPOONBILL roosting on the Cunnigar, Merlin Abbeyside. 9 Barnacle Geese at Ballyneety (MC).

CLONEA STRAND: Adult dark-bellied Brent Goose at Ballinclamper (").
DUNGARAVAN: 3 Waxwings, Cruachan estate, Abbeyside (MC).

Saturday, December 08, 2012

GREAT NEWTOWN HEAD:  5 Fin  Whales (PK).

DUNGARVAN:  9 Barnacle Geese (FO'C).
Nr BALLYLANEEN:  Jack Snipe & Chiffchaff (DW),

BUNMAHON:  Green Sandpiper (").
DUNGARVAN:  Great Northern Diver & 11 Red-breasted Mergansers off the lookout, Black Redstart opposite pitch & putt course (JF).
DUNGARVAN: Female Eider at Ballynagaul (JAP, BS), 7 Crossbills behind Gold Coast (MC snr).
DUNGARVAN: SURF SCOTER & 3 Long-tailed Ducks off lookout (JAP, BS).

CLONEA STRAND: Juvenile Eider at Ballinclamper (").

Friday, December 07, 2012

TALLOW to LISMORE: Barn Owl tonight (ADM).

DUNABRATTIN HEAD: 4 Fin Whales 5km south east off head (PK).

DUNGARVAN:  Brambling (DC).

CAPPOQUIN:  3 Otters on River Blackwater (").

KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS:  22 Ravens along Vee road (").

WEST WATERFROD:  Buzzard (").

DUNGARVAN:  SURF SCOTER still at lookout, towards Cunnigar (JAP).

CAPPOQUIN:  3 Otters (DC).

Thursday, December 06, 2012

TRAMORE TOWN:  Waxwing (TB).

DUNGARVAN:  Brambling at Strandside, Abbeyside (DC).

Nr DUNGARVAN:  Long-eared Owl this morning (MC).

Wednesday, December 05, 2012

TOORANEENA: Waxwing today (R. Flynn).

BALLYVOYLE:  Adult male Eider still present, also 2 Dippers (RZ).
RAM HEAD:  3 Fin Whales & 200+ Common Dolphins (ADM).

Nr GOAT ISLAND:  Merlin & 200+ Skylarks (").
DUNGARVAN:  SURF SCOTER still present (PA).

South if WATERFORD CITY:  Ringtail Hen Harrier this morning (").
KILBARRY BOG:  12 Siskin & 5 Redpolls (including a pale bird) at Tramore Road river walkway near Superquinn (AJ).

DUNGARVAN:  Chiffchaff, male Blackcap & 20 Siskins at Springmount (DC).

Tuesday, December 04, 2012

WATERFORD CITY:  3 Waxwings (Mat Shanahan per irishbirding.com).
TRAMORE ROAD:  Freshly dead Stoat near Halfway House (AJ).

Monday, December 03, 2012

EAST WATERFORD:  Buzzard (DC).

DERRIGAL/COOLFIN:  c2010 Greylag Geese & 10 Whooper Swans nr Derrigal cross-roads (PA).
DUNGARVAN: SURF SCOTER at the lookout, 9 Barnacle Geese & 3 Long-tailed Ducks (FO'C).
HELVICK HEAD: Fin Whale, 80 Common Dolphins & 3 Great Skuas (ADM).

DUNGARVAN:  21 Waxwing near Campus garage (").

DUNGARVAN:  30+ Waxwings on cherry trees 100 m south of Campus garage, N25 (EB).
DUNGARVAN: Waxwing flock still on bypass near Campus garage (JAP).

Sunday, December 02, 2012

BUNMAHON:  Short-eared Owl & Merlin (DW).

TRAMORE BOATING LAKE:  13 Gadwall & adult summer-plumage Mediterranean Gull (AJ).
CLONEA STRAND:  Whimbrel & flyover Crossbill at Ballinclamper earlier today (MC).
DUNGARVAN:  Brambling briefly at Strandside (DC).
DUNGARVAN:  Now 35 Waxwing next to Campus garage, N25, near bypass roundabout (MC), also 2 Waxwing at Ardscoil na nDeise today (RZ).
DUNGARVAN:  28-29 Waxwings at bypass, SPOONBILL, 2 Long-tailed Ducks & 9 Barnacle Geese off pitch & putt course, Green Sandpiper at Brickey canal (JAP, BS, DO'S).

BALLYVOYLE:  Male Eider & 2 Dippers (").
DUNGARVAN: 17  Waxwing at bypass, SURF SCOTER at lookout (JAP, DO'S, BS).

Saturday, December 01, 2012

DUNABRATTIN HEAD:  4 Fin Whales (PK).

RAM HEAD:  2 Great Skuas, 1 small skua sp., 50+ Common Scoter past & c30 Common Dolphins (ADM).
DUNGARVAN:  25+ Waxwings just west of John Foley's garage, Kilrush (JAP, BS); 9 Barnacle geese at Ballyneety & 2 Long-tailed Ducks off lookout (JAP, BS, RAW).

NW WATERFORD:  Buzzard (MC, MC snr, CF, DW).
BALLYVOYLE: Adult male Eider (JAP, BS, RAW).

BUNMAHON: Green Sandpiper (").

ANNESTOWN:  Kingfisher and Water Rail (seen) (")
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 450+ Gannets offshore, mainly sitting on sea, 14:30 (PMW).


DUNGARVAN TOWN:  1 Waxwing this morning (FO'C).
DUNGARVAN: SURF SCOTER still off lookout
(JAP, RAW, BS).

BALLYNACOURTY: 2 Waxwings & a female Blackcap at thatched house (").