TRAMORE: Adult Ring-billed Gull & 6 Gadwall at the boating lake. (MC)

BALLYSCANLON LAKE: Adult Mediterranean Gull. (")

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: Adult male RING-NECKED DUCK still present, viewable from from high road (BS, FO'C, JAP).

EAST WATERFORD: Buzzard at two locations (JF, DMcG).

CLONEA STRAND: Red-throated Diver & 4 Great Northern Divers (PMW).

DUNGARVAN: SPOONBILL opposite pitch & putt club, Jack Snipe & Green Sandpiper at Brickey canal, 3 Long-tailed Duck (male & 2 females) between Gold Coast & Helvick (BS, FO'C, JAP); also male Common Scoter, 5 Red-throated & 2 Great Northern Divers off Ballynacourty pier (PMW).

NEWPORT EAST: 2-3 Water Rail calling (BS, FO'C, JAP).

KINSALEBEG: 3 Stock Dove (").

Nr WHITING BAY: 8 Tree Sparrows (").

CALISO BAY: Red-throated Diver (")

HELVICK: 2nd-winter Glaucous Gull (MAD, PMW).

BALLYSCANLAN:  12 Crossbills (AJ).

FENOR:  48 Redwings at GAA pitch (").

GARRARUS:  7 Common Scoter & 3 Red-throated Divers (").

EAST WATERFORD:  Single Buzzards at 3 locations (MC).

TRAMORE BOATING LAKE:  17 Gadwall (JF).

EAST WATERFORD:  3 Buzzards (").

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 4 Long-tailed Ducks ((AJ).

TRAMORE BAY: 11 Common Scoters (9 male, 1 female & 1 1st-winter)  in NE corner, also 3 Red-throated Divers, a Great Northern Diver &  a Great Crested Grebe (PMW).

DUNGARVAN: Green Sandpiper at Brickey canal (JAP).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Merlin, 17 Red- throated Divers on sea & 52 adult Guillemots on cliff at Benlea (PMW).

EAST WATERFORD:  Buzzard (MC).

COOLFIN / DERRIGAL:  13 Whooper Swans & 4 Greylag Geesee at Derrigal crossroads (PV).

KILMACTHOMAS:  Dipper on Mahon river, underneeath N25 (").

Nr DUNGARVAN: Barn Owl @ 1900 (EB).

DUNGARVAN:  Otter feeding in Quay @ 1300 (").

LISMORE:  2 Dippers swimming below the castle (PV).

BLACKWATER CALLOWS:  Crossbills heard aong the roadway, 63 Whoooper Swans, 250 Wigeon. 150 Teal & 100 Curlew (").
RAM HEAD:  7 Common Scoter on sea (ADM).

COLLIGAN WOODS:  Dipper & Treecreeper (FO'C).

BROWNSWOOD (nr Portlaw):  Long-tailed Tit (FJ).

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

TRAMORE:  Male Hen Harrier flying east (AJ).

DUNGARVAN:  Slavonian Grebe off Ballynacourty pier, Red-throated Diver & 2 Common Scoter off Ballynacourty lighthouse (MC snr).

DUNGARVAN: Jack Snipe flushed just above Ballyneety bridge (JAP).

HELVICK:  2nd-winter Glaucous Gull (PV).

BALLYNEVIN (nr Mothel):  3 Jays (JAP, BS, FO'C).

DUNHILL:  Water Rail calling (").

DUNGARVAN:  Slavonian Grebe & 2 Long-tailed Ducks between Gold Coast & Abbeyside, SPOONBILL roosting on Cunnigar opposite pitch & putt course, Merlin at Ballyneety & near Ballynagaul (").

TRAMORE:  Spotted Redshank at backstrand, 2 Great Northern Divers in Bay, Ring-billed Gull, 8 Shoveler & 14 Gadwall at boating lake (DS).

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: Adult male RING-NECKED DUCK visible from high road (JAP, FO'C, BS).

DUNGARVAN: Slavonian Grebe off Ballynacourty pier (CF).

BALLYVOONEY COVE:  2 Common Scoter (JAO, FO'C, BS), 

WATERFORD CITY: 2 Redpolls on feeder.

HELVICK HEAD: 2nd-winter Glaucous Gull (PMW) - was Iceland...

DUNGARVAN: 1st-winter Iceland Gull at Ballynagaul pier, 1st-winter Glaucous Gull & 2 Long-tailed Ducks off pitch & putt course, & total 6 Great Northern Divers around bay (3 inside Cunnigar (").

EAST WATERFORD:  Buzzard (DS).

WEST WATERFORD:  Buzzard (DC).

TRAMORE BOATING LAKE:  Adult Ring-billed Gull, 8 Shoveler (2m 6f) & 22 Gadwall (DS).

EAST WATERFORD:  Buzzard (DS).

HELVICK:  1st-winter Glaucous Gull (MC snr).

DUNGARVAN:  Slavonian Grebe showing well at Ballynacourty (AJ).

DERRIGAL: 12 Whooper Swans (GH).

DUNMORE EAST: 7 Purple Sandpipers (Geoff Hunt).

MONAVULLAGH MOUNTAINS:  12 Stock Doves (flock) & 15-20 Ravens at Coumaraglinmountain, Grey Heron near Crohaun (JAP, FO'C, BS, RAW).

BALLYSCANLAN:  12 Crossbills (AJ).

WEST WATERFORD:  Buzzard (MF).

Nr KILMACTHOMAS:  Tree Sparrow (DW, MC snr).

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

EAST WATERFORD:  Single Buzzards at two locations (").

DUNGARVAN:  Male Hen Harrier (MC).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  Long-tailed Duck, 41 Ringed Plover, 18 Grey Plover (AJ).

TRAMORE BOATING LAKE:  Ring-billed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, 3 Shoveler & 14 Gadwall (7 pairs) (AJ).

DUNGARVAN:  Slavonian Grebe & 2 Long-tailed Ducks off Ballinacourty pier (MC snr).

RAM HEAD:  Fin Whale & c15 Common Dolphins (ADM).

BLACKWATER VALLEY:  2 Green Sandpipers at Dromana Bridge (ADM).

TRAMORE:  Spotted Redshank, 3 Long-tailed Duck, 28 Red-breasted Mergansers & 64 Ringed Plover at backstrand, single Red-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver & Great Crested Grebe in Tramore Bay off the prom (AJ).

BALLYVOYLE HEAD:  Fin Whale off head this afternoon (ADM).

Nr DRUM HILLS:  Male Hen Harrier (MC snr).

HELVICK:  2 2nd-winter Iceland Gulls (MC snr).

TRAMORE:  Merlin, Water Rail & Small Tortoiseshell butterfly at Lisselan (JAP, FO'C, BS); total 1100 Brent Geese at Backstrand including Lisselan, 4 Shoveler & 31 Gadwall at boating lake (PMW),

BUNMAHON:  2 Red-throated Divers (JAP, FO'C, BS).

BALLYVOONEY:  5 Red-throated Divers (").

DUNGARVAN:  Slavonian Grebe & 3 Long-tailed Ducks (male & 2 female) off Ballinacourty (").

DUNGARVAN: SPOONBILL at Killongford (MC).

HELVICK HEAD: 2nd-winter Iceland Gull (").

BROWNSTOWN HEAD / TRAMORE BAY: Total 235 Red-throated Divers (a record county total) on almost flat-calm sea - 160 SE of the head (east to at least as far as Benlea), & another 75 in Tramore Bay, off east coast (west to Great Newtown Head & Tramore pier); also 4 Great Crested Grebes, a Great Northern Diver & 2 Porpoises in the Bay (PMW).

DERRIGAL: 13 Whooper Swans & 1 Brent Goose with Greylag flock (250+) (MC, CF, DW).

CLOHERNAGH (nr Tramore Backstrand): 8 Crossbills (7 male & 1 female) just NE of Corbally church (JAP, FO'C, BS).

LISSELAN: Merlin (MC, CF, DW).

DUNMORE EAST: 1st-winter CASPIAN GULL showing well @10:10 but left later, also 1st-winter Iceland Gull (JAP, FO'C, BS).

DUNGARVAN:  Long-tailed Duck off Ballynacourty pier (MC).

KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS:  Hen Harrier @ c17:40 (ADM).

HELVICK:  2nd-winter Iceland Gull (MC snr).


WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY O6, 2013

ARDMORE: 3+ Mediterranean Gulls including colour-ringed 2nd-winter 'E666' - ringed in Antwerp, Belgium, in June 2011 (ADM).


TUESDAY, FEBRUARY O5, 2013

DUNGARVAN:  Brambling, Blackcap & 17 Siskins at Strandside, SPOONBILL & 2 Long-tailed Ducks at the Cunnigar (DC).

VILLIERSTOWN: Long-eared Owl (").

 LISMORE:  Kingfisher (").

WEST WATERFORD: Buzzard (").

WATERFORD CITY:  Siskin in another garden today - female at Francis Street, 2nd record there in 6 years (DS).

DUNGARVAN:  Male Brambling in garden at Clonea Road (MC snr).

WATERFORD CITY:  Male Siskin on peanut feeder.

BLACKWATER CALLOWS:  158 Whooper Swans - 123 Lismore to Ballyduff, 35 west of Ballyduff (TM).

DUNMORE EAST:  2nd-winter Iceland Gull & 3 1st-winter Glaucous Gulls (Dermot Breen).

DUNGARVAN / HELVICK: 3 Iceland Gulls (2nd-winter & 2 1st-winters) moving between Helvick & the Cunnigar, 2nd-winter Mediterranean Gull at Killongford (MC).

WATERFORD CITY:  c10 Waxwings at Ardkeen village (Mark Redmond per MC).

DUNMORE EAST:  CASPIAN GULL outside harbour wall & Little Gull (JF), 3rd-winter Iceland Gull & 2nd-winter Glaucous Gull at pier. Lots of activity offshore with 100+ Common Dolphins and 5+ Fin Whales (DS).

ARDMORE:  Otter on Curragh strand early this morning (ADM).

BALLINCLAMPER:  Merlin (DC).

LISMORE:  Jay & 2 Treecreepers (").

DUNGARVAN: SPOONBILL off pitch & putt course, Water Rail at Killongford (MC, CF); 2 male Crossbills at Ballynacourty (MC, MC Sr.); Slavonian Grebe off Ballynacourty pier (MC).

WHITING BAY: 65 Sanderling, Great Northern Diver, 4 Red-throated Divers, 14 Brent Geese (MAD, PMW).

ARDMORE BAY:  5 Red-throated Divers W, Great Northern Diver & Great Crested Grebe in bay (").

TRAMORE:  Short-eared Owl,  Kingfisher & 4 Ravens at Lisselan, also dead Fox washed up on shore no obvious injuries (AJ).

DUNGARVAN:  Kingfisher at Brickey canal (DC).

LISMORE: Kingfisher at canal (").

TALLOW: Dipper on Bride river (").

DUNMORE EAST: 2nd-winter and 3rd-winter Iceland Gull still present at pier (RZ).

DUNGARVAN: Black Redstart fem, Promenade, Abbeyside, by soccer field (MC, CF).

SEAFIELD: 3 Green Sandpipers (DW).

EAST WATERFORD: Buzzard (JAP).

LISMORE:  2 Kingfishers at canal (DC).

WEST WATERFORD:  2 Buzzards (").

DUNGARVAN:  3 Long-tailed Ducks, 8 Great Northern Divers & 5 Goldeneye inside Cunnigar (").

DUNGARVAN:  3 Green Sandpipers at Brickey canal (JAP).

DUNGARVAN:  Long-tailed Duck showing very well c20 m off the Lookout (ADM), also visible (& SPOONBILL) from pitch & putt, plus Slavonian Grebe & another Long-tailed Duck off Ballinacourty (CF & MS).

DUNMORE EAST:  4 Iceland Gulls (3rd-winter, 2nd-winter & 2 1st-winters), 2 Glaucous Gulls (1st-winter & 2nd-winter) & a Mediterranean Gull (RZ).

Nr KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS:  Female Hen Harrier (ADM).


TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013

DUNGARVAN: Green Sandpiper at Brickey canal, Brambling & Blackcap at Strandside (DC).

DUNGARVAN: 2 Long-tailed Ducks off lookout (JAP).

TRAMORE:  Adult Ring-billed Gull at boating lake (JDP), 2 Blackcaps (male & female) in garden at Pickardstown (NMcC).

DUNMORE EAST:  1st-winter CASPIAN GULL (4:20 pm for c15 mins) (P. Archer et al. per irishbirding.com), 2 Glaucous Gulls (1st-winter & 2nd-winter) (JDP) & 1st-winter Iceland Gull (RZ).

DUNGARVAN:  SPOONBILL off pitch & putt course (AJ).

DUNGARVAN:  Blackcap & 2 Bramblings at Strandside (DC).

Nr WATERFORD CITY:  Blackcap in garden at King's Channel the last few days (DMcG).

DUNGARVAN:  Female Blackcap at Strandside, Abbeyside (DC).

BLACKWATER CALLOWS:  60 Whooper Swans nr Ballyduff (").

DUNMORE EAST:  CASPIAN GULL came in & out of harbour @ c1325; 10 Purple Sandpipers and 2 Porpoises also at DE (MC, CF, DW). Adult Mediterranean Gull off seawall  & 2nd-winter Glaucous Gull later (PMW).

TIBBERAGHNY (Co Kilkenny): 282 Greylag Geese, 36 Whooper Swans & 3 Little Egrets @11:45 (PMW).

COOLFIN / DERRIGAL / PORTNASCULLY; Green Sandpiper at Clodiagh Bridge, 18 Whooper Swans, 67 Greylag Geese & a hybrid goose (Barnacle x?) at Derrigal cross, 120+ Fieldfares opposite Portnascully (").

DUNMORE EAST: 2nd-winter Iceland Gull & 1st-winter Glaucous but no sign of Caspian Gull yet by 09:00 (MC, CF, DW).

ANNESTOWN: 2 Water Rail calling (BS, RAW, FO'C, JAP).

TRAMORE: Adult Little Gull at strand, adult Ring-billed Gull at boating lake (").

DUNMORE EAST: 1st-winter CASPIAN GULL still present this morning (PA).

DUNMORE EAST:  1st-winter CASPIAN GULL (2nd county record) - photos - & 1st-winter Mediterranean Gull (PA).

LISMORE CANAL:  Kingfisher (DC).

WEST WATERFORD:  2 Buzzards (").

DUNGARVAN (I-WeBS count): 2 redhead Goosanders at Killongford, SPOONBILL nr pitch & putt course, adult dark-bellied Brent Goose at Cunnigar tip, 1st-winter SURF SCOTER inside Cunnigar tip, Slavonian Grebe & 2 Long-tailed Ducks off Ballynacourty pier, & totals of 103 Great Crested Grebes & 12 Great Northern Divers around bay (BD, PS, PMW).

CLONEA STRAND (I-WeBS count):  350 Brent Geese, 6 Great Northern Divers & 11 Red-throated Divers (PMW).

Nr KILMACTHOMAS:  26 Yellowhammers (DW).

RAM HEAD:  5 Common Scoter & 11 Red-throated Divers flew E, 2 Fin Whales (one close inshore) (ADM).

TRAMORE BOATING LAKE:  Adult RING-BILLED GULL, 13 Gadwall & 5 Shoveler - lake is partially frozen (JF).

Nr WATERFORD CITY:  Brambling again with finch flock at IDA Park, Cork Road (DS).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Spotted Redshank in pool to north of first hillock (AJ).


SUNDAY, JANUARY 21, 2013

Nr DUNGARVAN:  Barn Owl (EP per JAP).

BALLYSHUNNOCK RESERVOIR: 35 Whooper Swans (AJ, RZ).

TRAMORE: Adult Ring-billed Gull, 26 Gadwall & 7 Shoveler at boating lake, Gadwall at Lisselan (MC).

DUNMORE EAST: 7 Purple Sandpipers at pier (DS).

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: Male RING-NECKED DUCK on small lake (viewable with telescope from high road), also male Shoveler & pair of Gadwall (MC).

TRAMORE: 14 Waxwings at Ard na Groi estate (JDP), 9 Shoveler, 10 Gadwall, 3 Wigeon & a Kittiwake at boating lake, Fin Whale off Tramore Bay (AJ).

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

WATERFORD BIRD-RACE:  2 teams recorded day-totals of 91 & 92 species seen or heard by 3+ observers (overall total 103 species) (92 species PV, DW, PMW, 91 species FO'C, DO'S, JAP, BS).

KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS:  Red Grouse & Woodcock (JAP et al).

DUNGARVAN: SPOONBILL on the Cunnigar, 10+ Great Northern Divers (PV, DW, PMW), Jack Snipe at the Cunnigar (FO'C), 2 Brambling at Abbeyside (FO'C, DO'S, JAP, BS).

CLONEA STRAND:  Whimbrel at Balinclamper (PV, DW, PMW).

HELVICK HEAD:  6 Great Northern Divers (").

Nr WHITING BAY:  Adult Mediterranean Gull & 2 Tree Sparrows (").

BALLYVOYLE:  2 Red-throated Divers  (").

STRADBALLY COVE:  Dipper (PV, DW, PMW, FO'C, DO'S, JAP, BS).

BUNMAHON/SEAFIELD:  Kingfisher (PV, DW, PMW).

BOATSTRAND:  1st-winter Glaucous Gull at pier (").

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  2 Long-tailed Ducks (").

Nr WATERFORD CITY:  Male Brambling at IDA estate, Cork Road (JF).

HELVICK: 1st Winter Glaucous Gull. (MC, CF)

DUNGARVAN: 1st Winter male Surf Scoter & 2 Long-tailed Ducks off the Lookout. (")

BALLINACOURTY: 2 Long-tailed Ducks. (MC)

EAST WATERFORD:  Buzzard (Brian Whitty).

DUNGARVAN: 2 Brambling at Strandside, Abbeyside (DC).

WEST WATERFORD: Buzzard (").

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Short-eared Owl at Lisselan (DS).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Short-eared Owl, 2 Kingfishers, female Shoveler, Great Northern Diver & 31 Little Grebes at Lisselan (DS).

DUNGARVAN:  SURF SCOTER off the Lookout (JAP), 3 Bramblings at Strandisde, Abbeyside (DC).

TRAMORE:  12 Waxings at Crobally Heights, flycatching (JF).

BLACKWATER CALLOWS:  133 Whooper Swans - 76 Lismore to Ballyduff, 57 west of Ballyduff (TM).

DUNMORE EAST:  1st-winter Glaucous Gull & Purple Sandpipers (PA).

TRAMORE:  Adult Ring-billed Gull & colour-ringed adult Mediterranean Gull at boating lake (Med Gull ringed as a chick at Lady's Island Lake, Co Wexford in 2005 & last seen in 2007, again at Tramore) (").


TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

RAM HEAD:  5 Red-throated Divers but no cetaceans (lunchtime seawatch, ADM).

BLACKWATER CALLOWS:  73 Whooper Swans (15 juveniles) just west of Lismore (PV).

WEST WATERFORD:  Buzzard (").

WATERFORD CITY:  Male & female Blackcap in garden at Francis Street (DS).

EAST WATERFORD:  2 Buzzards (RZ).

DUNGARVAN:  2 Green Sandpipers at Brickey canal (PV).

CLONEA STRAND:  2 Whimbrel at Ballinclamper (MC).

BROWNSWOOD (nr Portlaw): Jay (MC).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Great Northern Diver & 3 Long-tailed Ducks (AJ).

DUNMORE EAST: 1st-winter Glaucous Gull (MC) & 4 Purple Sandpipers (RZ).

DUNGARVAN: Single Waxwing feeding on berries on the Coolagh road roundabout (RZ).

BALLYVOYLE: 3 Great Northern Divers (").

BALLYVOONEY: Common Scoter (").

RAM HEAD: Male Merlin (ADM).

TRAMORE BOATING LAKE: Merlin flew over carpark towards town (JF).

Nr WATERFORD CITY: Male Brambling again at IDA Park, Cork Road (DS).

DUNGARVAN: SPOONBILL roosting off pitch and putt course, SURF SCOTER off lookout, BLACK-NECKED GREBE off Ballinacourty (JAP, BS).

DUNGARVAN: 3 Bramblings at Strandside, Abbeyside (DC).

DRUM HILLS:  Woodock flew over N25 near Coolroe @ 17:15 (PMW).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Spotted Redshank in pool to north of first hillock (AJ).

DUNGARVAN: BLACK-NECKED GREBE off Gold Coast & dark-bellied Brent Goose at Duckspool (PV), 5 Common Scoter on sea off Ballynacourty pier (PMW).

BALLYVOONEY:  Common Scoter (AJ).

TRAMORE: 3 Shoveler, 31 Gadwall & 1 adult Ring-billed Gull @ the boating lake. (MC)

FERRY POINT:  Great Northern Diver (TK).

DUNGARVAN:  Pair of Crossbills at 'drinking tree' behind Gold Coast (MC snr).

DUNGARVAN: SURF SCOTER showing extremely well off lookout @ 0900 (JAP).

LEMYBRIEN:  Woodcock flew over N25 around dusk (MC).

BLACKWATER CALLOWS:  142 Whooper Swans - 68 between Lismore & Ballyduff, 74 west of Ballyduff (TM).

WEST WATERFORD:  Pair of Buzzards (ADM).

TRAMORE BOATING LAKE:  Ring-billed Gull, Shoveler & 25 Gadwall (JF).

RAM HEAD: 3 Red-throated Divers flew west & 30 Common Dolphins this afternoon (ADM).

SOUTH KILKENNY:  Buzzard (JB).

KILBARRY BOG (nr Waterford city):  Kingfisher, Kestrel, 2 Moorhens, 25 Siskins, 5 Bullfinches, Redpoll & 6 Goldcrests along Tramore Rd walkway, Superquinn to Black Rock (AJ, DS).

TRAMORE BOATING LAKE:  Ring-billed Gull, 24 Gadwall, 2 Wigeon & 4 Snipe - 2 Snipe seem to be fishing heron-style (AJ).

DUNGARVAN:  SURF SCOTER back off Lookout (JAP), female Blackcap in Dungarvan town (MC).

HELVICK HEAD:  20 Common Dolphins (ADM).