BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  Tree Sparrow, 3+ Whitethroats, 2+ Goldcrests alone lane, Arctic Tern feeding off the tip (DS).

TRAMORE BAY:  43 Whimbrel, 12 Manx Shearwaters, 2 Black Guillemots, Mallard & 2 Common Dolphins at Metal Man / Great Newtown Head (AJ).

TRAMORE BAY:  Great Skua W past Metal Man (AJ).

HELVICK HEAD: 1 Storm Petrel & about a dozen Manxies (seawatch 19:20-19:50, MC).

CLONEA STRAND:  5 Great Northern Divers (3 in summer plumage) (JAP).

BALLYLEMON:  Wheatear on farmland (SL).

HELVICK HEAD:
Seawatch 09:30-10:00 (JAP):
Storm Petrel: 3 feeding close inshore (1st of year)
Great Skua: 1-4 (?same bird)
Fulmar: many
Manx Shearwater, Gannet, Kittiwake, Commic Tern, auks: light passage

BROWNSTOWN HEAD:

Seawatch 18.20-19.00 (DS):

Great Skua: 1 E

Manx Shearwater: 1 E

Commic Tern: 4 E, 6 W

Whimbrel: 1 W 

HELVICK HEAD:  2 Spotted Flycatchers at 1445 (MC snr), 4+ later & a Whitethroat (JAP, MC snr).

HELVICK HEAD:  Spotted Flycatcher (1st of year), 1250 (JAP).

DUNGARVAN:  late report from yesterday of a NIGHT HERON flying over the Old Hospital Road at 1600 mobbed by corvids (Susanne Mordhorst per www.irishbirding.com).

WATERFORD CITY:  Swifts numerous around city today including 13 over main industrial estate (DS, JF), also birds over Ballybricken & the Quay (DS).

BLACKWATER VALLEY: 2+ Reed Warblers at Raheen Quay, Clashmore (ADM).

ARDMORE: 42 Whimbrel at Curragh (").

COMERAGH MOUNTAINS:  Male & female Hen Harrier (AA).

DRUM HILLS: 2 Yellowhammers & a Stoat nr Broken Bridge / Lisgriffin (tetrad X18P) (MAD, PMW).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: very quiet early a.m. - 2 Whitethroats (DS).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: quiet also at Lisselan but good nos of butterflies incl. a Painted Lady, Speckled Wood, Green-Veined White & 15+ Orange Tips (").


CARRIGANORE (nr Waterford city):  2 Swifts (").

IDA PARK (Cork Road): Red Admiral & Peacock butterfly (").

BALLYSCANLAN:  6+ singing Sedge Warblers, 2 Siskins & a Red Admiral (LR).

COUMTAY (Comeragh Mountains): Cuckoo, Ravens, Skylarks, Meadow Pipits, many Wheatears, Dipper, Reed Buntings including one at very back of the Coum but no Ring Ouzel (RZ, BS, AJ, JAP).

KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS: Male Hen Harrier (SH).

LISMORE:  4 SWifts (").

CLONEA STRAND: 3 White Wagtails, 35 Whimbrel, 102 Bar-tailed Godwits & 2 adult summer Great Northern Divers (MAD, PMW).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 40 Whimbrel, 12 Little Egrets, 2 Mallard ducklings at Lisselan (PMW).

COMERAGH MOUNTAINS: Ring Ouzel at Coumtay (PD).

BLACKWATER VALLEY: Reed Warbler at Raheen Quay, Clashmore; Jay in Villierstown (CF).

BALLYNACOURTY POINT: 2 Little Terns flew W past lighthouse (MC snr).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD:

Seawatch 12:05-13:05 (wind 3-4 SW, MAD, PMW)

Arctic Skua: 1 off-passage

Roseate Tern: 5 feeding (1st of year)

Common/Arctic Tern: 5+ feeding

Sandwich Tern: 1 W

Manx Shearwater: 51 W, up to 10 feeding

Fulmar: 3 W

Gannet: 4 E, 27 W

Kittiwake: 3 W, 5-10 feeding

Large auk: 1 W

Swallow: 2 E in from sea

KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS:  Hen Harrier (ADM).

EAST WATERFORD:  3 Buzzards (TO'M).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 2 Tree Sparrows, 3 Whitethroats singing (PMW).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 300+ Whimbrel, Lisselan fields & backstrand (JF).

DUNGARVAN: Male Long-tailed Duck off Quann's (MC snr).

DUNMORE EAST to PORTALLY cliff-walk: Porpoise off Black Knob, Common Lizard (tailless) at Portally, Wheatear along clifftop (MAD, PMW).

KILBARRY BOG: 5 Wheatears (2 male, 3 female), Waterford nature park. 1 male Blackcap, 2 Willow Warblers & 4 Sedge Warblers, river walkway opposite park (JF).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD:

Seawatch 07:50-09:20 (wind 3 SW, PMW)

Great Skua: 1 E

Great Northern Diver: ad summer on sea

Red-throated Diver: 1 W (imm), 1 E (ad summer)

Manx Shearwater: 20 E, 5 W, 15+ feeding

Fulmar: 31 W

Gannet: 16 E, 48 W

Whimbrel: 7 W

Dunlin: 6 W

Kittiwake: 26 E, 25 W

Sandwich Tern: 2 E, 54 W

Razorbill: 16 W

Guillemot: 2 W

Large auk species: 13 E, 6 W

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Great Skua W, adult light-phase Arctic Skua loitering & 7 Whimbrel W (seawatch 19:00-19:45, wind 6 SW), another 10 Whimbrel in fields (MAD, PMW)

DRUMLOHAN: Stock Dove (PMW).

HELVICK HEAD: 2 Puffins W singly (seawatch 13:15-13:45, wind 5 SW, MAD, PMW).

BALLYSHUNNOCK RESERVOIR: 2 Common Sandpipers (MC).

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: 2 Gadwall (male & female) (").

Nr DUNHILL POOLS: 5-6 Whimbrel in fields (").

CARRIGAVRANTRY: 63 Whimbrel this evening (LR).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 2 Blackcaps (m & f - male ringed), Sedge Warbler, 4 Whitethroats, 6+ Willow Warblers, 3 Wheatears, pair of Tree Sparrows & 8 Whimbrel, 0600-1330 (PMW). 

BALLYVOYLE: 2 Dippers & a Great Northern Diver (summer plumage) (JF).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Sedge Warbler & adult summer Great Northern Diver (PMW).

BLACKWATER VALLEY: 2 Reed Warblers at Raheen Quay, Clashmore (ADM).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Tree Sparrow, 2 Whitethroats & 10 Wheatears best this evening (MC).

WATERFORD CITY: Grasshopper Warbler singing in Ballygunner at lunchtime (PA).

Nr LISMORE: Treecreeper singing at Glencairn / Castlerichard Cross Roads, pair of Swifts at Glencairn Abbey, pair of Stock Doves at Ballyvecane, 6 singing Blackcaps Lismore to Glencairn (PMW).

LISMORE:  2+ Swifts over town (").

Nr TALLOWBRIDGE: 3 Jays (including a pair) at Knockroe wood, 10:45-12:30 (PMW).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Nice morning on the head but quiet - 6-8 Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap,  small nos of Willow Warbler & Chiffchaff (PA).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Whitethroat, 3 Sedge & 2 Willow Warblers, 2 Wheatear and 97 Whimbrel at Lisselan; 5 Long-tailed Ducks feeding off the spits at the backstrand (DS)

CARRIGAVRANTRY: 3 singing Blackcaps & a Stoat this eve (LR).

EAST WATERFORD:  Buzzard (MC).

KILL:  Stock Dove (").

SEAFIELD (nr Bunmahon):  Green Sandpiper (DW).

Bird-race species lists from 27 April: here (total 116 species by 3 teams, highest total 102)

HELVICK HEAD: 18 Choughs at the high car-park (JJC, LC).

MONAVULLAGH MOUNTAINS:  Red-legged Partridges (1 seen & several heard) at two locations (JJC, LC).

DUNGARVAN TOWN: 4 Swifts tonight (MC sr, FO'C).

Atlas request - Grasshopper Warbler, Long-tailed Tit, Treecreeper, Jay, Yellowhammer

And some under-reported, under-recorded or sparsely distributed passerines:

More maps

Atlas request - Kestrel, Water Rail, Moorhen, Snipe, Stock Dove

See maps below for a few more under-recorded or under-reported species for which any and all records would be appreciated this breeding season (April-July 2013), or (if they add to the maps below) from previous seasons - see previous message for the details needed.

Records of a range of other scarce(r) or sensitive species (Hen Harrier, Buzzard, Barn Owl, Long-eared Owl, Red Grouse, Woodcock etc) will also be valuable of course, but these are normally reported more completely.

More maps

Waterford Bird Atlas - request for breeding season records of Sparrowhawk and other species

The map below shows the preliminary distribution of Sparrowhawks during the breeding seasons of the the years 2006-2012, by 2-km tetrad. This is based on Waterford Bird Atlas fieldwork and other available April-July records for those years. One final season (2013) will be used to 'mop up' or fill gaps in distribution before the final maps are prepared for planned publication in 2014.

If you can add any 'new' dots this season (or for a previous season 2006 onwards), or upgrade an existing dot from possible to probable (or probable to confirmed) breeding, please email details to atlas @ waterfordbirds.com. Any records submitted (or previously submitted) to the Waterford Birds website will also be used.

Or submit details to the online BirdTrack system - via computer or the free BirdTrack app - but make sure that you've specified that your BirdTrack records are made available to county bird recorders, which will ensure they contribute to the Waterford Atlas.

The minimum details needed are tetrad & locality e.g. S50A near Dunhill Castle (or finer grid reference if you prefer e.g. S5101 or S514013), month and year (preferably full date), and level of breeding evidence. See list of breeding evidence codes. 

Maps of other species can be found here (not all updated yet), and further messages will be posted highlighting other target species for which help is particularly needed this final season.

Note on tetrads & grid references:
An explanation of tetrads is given here (on the national Atlas 2007-11 website, for which fieldwork is now completed). Tetrads or finer grid references can be obtained by clicking on the map of Ireland at http://www.gridreference.ie/, or read from Ordnance Survey Discovery maps (# 74, 75, 76, 82 & 85 cover Co Waterford). For smartphone users, grid references (up to 10-figure e.g. S5142501345) can be obtained using the (free) BirdTrack app, or using a number of inexpensive GPS apps including Irish Grid Ref Compass, Irish Grid Ref Worker and OS Grid to GPS Coordinate Converter.

HELVICK HEAD:  Whitethroat (JAP).

WHITING BAY:  c90 Whimbrel (MF).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 3 Long-tailed Duck just E of spits at 18:15, 75 Whimbrel (PMW).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 2 Tree Sparrows, Wheatear, male Blackcap, Whitethroat, 15 Willow Warblers & 2 Chiffchaffs on land; Great Skua E, 22 Whimbrel W, 2 Red-throated Divers W (1 E, 1 on sea), Great Northern Diver on sea & 70 Manx Shearwaters W (10 E, 70 feeding) (seawatch 1120-1250, wind 3-4 SW); Dark Sword-grass moth trapped overnight (PMW).

KNOCKBOY (Waterford city): Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Sedge Warbler (3) & Grasshopper Warbler all in song along River Suir this morning (PA).

BALLYSCANLAN: Crossbills (PV, DCr, JBo); Water Rail squealing, Sedge Warbler singing & Mute Swan in nest at Ballyscanlan Lake (AA, JF, AJ, PMW).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 2 (feral?) Greylag Geese at Lisselan, Whitethroat singing at Pickardstown, Sedge Warbler singing at Saleen, Stock Dove displaying nr Corballymore Wood ( AA, JF, AJ, PMW).

FENOR BOG: 2 Sedge Warblers singing (").

DUNMORE EAST: 1st-winter Mediterranean Gull (").

WOODSTOWN BOG: 2 Water Rails squealing & 2-3 occupied Grey Heron nests (").

KILL: Grasshopper Warbler & Sedge Warbler singing at waste treatment works (").

BALLINLOUGH: Cuckoo calling & Sedge Warbler singing (").

BALLYVOYLE: Dipper carrying food to chicks in nest (").

CLONEA STRAND: 85 Whimbrel, 135 Bar-tailed Godwits & a Great Northern Diver (").

DUNGARVAN: 40+ Whimbrel, Barnawee / Cunnigar ("), Spotted Redshank off pitch & putt course (JAP, FO'C, BS, RAW).

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR:  Shoveler & singing Sedge Warbler (JAP, FO'C, BS, RAW).

BALLYSHUNNOCK RESERVOIR:  Great Crested Grebe (").

CLASHMORE BROADS:  Reed Warbler (first of year).

DUNGARVAN: Common Sandpiper nr Killongford pool (MC sr).

LISMORE: Swifts finally arrived (ADM).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 2 Tree Sparrows, 5 Wheatears, 2 Common Terns W, 6 Red-throated Divers E (2 W, 3 on sea), 1 Great Northern Diver E, 34 Whimbrel W (AA, JF, AJ, PMW).

TRAMORE: 11 Common Scoter in bay, 225 Whimbrel & 3 Long-tailed Ducks in Backstrand ("), 6 Gadwall at boating lake (PV et al.).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: fall of 23+ Wheatears this evening (apparently during hail shower c20:05); also a Tree Sparrow, singing Whitethroat, 4 Willow Warblers, & 14 Whimbrel W (PMW.

DUNGARVAN:  5 Long-tailed Duck off pitch & putt course (FO'C).

KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS:  Cuckoo calling at Coolnacreena / Coolagortboy (per JAP).

BALLINLOUGH: Grasshopper Warbler & Cuckoo (DW).

CLONEA STRAND: 4 White Wagtails & 27 Whimbrel at Ballinclamper, 1705-1735 (PMW).

Nr TALLOW: yesterday (25/4) - Short-eared Owl found with a broken wing, now in care (MM).

Nr WATERFORD CITY: Swift over IDA Park on Cork Road (DS).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Cold & fairly quiet this morning - 2-3 Willow Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs, pair of Blackcaps & a Whitethroat.

IDA PARK (nr Waterford city):  2 singing male Blackcaps & a nesting pair of Chiffchaffs (DS).

HELVICK:  2nd-winter Glaucous Gull (TK) - up to 3 present in last week according to local fishermen.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  Merlin, Whitethroat, 5 Wheatears, 5 Chiffchaffs & a Willow Warbler (MC).

TRAMORE BAY:  Guillamene to Metalman - Raven, 3 Choughs, 3 Red-throated Divers, Grey Wagtail, 15 Fulmar nest sites, a heavily pregnant Lizard & an Oil Beetle (AJ).

DUNGARVAN: Holly Blue nr the Lookout (BS).

WOODHOUSE: Jay (EB).

CREADAN HEAD: HOOPOE again present in garden with lobster pots (JNM).

DUNGARVAN: Swift over town (JAP).

ANNESTOWN:  Short-eared Owl (MD).

CREADAN HEAD:  Brief flight view of HOOPOE later today (MC).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  Sedge Warbler, 10+ singing Willow Warblers, 2 Wheatears & a mixed flock of 200+ hirundines at Lisseland (DS).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  Blackcap (C&D Foley), lots of Manx Shearwaters passing at very close range (DS).

CREADAN HEAD:  HOOPOE still present at Creadan Head (C Foley/D Foley).

CREADAN HEAD:  HOOPOE still present (per irishbirding.com).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  4 Willow Warblers & 11 Chiffchaffs along lane, 1 Common/Arctic Tern on seawatch (JF).

CLONEA: 6 White Wagtails including one metal-ringed bird @ Ballinclamper. (MC)

CLONEA STRAND: Arctic Tern, 125 Whimbrel, 7 Great Northern Divers & a Red-throated Diver, 1820-1910 (PMW).

KILBARRY BOG (nr Waterford city): Grasshopper Warbler reeling (& seen) along SW edge just W of Ballindud roundabout at 1705 (PMW) - first of year.

BALLINLOUGH: 2 Sedge Warblers (first of year) & a Cuckoo (DW).

TRAMORE: 18 Whimbrel at Backstrand & a male Wheatear at Lisselan (JF), 35 Whimbrel W over sandhills (PMW).

HELVICK HEAD: Small fall - at least 6 Blackcaps and 20+ phylloscs. Also 2nd-winter Glaucous Gull and 3 Black Guillemot (CF).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: also a male Blackcap & 7+ phylloscs (2 + WW, 3+ CC) (PMW).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD:

Merlin on land.

Seawatch 0915-1045 (wind 3-4 SW, drizzle at first; PMW):

Arctic Skua: 1 ad light-phase on sea

Great Skua: 2 W @ 1018

Red-breasted Merganser: 1 f/imm W

Red-throated Diver: 1 W, 1 on sea

Arctic Tern: 1 W

Common/Arctic Tern: 1 W

Sandwich Tern: 16 W

Whimbrel: 15 W

Manx Shearwater: 5 E, 130 W

Fulmar: 2 E, 12 W

Gannet: 3 E, 72 W

Kittiwake: 12 E, 59 W

Large auks: 1 E, 65 W

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: also female Blackcap & 2 Sand Martins, updated totals 11 Willow Warblers, 10 Chiffchaffs, 80 Whimbrel & 8 Red-throated Divers (PMW).

DUNGARVAN: Common Sandpiper at Barnawee (MC sr).

CLONEA STRAND: Little Tern at Ballinclamper (JAP, FO'C, BS) - first of year.

OLD PARISH:  Whitethroat (") - first of year.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 5 Arctic Terns feeding off tip, 8 Red-throated Divers, Great Northern Diver, Common Scoter & Black Guillemot on sea, 1+ Whimbrel flew over, Tree Sparrow, Wheatear, 8 Willow Warblers, 3 Chiffchaffs & a Goldcrest on land  so far (AA, PMW).

MONAMINTRA / CASTLETOWN: Yellowhammer between Monamintra roundabout and Castletown Fen (MC, CF).

CREADAN HEAD: No sign of Hoopoe; 3 Arctic Terns on Creadan/Fornaght strand: 2 Yellowhammers (MC, CF).

DUNGARVAN BAY: BLACK-THROATED DIVER between Ballynagaul & Helvick, 0630 (JAP, BS, FO'C); Black Guillemot & 2 Arctic Terns in bay (MC, CF).

ARDMORE / BALLYQUIN:

Common Sandpiper at Ballyquin beach,

22 Whimbrel at Curragh beach, large numbers of Swallows and House Martins around Ardmore (JJC LC).

TEMPLEMICHAEL: Jay (").

WOODHOUSE: Jay this evening (EB).

WHITING BAY: 16 Whimbrel today (SH).

CLONEA STRAND: 2 Arctic Terns, 83 Whimbrel, 10 Great Northern Divers & 3 White Wagtails at / off Ballinclamper, 1720-1800 (PMW).

STRADBALLY: 6 House Martins & a Dipper (AJ).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Cuckoo at Lisselan (PD) - first of year for Co Waterford. 

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: House Martin, 2 Willow Warblers, c10 Chiffchaffs, 2 Wheatears, a RT Diver & numerous Swallows this afternoon (DS).

NEWTOWN GLEN (Tramore Bay):  FIRECREST still present this morning (LR) - bird was found on 3 April, last reported 6 April, a 17-day stay so far.

DUNGARVAN:  Common Tern around the Quay (MC snr)  - first of the year for Co Waterford.

CREADAN HEAD (nr Dunmore East): HOOPOE still present at 12:20 (NTK, AP, BP, PC & FC).

CLONEA STRAND: 1st-winter Mediterranean Gull & 3 Sandwich Terns at Ballinclamper (JF).

COLLIGAN RIVER:  6 House Martins (DC).

CREADAN HEAD (nr Dunmore East):  HOOPOE still present, 11:50, on side of road among bushes in front of garden (RZ) - grid reference approx S700028. Directions: from Dunmore East main strand, take Killea backroad for 1.1 km NW, turn right at Killea church, right again after c400 m, then c2 km out road.

© R Zamora

see also video (DW)

CREADAN HEAD (nr Dunmore East): HOOPOE in a garden yesterday (16/4) (Trudy McIntyre per Davy Farrar).

CLONEA STRAND:  24 Whimbrel on beach at 18:30 (LO'B) - the first reported migrants of the year (but up to 2 wintering Whimbrel at Clonea in January).

COMERAGH MOUNTAINS:  2 Wheatears along Mahon Falls walkway (LB).

DUNGARVAN:  Swallow at the Cunnigar (JJC, LC).

LISMORE:  Good numbers of Swallows and martins (including House Martins) at Lady Louisa's Walk (ADM).

DUNGARVAN / CLONEA:  2 Swallows at Abbeyside, 1 at Ballinclamper, but very scarce (MC snr).

BROWNSWOOD (nr Portlaw):  House Martins back inspecting last year's nests today (FJ).

CARRIGNAGOUR (nr Lismore): Local Swallows back today on a typical date (ADM).

ARDMORE HEAD: 195 Manx Shearwaters & 30 Fulmars W, also a Porpoise (seawatch 1615-1645, wind f7-8 SW; MAD, PMW).

HELVICK HEAD: 104 Manxies, 1 Puffin & 1 Bonxie all W (seawatch 1300-1400, MC snr).

HELVICK HEAD:  Very heavy passage of Manx Shearwaters along with Fulmars, Gannets, Kittiwakes & auks, 1155-1215 (JAP, BS).

HELVICK HEAD: 2 House Martins, 3 Swallows, 6 Willow Warblers & 2nd-winter Glaucous Gull (MC).

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR:  75+ Swallows, 10+ Sand Martins & 1+ House Martin, 5 Tufted Ducks (3 males + 2 female) also a male Aythya species poorly seen, possibly the Ring-necked Duck (PMW).

BELLE LAKE:  4 Swallows & 4 Sand Martins (").

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: Big mixed flock of House Martins (first of year) & Swallows (IS).

VARIOUS LOCATIONS: Swallows widely reported today including 2 at Ballyneety, Dungarvan (MC snr); Cappoquin (ADM); 2 at Ballybricken, Waterford city (DS); 4 at Brownstown Head & 2 at Saleen, Tramore Backstrand (PMW).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Highlight a Moorhen(!) along main lane, otherwise just a Willow Warbler & 2 Chiffchaffs on land; 55 Manx Shearwaters & a Black Guillemot E, Red- throated Diver on sea (seawatch 1105-1205) (PMW).

DUNGARVAN: 20+ Swallows & 2 Sand Martins at Ballinacourty (JAP, BS).

COLLIGAN WOOD:  Male Blackcap (ADM).

WATERFORD CITY:  Swallow at Grange Heights @ 1955 (JDP).