DUNGARVAN:  Spotted Redshank again at the Cunnigar but got up & flew high west (FO'C).

DUNGARVAN: Green Sandpiper & Common Sandpiper at Ballyneety (FO'C).



Thursday, August 29, 2013

DUNGARVAN:  Adult-winter Spotted Redshank & juvenile Little Stint on the Cunnigar (FO'C).

ARDMORE: Whimbrel at Curragh (SH).

HELVICK: 2nd-summer Glaucous Gull (JAP).

ARDMORE:  10+ Mediterranean Gulls (JAP).

Nr WHITING BAY:  2 Tree Sparrows at Moord (").

ARDMORE:  Adult Mediterranean Gull at pier (MC sr).

DUNGARVAN: Ruff at Ballyneety (JAP).

BALLYVOYLE: Dipper & flock of 23+ Chough (").

RAM HEAD: 2 Sooty Shearwaters, Minke Whale, 10 Bottlenose Dolphins & 4 Porpoises  (seawatch 13.20-15.00, ADM)

DUNGARVAN: Juvenile Ruff, 2 juvenile Little Stints, adult Curlew Sandpiper & 5 Whimbrel at the Cunnigar (JAP).

KILMEADEN POOLS:  Juvenile Cuckoo & adult White Wagtail (MC).

RAM HEAD: Great Skua off-passage & 1020 Manx Shearwaters W (140+ feeding) (seawatch 9:35-11:35, PMW)

DUNGARVAN: Adult Mediterranean Gull at the Cunnigar. (MC, CF)

CLONEA: Wigeon @ Ballinclamper. (MC, MC Sr., PV)

DUNGARVAN: Juvenile Little Stint (video) and 2 juv Curlew Sandpipers at Cunnigar (MC, CF).

HELVICK HEAD:  Lesser Whitethroat, between carpark and seawatch cove on seaward side of path (LO'B).

CLONEA STRAND:  Common Sandpiper & 4 Whimbrel (").

DUNGARVAN:  Common Sandpiper at Barnawee bridge, more Whimbrel between the bridge and Gold Coast (").

ARDMORE: 4 Spotted Flycatchers at Dysert (SH).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Kingfisher at Clohernagh (JF).

CLONEA STRAND: Juvenile Mediterranean Gull at Ballinclamper (MC sr).

RAM HEAD:

Seawatch 18.45-20.15 (CF, MC, MC sr)

Black Tern: 1 juv/1st/winter.

Great Skua: 3.

Manx Shearwater: c25.

CLONEA STRAND:  Common Sandpiper & 2 Whimbrel (LO'B).

DUNGARVAN:  Adult Ruff & 2 Little Terns at the Cunnigar (FO'C).

TRAMORE BOATING LAKE:  Adult Mediterranean Gull, Little Grebe with chick, & 7 Coots (JF).

ARDMORE: 3-4 adult Mediterranean Gulls at Curragh strand (ADM, AT).

RAM HEAD:

Seawatch 10:45-14:45 & 15:10-17:10 (wind 3-4 SW-WSW, PMW, ADM, AT)

Sooty Shearwater: 1 W at 16:57.

Great Skua: 1 E then on sea.

Puffin: 15 W.

Manx Shearwater: 23 E, 280 W.

Fulmar: 7 E, 61 W.

'Commic' Tern: 1 W.

Sandwich Tern: 10 E.

Large auks: 3 W.

RAM HEAD:

Seawatch 10:45-11:45 (wind 2-3 WSW, vis excellent, PMW)

Great Skua: 1 E

Puffin: 7 W.

Manx Shearwater: 8 E, 76 W.

Fulmar: 1 E, 11 W.

Sandwich Tern: 4 E.

Large auk: 1 W.

Gannet, Kittiwake: not counted.

DUNGARVAN: Adult Mediterranean Gull at Barnawee (MC snr).

DUNGARVAN: 2nd summer Glaucous Gull & adult Mediterranean Gull @ Ballyneety. (MC)

HELVICK HEAD: 4 Sooty Shearwaters, 6 Bonxies & 5 Puffins on seawatch, also an immature Little Gull off harbour wall (JAP, FO'C, RAW).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD:
Seawatch totals 07:10-09:10 (DS, AJ):
GREAT SHEARWATER: 1 W.
Storm Petrel: 1 W.
Great Skua: 2 W.
Manx Shearwater: 2 E, 562 W.
Fulmar: 22 E, 107 W.
Gannet: 35 E, 207 W.
Kittiwake: 4 E, 35 W.
Sandwich Tern: 18 W.
'Commic' Tern: 1 W.

HELVICK HEAD: totals 3 GREAT SHEARWATERS, 1 Balearic, 3 Sooty & c.1000 Manx Shearwaters, 6 Bonxie, 3 Storm Petrels and 20+ Puffin (CF).

RAM HEAD: Sooty Shearwater & 100+ Manx (seawatch 08:30-09:45, ADM).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: GREAT SHEARWATER W at 08:01 on Seatrack seawatch (DS) - only 3rd site record.

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  4 Common Sandpipers & an Otter at Lisselan (DS).

IDA Park (nr Waterford city):  2 Spotted Flycatchers (").

IDA Park (nr Waterford city):  4+ Spotted Flycatchers - 2 adults feeding 2-3 juveniles (DS).

DUNGARVAN: 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls @  the Barnawee. (MC)

DUNGARVAN: Green Sandpiper @ Ballyneety. (MC)

ARDMORE:  4 Mediterranean Gulls (1st-summer & 3 adults) (ADM).

RAM HEAD:  4 Great Skuas in 10 minutes (").

DUNGARVAN: Juvenile Ruff (flew east high) and juv Mediterranean Gull on Cunnigar (MC, CF).

BALLYNACOURTY POINT: 11+ Bottlenose Dolphins (including 2 calves) at lighthouse (DC, ADM, AT).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  Kingfisher, 2 Common Sandpipers & a Stock Dove at Lisselan (DS).

WEST WATERFORD PELAGIC (Youghal to south of Ram Head & Mine Head):  Quiet - final tallies 2 Sooty Shearwaters, 10+ Storm Petrels, 5+ Puffins, an Arctic Tern & 2+ porpoises, with very few Manx Shearwaters (09:00-17:00: DC, MAD, CF, SMH, AJ, AJe, ADM, FO'C, DO'S, JAP, PV, PMW, DW on 'Rebecca C' with Martin Colfer).

WEST WATERFORD PELAGIC: slow start so far - Sooty Shearwater, 2 Storm Petrels, 2 Puffins & just a few dozen Manxies by 11:30.

Nr DUNGARVAN: Barn Owl at 01:30 (JAP).

HELVICK: 2 Great Skuas. (MC)

Wednesday, August 07, 2013

Off HELVICK HEAD:  15 Storm Petrels, 3 Pomarine Skuas, 3 Great Skuas, 4 Puffins, 8 Arctic Terns & 20-30 Manx Shearwaters seen from fishing boat 8 miles south of Helvick, 11:30-17:00 (FO'C).

GREAT NEWTOWN HEAD:  9 Common Sandpipers E (others calling from cliff base) & a Wheatear (AJ).

PORTLAW TOWN:  3rd Kingfisher of the day at bridge over River Clodiagh (SMH, MC snr).

POULDREW BRIDGE (nr Kilmeaden):  Kingfisher (SMH, MC snr).

EAST WATERFORD:  Buzzard (").

SEAFIELD (Bunmahon):  Kingfisher (SMH, MC snr).

Monday, August 05, 2013

TRAMORE BOATING LAKE:  2 Common Sandpipers & 9 Coot (JF).

DUNGARVAN:  Up to 1000 small waders on the Cunnigar this evening - 40:40:20 ratio of Dunlin / Ringed Plover / Sanderling, with good numbers of juveniles among Dunlin - also 4 Common Sandpipers, 12 Whimbrel & a Golden Plover (CF).

DUNGARVAN:  Green Sandpiper & 3 Mediterranean Gulls (2nd-summer & 2 adults including '3H97') at Ballyneety (MC).

HELVICK:  2nd-summer Glaucous Gull (").

ARDMORE:  2 adult Mediterranean Gulls (").

RAM HEAD:
Seawatch 16:30-19:00 (MC)
Sooty Shearwater: 2 W.
Great Skua: 1 W.
Common Scoter: 3 E.
Arctic Tern: 3 W.
Puffin: 1 W.
Minke Whale: 1.
Also a Common Lizard.

RAM HEAD: Sooty Shearwater west @ 16:30 (MC).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Stock Dove & Common Sandpiper at Lisselan (AJ).

CLONEA STRAND:  2 adult Roseate Terns at Ballinclamper (MC, CF, DW).

DUNGARVAN: 3 Mediterranean Gulls (2nd-summer & 2 adults including returning white 3H97) at Ballyneety bridge, 3 adult Meds at Barnawee (MC, CF, DW).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 3 Common Sandpipers at Clohernagh (DS).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD:

Seawatch 06:50-09:50 (DS, PMW, ADM, wind 3 W-WSW)

Great Skua: 1W.

Common Scoter: 3 E, 35 W.

Manx Shearwater: 14 E, 35 W.

Fulmar: 9 E, 20 W.

Gannet: 31 E, 152 W.

Curlew: 2 W.

Dunlin: 3 W (& 3 Dunlin or Sanderling W).

Kittiwake: 7 E, 69 W.

Sandwich Tern: 3 E, 25 W.

Black Guillemot: 1 E.

Large auk so: 19 E, 1 W.

Porpoise: 2.

RAM HEAD:

Seawatch (ADM et al):

Balearic Shearwater: 1.

Great Skua: 1.

Common Scoter: 57, incl group of 33 W.

ARDMORE: 5 Common Sandpipers at Curragh, 6 Mediterranean Gulls (4 2nd-summer & 2 adults include white '666' ring) (MC, CF, DW, ADM).

DUNGARVAN: Adult Mediterranean Gull over the town. (MC)

CLONEA STRAND:  2 Whimbrel at Ballinclamper (PV).

HELVICK HEAD:
Seawatch 19:00-20:40 (MC)
SABINE'S GULL: 1 W @ 20:33.
Puffin: 13.
Black Guillemot: 1.

HELVICK HEAD:
Seawatch 13:45-14;45 (MC, MC snr)
Great Skua: 1.
Mediterranean Gull: 1 adult.
Common Scoter: c27.

HELVICK HEAD:

Seawatch 18:00-20:30 (BS, FO'C, CF, JAP)

Storm Petrel: 2

Common Scoter: 1.

Great Skua: 9.

Puffin: 17.

Manx Shearwater, Fulmar, Gannet: light passage.

Glaucous Gull: in harbour. 

CLONEA: 10 Common Scoter flew west off Ballinclamper. (MC)

HELVICK HEAD:
Seawatch 17:00-18:10 (MC):
GREAT SHEARWATER: 1 W.
Puffin 21.

HELVICK HEAD:
Seawatch 13:45-14:30 (MC):
Balearic Shearwater: 1 W @ 14:00.
Great Skua: 1
Puffin: 6.

FERRY POINT:  3 Common Sandpipers (ADM).


Tuesday, July 30, 2013

GREAT NEWTOWN HEAD:
Seawatch 20:50-21:35 (JF):
Bottlenose Dolphin: 1 just off the Head.
Fulmar: 1 E, 2 W.
Gannet: 3 E, 27 W.
Kittiwake:  1 W.
Sandwich Tern: 2 E, 4 W.
Black Guillemot: 1 W.

CLONEA STRAND: Adult Mediterranean Gull at Ballinclamper (MC snr).

DUNGARVAN: 2nd summer Mediterranean Gull @ Ballyneety. (MC)

MT CONGREVE:  2 Comma butterflies along railway track, near the lime kilns; also a range of other butterfy species including Common Blue and Small Copper (JJC, JAP, BS).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  10 Greenshank at Pickardstown including a ringed bird (double orange band on left tibia, plus a geolocator?, metal ring right), also 4 Whimbrel (DS).


Thursday, July 25, 2013

MT CONGREVE:  Comma butterfly along railway track (DMcG).

RAM HEAD:  Total of 72 Kittiwake chicks in study plots which held 105 occupied nests on 17 June - a big improvement over 2012 (when only 2 chick on same date from 117 nests in June).

ARDMORE:  3 Mediterranean Gulls at Curragh & another adult-summer at Cliff Hotel (ADM).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD:
Seawatch 0630-0815 (DS):
Arctic Skua: 2 E @ 07;35.
Common Scoter: 2 E.
Manx Shearwater: 89 E, 177 W.
Fulmar: 4 W.
Gannet: 128 E, 21 W.
Curlew: 1 W.
Kittiwake: 9 W.
Sandwich Tern: 24 W.
Razorbill: 6 E, 12 W.
Also 10+ Red Admirals along the lane.

CLONEA: 4 Mediterranean Gulls (3 Adults, 2nd Summer) & 3 Common Sandpipers @ Ballinclamper. (MC)

GREAT NEWTOWN HEAD:
Seawatch 08:30-09:30 (AJ):
Manx Shearwater: 10 E, 7 W.
Fulmar: 36 (6 nests, 4 chicks - 1 dead).
Kittiwake: 3 E.
Black Guillemot: 5.
 

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  SPOONBILL again at racecourse lake (AJ).

BALLYVOYLE COVE:  2 adult Mediterranean Gulls (MC snr).

BUNMAHON:  2 Green Sandpipers & a Common Sandpiper (DW).

DUNGARVAN:  Adult Yellow-legged Gull at Ballyneety bridge, adult Mediterranean Gull at the Lookout (MC).

CLONEA STRAND:  6 Mediterranean Gulls (3 adult, 2 2nd-summer & 1 1st-summer) at Ballinclamper, by 19:30 (MC snr).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  c50 Swifts feeding over Lisselan, 17:10 (PMW).

WEST WATERFORD:  Buzzard (ADM).

RAM HEAD: 11 Great Skuas & 57 Common Scoter best on seawatch (ADM).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD:

Seawatch 06:40-9:40 (wind 2 E-ENE, JB, PMW)

Great Skua: 2 W.

Common Scoter: 11 E, 62 W (incl flock 45).

Mediterranean Gull: 4 (juvenile & 2 adults W, adult feeding).

Puffin: 1 E, 7 W.

Manx Shearwater: 460 E, 85 W.

Fulmar: 9 E, 3 W.

Gannet: 295 E, 43 W.

Grey Plover: 3 E.

Kittiwake: 15 E, 8 W.

Sandwich Tern: 1 E, 10 W.

Guillemot: 5 E, 2 W.

Razorbill: 15 E, 2 W.

Large auk sp: 9 E, 8 W.

DUNGARVAN: 9 Common Sandpipers at  Ballyneety (JAP, BS).

BALLYSCANLAN WOOD: 3 Silver-washed Fritillary & 3 Gatekeeper butterflies ("). 

TRAMORE: Adult Spoonbill, adult Mediterranean Gull, Reed Warbler in song, Tufted Duck & 2 Teal @ Lisselan. (MC)

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  SPOONBILL still present at Lisselan, 15:45 (JF).

HELVICK:  2nd-summer Glaucous Gull (JAP, BS).

BALLYMACART:  Immature Dipper & flock of 27+ Chough (").

WHITING BAY:  Tree Sparrow & Common Sandpiper at extreme western end of bay (").

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: SPOONBILL again at Lisselan, 11:20, east bank of northern pond in middle of racecourse (AJ).

GARRARUS: Flock of 67 Choughs, also 100+ Pied Wagtails & 6 Ravens - plus snorkeling showed hundreds of small pollack, ballan wrasse, ling, flats and sand eels, also edible, shore and spider crab, large mullet, 3 lesser weevers and a cuttle fish, depth under 10 feet (").

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 2 Common Sandpipers, 3 Whimbrel, 3 Dunlin, Emperor Dragonfly & a Brown Hawker also at Lisselan earlier today (DS).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  SPOONBILL at Lisselan - at racecourse lake with roosting gulls, 13:50, before being flushed by cattle and flying high & north (DS).

DUNGARVAN: Green Sandpiper & 3 Common Sandpipers at Ballyneety (MC snr).

KNOCKBRACK QUARRY (nr Clashmore): 3 Emperor dragonflies (ADM).

RAM HEAD:  20 Common Scoter, good passage of Manx Shearwaters W & 2 Sunfish (ADM).

ARDMORE:  3 Mediterranean Gulls at Curragh (ADM).

BUNMAHON: 2 Reed Warblers singing, Green Sandpiper & 2 Common Sandpipers (DW).

BUNMAHON:  2 singing Reed Warblers in reeds along River Mahon behind the village (1 singing yesterday) (DW).

HELVICK:  2nd-summer Glaucous Gull still present (MC snr).

WEST WATERFORD: Buzzard (FO'C).

ARDMORE:  Cuckoo nestling/fledgling from Dunnock nest (SH).

Nr DUNGARVAN: Long-eared Owl at 22:45 (JAP).

CARRIGAVRANTRY:  Common Sandpiper (DS).

DUNGARVAN: 6 Common Sandpipers and a male Tufted Duck @ Ballyneety. (MC)

ARDMORE: Adult Mediterranean Gull at Curragh (SH).

CARRIGAVRANTRY: HOBBY at c20:00 (AJ).

EAST WATERFORD: Buzzard (DS).

CLONEA: Adult Mediterranean Gull at Ballinclamper (MC snr).

WATERFORD CITY: 2 Common Terns hawking insects over Francis Street with 200+ BH Gulls & 200+ Swifts @ 21:20 this evening (DS).

DUNGARVAN: Adult Mediterranean Gull opposite Fraher field, 6 Common Sandpipers at Ballyneety, 2 Mediterranean Gulls (adult & 2nd-summer) at Barnawee (DW, MC snr).

Nr ARDMORE:  Adult-summer BONAPARTE'S GULL flying east between Whiting Bay & Ardmore, 15:50 (S Cronin per irishbirding.com) - 3rd county record  (previously records Dungarvan 2004 and Ardmore 2007, with an unconfirmed report from Ardmore in 2008).

LISSELAN (Tramore Backstrand):  Mediterranean Gull roosting with Black-headed Gulls & 6 Common Sandpipers (JF).

LISSELAN (Tramore Backstrand):  4 Common Sandpipers & 3 Lapwing this evening (DS).

LISSELAN: Stock Dove (AJ).

WATERFORD CITY: Herring Gull nest with at least one on a rooftop at Ballybricken today (DMcG) - first ever roof-nesting confirmed for the city?

COUMTAY (Comeragh Mountains):  30+ Wheatears (70% juvenile), 6 Mistle Thrushes (4 juv), 4 Reed Buntings, Dipper, Skylarks, Meadow Pipits, a Fox & a Sundew colony (AJ).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 2 Tree Sparrows (JF).

DROMANA FOREST (nr Villierstown): Crossbill, Treecreeper & 3 Jays @ X1094 

(PMW).

TALLOW: Pair of Spotted Flycatchers in village, 3 singing Yellowhammers along road south to Carrigroe (PMW).

IDA Park (nr Waterford city): Adult Treecreeper carrying food (DS).

EAST WATERFORD: Buzzard (LR).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  1 Puffin, 290 Manx Shearwaters, 24 Curlew & 20 Sandwich Terns W between 08:00 & 09:00 (DS).

DUNGARVAN: Kingfisher & Common Sandpiper at Ballyneety (MC snr).