TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Adult Mediterranean Gull off Saleen (DS).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  WRYNECK still present (AA).

CLONEA BAY: Adult Mediterranean Gull, 2 Arctic Skuas, 165 Sandwich Terns, 15 Common Terns & 4 Bottlenose Dolphins at Ballinclamper, 13:15-13:45 (MC snr).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: WRYNECK still present, 14:15 (AJ) and up to 16:15 (JF, AJ, KA, EAMacL), fairly mobile but still showing well.

CLONEA BAY:  17+ Roseate Terns at Ballinclamper this morning (CF); 84 Sandwich Terns & 39 Common Terns there, 12:00-12:30 (MC snr).

DUNGARVAN:  3 Curlew Sandpipers at Killongford (CF).

DUNGARVAN: 3+ Curlew Sandpipers, 4 2 Whimbrel & 5 Wheatears on the Cunnigar this morning (PV).

CLONEA BAY: Flock of 30+ wagtails (possibly White) flew through at Ballinard this evening but didn't land ").

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: WRYNECK still present along stream beyond end of main lane (MC).

CARRIGAVANTRY: 100+ Goldfinches (TM).

CLONEA BAY: 91 Sandwich Terns, 11:00-11:30 (MC snr).

HELVICK HEAD: Single large shearwater, Sooty Shearwater & pale-phase Arctic Skua (seawatch 15:00-17:00, PV).

CLONEA BAY: 3 White Wagtail at Ballinclamper (EAMacL).

DUNGARVAN: 1 Curlew Sandpiper opposite Topaz garage (").

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: WRYNECK at end of stream in way out to towers (MC); CORY'S SHEARWATER, GREAT SHEARWATER, 4 Sooty Shearwaters & 2-3 Arctic Skuas (seawatch 13:15-15:30, MC, DS).

RAM HEAD: 9 CORY'S SHEARWATERS (1st 13:07 last 17:58), 2 GREAT SHEARWATERS, 3 Sooty Shearwaters, 3350 Manx Shearwaters, 3 Arctic Skuas & 4 Puffins W (seawatch 13:00-18:00, NJB, PMW).

CLONEA BAY: Adult Mediterranean Gull & 55 Sandwich Terns at Ballinclamper, 17:00-17:30 (MC snr).

HELVICK HEAD: 2 Pomarine Skuas, 2-3 Arctic Skuas & a large feeding flock of Manx Shearwaters (seawatch 15:15-17:15, JAP).

DUNGARVAN: Juvenile Curlew Sandpiper at Killongford, subadult Yellow-legged Gull at Boreenatra, & Great Crested Grebes & Red-breasted Mergansers back in the harbour (").

CASTLETOWN FEN: Green Sandpiper & Lapwing this evening (MC).

LISMORE: 2 Stock Doves, Glencairn (TM).

CLONEA BAY:  63 Sandwich & 34 Common Terns at Ballinclamper, 15:00-15:30 (MC snr).

Off BALLYVOYE;  7 Common Scoter flew E, adult Black Tern W towards Clonea with 3 Common terns (FO'C).

CLONEA BAY: c40 Common & c40 Sandwich Terns at Ballinclamper (MC snr).

RAM HEAD:  1 Great Skua W, Manx Shearwater passage 500W/hr at 16:00 rising to 1500W/hr by 18:00, Gannets 500W/hr (seawatch 16:00-18:00, TM).

LEMYBRIEN / DUNGARVAN:  OSPREY over Lemybrien, flying towards Dungarvan; soon after, flew over Dungarvan town centre and went west (FO'C).

DUNGARVAN: 3 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers at Killongford (MC); 2 Curlew Sands & a surprise Purple Sandpiper on the Cunnigar, also 43 Common Terns there (EAMacL); 1st-summer Mediterranean Gull (MC snr).

RAM HEAD: 1 Sooty Shearwater & Manx W In thousands (seawatch 07:40-08:50, NJB).

Saturday, August 27, 2016

ARDMORE: 7 Mediterranean Gulls (4 adult, 2 2nd-winter & 1 juvenile) & 60 Common Terns at Curragh or elsewhere in bay (MAD, PMW).

DUNGARVAN: Curlew Sandpiper (adult winter) & 12+ Whimbrel at the Cunnigar, 

Yellow-legged Gull subadult at Boreenatra (JAP BS RAW).

DRUM HILLS / CLASHMORE: Yellowhammer minimum 2m 2 f between Toor North & Clashmore (").

WHITING BAY: A Convolvulus Hawk- flew in off strand & landed on grass (").

RAM HEAD: 1 Sooty Shearwater & thousands of Manx Shearwaters flying W close in, 18:00-20:00, also huge rafts feeding just off shore (up to 2000 birds) (TM).

CLONEA BAY:  Hundreds of terns again on Clonea beach, the vast majority Common with small numbers of Sandwich and Roseate (JAP); c480 Common terns at Ballinclamper at 16:00, most of which started to head W (MC snr).

RAM HEAD: c2000 Manx Shearwaters feeding or in raftsthis morning, also 80 Common Dolphins & 7 Porpoises (ADM).

CLONEA BAY: Very high count of c480 Common Terns at Ballinclamper, 15:10-15:20 (MC snr).

DUNGARVAN: Little Stint, 6+ Whimbrel, 260 Sandwich Terns, 36 Common Terns & 1 Arctic Tern at the Cunnigar, 13:25-15:00 (PMW).

DUNGARVAN: Green Sandpiper over County Council car-park, Dungarvan town @ 15:50 (CF).

Off HELVICK HEAD:  Balearic Shearwater & Sooty Shearwater 3 miles east of Helvick Head, also hundreds of Manx Shearwaters flying W (FO'C).

CLONEA BAY:  Very high count of c350 Common Terns at Ballinclamper at 14:10 (MC snr).

DUNGARVAN: 6 Curlew Sandpipers in Western Bay (FO'C).

CLONEA BAY: I9-I5 to I9-40. 192 Common Terns (167 adults + 25 juvs) & just 8 Sandwich Terns at Ballinclamper, also a pod of 7 or 8 Common Dolphins (1 or 2 juvs included) (MC snr).

DUNGARVAN: Female DOTTEREL & 3 juvenile Ruffs on the Cunnigar this morning, albino/leucistic Swallow being chased by another Swallow in town (FO'C).

CLONEA BAY: c160 Common Terns (c12 juvenile) but only c6 Sandwich Terns at Ballinclamper, 12:15-12:45 (MC snr).

HELVICK HEAD: 8 Sooty Shearwaters, Balearic Shearwater, 3 Great Skuas and and single Pomarine Skua, Arctic Skua & Puffin (JAP, NJB, JP, GN).

COLLIGAN: Long-rated Owl last night (JAP, FO'C).

CLONEA BAY: Adult Mediterranean Gull & 80 Sandwich Terns at Ballinclamper, 12:00-12:45 (MC snr).

DUNGARVAN: 4 Common Sandpipers at Killongford (PMW).

BELLE LAKE: Juvenile Reed Warbler & 6 Sedge Warblers ringed, Water Rail heard (AA, PMW).

Juvenile Sedge Warbler, Belle Lake, 14/8/2016 (c) PM Walsh

Saturday, August 13, 2016

DUNGARVAN: 12 Swifts over town centre (FO'C).

Friday, August 12, 2016

ARDMORE: 12 Mediterranean Gulls (2 juveniles & 10 1cy/2cy/adult  - 1 juv with yellow ring (ADM).

DUNGARVAN: 10+ Whimbrel, large mixed flock of Dunlin & Ringed Plover, & Wheatears widespread along Cunnigar this morning, & 60+ Little Egrets visible from Cunnigar towards Killongford (JAP).

KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS: Male Hen Harrier (AT).

RAM HEAD: c200 Manx Shearwaters W & smaller nos E (TM, PMW), also 2 Common Dolphins.

DUNGARVAN TOWN: 40 Swifts over town centre this evening (FO'C).

ARDMORE:  11 Mediterranean Gulls at Ballinclamper (ADM).

DUNGARVAN: 12 Whimbrel, a Bar-tailed Godwit & 4 Choughs on the Cunnigar (TM).

DUNGARVAN: Adult Yellow-legged Gull & 3 Common Sandpipers at Ballyneety (FO'C).

CLONEA BAY:  184 Sandwich terns & 16 Common Terns at Ballinclamper (MC snr).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  Knot at Pickardstown the best for today (AJ).


Monday, August 08, 2016

DUNGARVAN TOWN:  Adult Little Gull flew over civic office with Black-headed Gulls towards the Cunnigar, 50 Swifts over town centre, 2100 (FO'C).

CLONEA BAY:  141 Sandwich Terns (10 juvs) & 12 Common Terns (8 juvs) at Ballinclamper (MC snr).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  Summer-plumaged Knot at Riverstown (DS).


Sunday, August 07, 2016

CLONEA BAY:  1st-summer Mediterranean Gull, 81 Sandwich Terns (63 ad & 8 juv) & 7 Common Terns at Ballinclamper (MC snr).

ARDMORE:  Hummingbird Hawk-moth in garden (NJB).

                                                                        (c) NJ Bourke

CLONEA BAY: 71 Sandwich Terns (63 adult and 8 juv), 7 Common Terns & a 1st-summer Mediterranean Gull at Ballinclamper this evening (MC snr).

CLONEA BAY: High count of 40+ Common Terns & a 1st-summer Mediterranean Gull at Ballinclamper (MC snr).

HELVICK HEAD: Storm Petrel W & Little Gull still present, 16:30-17:30 (PMW).

DUNGARVAN: 10 juv Wheatears & lots of Willow/Chiffs on Cunnigar, lots of Swallows, House & Sand Martin going south (FO'C).

CLONEA BAY: Roseate Tern & 31 Common Terns at Ballinclamper (MC snr).

DUNGARVAN:  3 adult & 2 1st-summer Mediterranean Gulls at Barnawee (").

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  2 Green Sandpipers flew over at Lisselan, circled lake calling & flew N (DS).

CASTLETOWN FEN:  Green Sandpiper, Snipe & great views of a Water Rail (JF).

DUNGARVAN: 100 Swifts over the town this evening, compared with only 35 yesterday (FO'C).

HELVICK HEAD: Few Manx Shearwaters but lots of Storm Petrels, several Arctic Skuas & an adult Roseate Tern this evening (CF).

RAM HEAD: Only 2 further CORY'S SHEARWATERS W 15:50-17:20 (since 39 13:50-15:50), also 2 Storm Petrels W (PMW)

WATERFORD CITY: Another new breeding-season site for Reed Warbler... 

Off HELVICK HEAD: 3 Storm Petrels 5 miles south of Helvick, also 2 Swallows going east low over water seen from boat (FO'C). 

Off HELVICK HEAD: Storm Petrelp 2 miles off Helvick, also 6 Common Scoter & 6 Common Dolphins (FO'C).

Yesterday (29:7) off HELVICK HEAD: 

CASTLETOWN FEN:  Green Sandpiper (MC).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  Adult Mediterranean Gull (").

RAM HEAD:  22 Common Scoter W, 20-30 Common Dolphins & a Risso's Dolphin (ADM).


Tuesday, July 26, 2016

CLONEA BAY: Adult Mediterranean Gull, 2 adult Common Terns & 2 Whimbrel at Ballinclamper (JF).


Sunday, July 24, 2016

ARDMORE:  Mediterranean Gull at beach (NJB).

TRAMORE:  2 Common Sandpipers on rocks between pier & beach (AJ).


Saturday, July 23, 2016

CLONEA BAY:  Adult Roseate Tern at Ballinclamper in morning (MC) & east end of Clonea beach, 14:30 (JF).

ARDMORE:  2 Mediterranean Gulls at beach (NJB).

RAM HEAD:  3 Fin Whales due south at 15:30 (").


Thursday, July 21, 2016

HELVICK HEAD:  2 Puffins at 11:30 (NJB).

CASTLETOWN FEN:  Green Sandpiper at the pool this evening (MC).

CLONEA BAY:  3 Arctic Terns & 2 Common Terns at Ballinclamper (FO'C).

DUNGARVAN:  Only up to 25 Swifts in town centre (").

KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS:  Female/immature hen Harrier (ADM).

Nr ARDMORE:  2 recently fledged Long-eared Owls calling & showing well in the early hours (J Proudfoot).


Monday, July 18, 2016

DUNGARVAN: 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls & 3 Common Sandpipers at Ballyneety Bridge, another Common Sandpiper opposite the Park Hotel (PV).

BUNMAHON:  Juvenile Mediterranean Gull in field immediately west of Bunmahon beach (MC).


Sunday, July 17, 2016

ARDMORE:  6 Mediterranean Gulls (adult & 5 2nd-calendar-yrs) at Curragh, also a summer-plumage Black-tailed Godwit there (ADM).

Off MINE HEAD: Sooty Shearwater 2.5 miles SW of Mine Head (FO'C).

KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS:  Female Hen Harrier (").

Nr LISMORE: Crossbills in garden again at Carrignagour (").

DUNGARVAN:  17 Common Sandpipers together at Killongford (EAMacL); Kingfisher at old dump & a Common Sanspiper upriver (PV).


Saturday, July 16, 2016

Nr LISMORE:  3 Crossbills (juvenile & 2 males) in garden at Carrignagour (ADM).

CLONEA BAY:  Adult Mediterranean Gull, 4 adult Roseate terns, adult Common Tern & adult Arctic Tern with Sandwich terns (MC).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  6 Common Sandpipers at Lisselan (DS); Mediterranean Gull & 3 Common Sandpipers at Pickardstown (AJ).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  10 Storm Petrels mp3-lured overnight (AA, PMW); a dead Greater White-toothed Shrew found on land (PMW), first record for the site apparently though recorded previously arround Tramore Backstrand/

HELVICK HEAD: 6 Great Skuas, a light-phase Pomarine Skua & 10+ Puffins (2 flying carrying sandeels) (3-hr seawatch; FO'C, JAP).

DUNGARVAN TOWN: Yellow-legged Gull (").

CLONEA BAY: 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls & 5 Common Terns (MC snr).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  Cuckoo on the seawall at Lisselan, adult Mediterranean Gull & another Cuckoo at Kilmacleague (DS).

CLONEA: Adult Roseate Tern & 2 adult Common Terns, 20:50 (JAP).

DUNMORE EAST:  4 Mediterranean Gulls (2 adults, 2nd-cal-yr & 3rd-cal-yr) & a Black Guillemot (MC).

ANNE VALLEY:   Yellowhammer along the Anne Valley walk (DS).

RAM HEAD:

Seawatch 16:45-18:15 (wind 6-7 SW, PMW):

'Blue' Fulmar ('D') 1W

Sooty Shearwater 1W

Manx Shearwater 325W

Puffin 7W.

HELVICK HEAD: Seawatch 12:00-13:30: 13.30: 1 dark/phase Arctic Skua, 6 Storm Petrels, 7 Puffins, 2 Common Terns, 1 Arctic Tern & lots of Manx Shearwaters, Gannets & large auks (JAP).

Saturday, July 09, 2016

HELVICK HEAD: 

Seawatch 10:15-15:15 (EAMacL, BS, JAP):

Puffin 46

Sooty Shearwater 8

small shearwater sp. 1 at 14:00

Storm Petrel 6

Bonxie 4

Arctic Skua 1

Common Tern 2

Otter 1  

DUNGARVAN: 3 adult Mediterranean Gulls at Barnawee, 3-4 Common Sandpipers & 2 Whimbrel at Killongford, Yellow-legged Gull at Dungarvan town (JAP, BS).

CLONEA BAY: Sub-adult Mediterranean Gull at Clonea, 2 Common Sandpipers at Ballyvoyle & 1 at Ballinclamper, 3 Great Northern Divers in bay ("). 

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Common Sandpiper at Pickardstown, Lapwing & 5 Greenshank at Lisselan (AJ).

HELVICK HEAD:  2 light-phase Arctic Skuas harassing Kittiwakes, 1 dark-phase Pomarine Skua, 18 Common Scoter (3+15), Black Guillemot carrying food, & large rafts of Manx Shearwaters feeding offshore (JAP).

DUNGARVAN:  Common Sandpiper & 2 Whimbrel at Killongford, Yellow-legged Gull on foreshore opposite pitch & putt course (").

DUNGARVAN:  OSPREY flew over near old glass factory on approach to town (ADM).

HELVICK HEAD: 60-80 Common Scoter W 92 big lines 30-40 each) & 18 E (6+12), a Minke Whale & lots of Manx Shearwaters (").

TRAMORE:  Reed Warbler singing at reedbed at north end of Tramore boating lake (AJ) - a new breeding season site for the species.

RAM HEAD:  GREAT SHEARWATER (quite close in), several thousand Manx Shearwaters (off Cape Island Co Cork), 12 Common Scoter W & 4 E, 2 Puffins & 20+ Fin Whales (ADM).


Monday, July 04, 2016

DUNGARVAN:  Male HOBBY flew over town at 21:25, heading west but chased by Black-headed Gulls then flew south (FO'C).

DUNGARVAN:  3 Common Sandpipers, Ballyneety; 1 Wigeon, Western Bay (BS, FO'C, RAW, JAP).

CLONEA BAY: 2 Common Sandpipers & a juvenile Dipper at Ballyvoyle; another Common Sandpiper at Ballinclamper; juvenile Wheatear at Clonea (").

ARDMORE: 2 2nd-calendar-year Mediterranean Gulls, Curragh strand (").

Nr WHITING BAY: 7 Tree Sparrows at Moord (").

BLACKWATER VALLEY: 3 Stock Doves & a juvenile Dipper at Clashmore; 2 Yellowhammers be Clashmore; eed Warbler at Raheen Quay, Clashmore Broads (").

GRAIGUEARUSH: Grasshopper Warbler reeling & 2 Redpoll (").

VARIOUS:  85 species for the day (").

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Stock Dove & 13 Shelducklings (10 + 3) at Lisselan, 157 Curlew on saltmarsh (AJ).

HELVICK HEAD: 2 Great Skuas past, Black Guillemot, juv Mediterranean Gull & 2 Puffins; adult Puffins present here for at least a month (JAP).

BALLYVOYLE: Spotted Flycatcher & juvenile Dipper (").

CLONEA: Great Northern Diver (").

ARDMORE: Stock Dove (").

DUNGARVAN: 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls at Duckspool; 7 Lapwing & 3 Whimbrel at Killongford (").

VARIOUS: Curlew & Redshank widespread (").

ARDMORE: 4 Mediterranean Gulls (adult & 3 1st-summers) at Curragh strand (ADM).

DUNGARVAN: Adult Mediterranean Gull on the Cunnigar (").