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.



Friday, May 10, 2013

HELVICK HEAD:
Seawatch 15:30-16:40 (JAP, FO'C, RZ):
Arctic Skua: 1
Storm Petrel: 2
Black Guillemot: 1
Manx Shearwater, Gannet, Arctic Tern, Sandwich Tern, Guillemot, Razorbill: light passage
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).

Thursday, May 09, 2013

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

Wednesday, May 08, 2013

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).

Tuesday, May 07, 2013

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).

Monday, May 06, 2013

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).

Sunday, May 05, 2013

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