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.



Monday, January 31, 2011

DUNGARVAN: Curlew Sandpiper just in front of the Park Hotel @ 14:40 (JAP); 2 Blackcaps & 4 Siskins at Strandside (DC).

KILMANAHAN: 7 Whooper Swans & 2 Ravens (DC).

Sunday, January 30, 2011

STRADBALLY: 2 Dippers (DS).

TRAMORE: 3 Waxwings still at Ard na Groi estate; 40 Gadwall & 9 Shoveler on boating lake (JiP); 4 Common Scoter, 17 Red-throated Divers, 4 Great Northern Divers, 5 Great Crested Grebes & 56 Razorbills in Tramore Bay; 5 White-fronted Geese, 10 Little Grebes & 5 Tufted Duck at Lisselan; 3 Shoveler east of spits (PMW).

DERRIGAL / PORTNASCULLY: 320 Greylag Geeese (166 on Waterford side at Derrigal, 154 on Kilkenny side at Portnascully), 31 Whooper Swans at Portnascully (PMW)..

COOLFIN: 3 Whooper Swans (").

TIBBERAGHNY (Co Kilkenny): 61 Whooper Swans (").

Saturday, January 29, 2011

SEAFIELD (nr Bunmahon): 2 Water Rails & 2 Kingfishers (DW).

ARDMORE BAY: Red-throated Diver & 6 Razorbills (PMW).

DUNGARVAN: Curlew Sandpiper just over wall at Fraher field, 7 Shoveler off pitch & putt (MC, CF); adult dark-bellied Brent Goose nr Cunnigar tip, 38 Great Crested Grebes & a Great Northern Diver off Ballynacourty pier (PMW).

CAPPOQUIN: 20 Yellowhammers opposite Cappoquin Chickens factory (MC, CF).

BALLYSHUNNOCK RESERVOIR: 2 Shoveler, 2 Pochard, 4 Coot, Tufted Duck (").

COOLFIN: 29 Greylag Geese (").

FIDDOWN: Jay (").

Nr LISMORE: Barn Owl perched on wires last night (AM).

Friday, January 28, 2011

ANNESTOWN: Kingfisher & Merlin (DC).

BUNMAHON: Another Kingfisher (DC).

TRAMORE: Blackcaps still present daily in garden (AP).

Thursday, January 27, 2011

CLONEA STRAND: Adult argentatus-subspecies Herring Gull at Ballyvoyle (an individual with extensive white on wing-tips) - photos here - also Great Skua off Ballinclamper, 30 Rock Pipits at Ballinard / Ballinclamper (PMW).

DUNGARVAN (I-WeBS count): Slavonian Grebe & 2 BLACK-NECKED GREBES off Ballynacourty pier, Barnacle Goose at Ballyneety & another 2 (tame birds) at the Cunnigar with an apparent Barnacle / Bar-headed Goose hybrid (now confirmed as an apparently pure Bar-headed Goose, presumably from w wildfowl collection), 9 Pintail (2 males) & 5 Shoveler off pitch & putt; totals of 1040+ Brent Geese & 40 Great Crested Grebes (Brian Duffy, Pat Smiddy, PMW).

TRAMORE TOWN: 3 Waxwings still present at Ard na Groi estate (DC).

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

SEAFIELD (nr Dungarvan): Merlin & Kingfisher (DW).

BALLYSHUNNOCK RESERVOIR: 4 Pink-footed Geese (MC sr).

Sunday, January 23, 2011

DUNGARVAN: Slavonian Grebe, 2 Black-necked Grebes, 55 Great Crested Grebes & a Red-throated Diver at Ballynacourty (MC, PMW); Brambling at Strandside (DC).

BALLINARD: Adult Mediterranean Gull (").

Nr BALLYDWAN: Jack Snipe (DW).
TRAMORE TOWN: 3 Waxwings again at Ard na Groi estate beside racecourse (JiP, Paul Moore).

DUNGARVAN: 2-3 Jack Snipe at the Cunnigar, in rushes beside pools N of the carpark (JAP, BS).

LOWER BLACKWATER: Ringtail Hen Harrier flew across river (CF).

COLLIGAN WOOD: Dipper (PMW).

Saturday, January 22, 2011

CAPPOQUIN: 3 Green Sandpipers (DC).

DUNGARVAN: 2 BLACK-NECKED GREBES at Ballynacourty, Barnacle Goose at Quann's & Kingfisher at Barnawee, Green Sandpiper at Brickey River, adult Mediterranean Gull at Ballyneety (MC, CF).

HELVICK HEAD: Black Guillemot (").

TRAMORE BOATING LAKE: Adult Ring-billed Gull, 59 Gadwall & 8 Shoveler (").
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 3 Long-tailed Duck & 4 Shoveler out on backstrand, 4 Gadwall, male Pochard, 4 Tufted Duck, 2 Coot & 5 White-fronted Geese at Lisselan (MC, CF).
TRAMORE TOWN: 3 Waxwings at Ard na Groi estate behind racecourse (MC, CF).

Friday, January 21, 2011

DUNGARVAN: Woodcock near Kilmurray at dusk (JAP).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD to DUNMORE EAST (from boat): 3 Great Skuas, 11 Red-throated Divers, 5 Fin Whales & a Humpback Whale (AM).

TRAMORE:
4 Blackcaps (3 male & 1 female) at bird table in garden today, & daily since the snow in December; also 4 Long-tailed Tits & a Goldfinch as well as more usual species today (AP).


Thursday, January 20, 2011


TRAMORE TOWN: 3 Waxwings in housing estate behind Tramore recasourae (Sara Connor).

CLONEA STRAND: Little Gull (Davy Farrar).

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

DUNGARVAN: 3 Blackcaps (2 males & a female) at Strandside, Abbeyside (DC).
RAM HEAD: Pomarine Skua, Arctic Skua, Red-throated Diver & 2 Porpoises off Ram Head (AM).

Sunday, January 16, 2011

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND (I-WeBS count 1230-1430): Totals included 814 Brent Geese, 5 Shoveler, 10 Gadwall (additional to 52 at boating lake earlier), 2 male Long-tailed Ducks (just east of spits),a Jack Snipe, 398 Oystercatcher, 130 Grey Plover & 322 Black-tailed Godwit (DMcG, PMW, Michael Hackett).

Nr ANNESTOWN: 80 Skylarks (PMW).
DUNGARVAN: Barnacle Goose at Ballyneety (MC); male Velvet Scoter off Ballynacourty lighthouse, Slavonian Grebe , 2 BLACK-NECKED GREBES (CF) & 2 Great Northern Divers (DC) off Ballynacourty pier; adult Mediterranean Gull opposite Fraher field (MC, DC, CF); Blackcap & 20 Siskins at Springmount (DC).

TRAMORE BOATING LAKE: 52 Gadwall (JiP).

Saturday, January 15, 2011

HELVICK HEAD: 500+ Fulmars, a Red-throated Diver, 6 Purple Sandpipers & 3 Black Guillemots (seawatch 12:30-13:30, wind 6-7 SW) (CF).

SEAFIELD (nr Bunmahon): Coordinated attack by 2 Peregrines on 2 Little Egrets (DW).

Friday, January 14, 2011




Thursday, January 12, 2010


KILMACTHOMAS: Robin singing under floodlights at 8 pm (DW).

DUNGARVAN: 3 Blackcaps (2 male 1 female) & 4 Siskins at Strandside, Abbeyside (DC).

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

DUNGARVAN: 2 Blackcaps (male & female) & 2 Siskins at Strandside, Abbeyside (DC).