Waterford Birds

LATEST HIGHLIGHTS (see Recent reports & https://twitter.com/watbirds):
3 RING-NECKED DUCKS, Knockaderry Reservoir, 10-11 December (1, 2-11 November & 12 December).
2 MARSH HARRIERS, Blackwater Valley, 19 November 2024 (1 on 16 & 28 Nov & 10 Dec).
5 CATTLE EGRETS, Ballymacaw, 16 November.
GOOSANDER, Dungarvan, 16 November.
LEACH’S PETREL, Dungarvan, 7 November.
2 YELLOW-BROWED WARBLERS, Ballynagaul, Dungarvan, 7-9 November.
YELLOW-BROWED WARLER (new bird), Brownstown Head, 1 November.
BLACK-THROATED DIVER, Dunmore East, 31 October.
YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER, Helvick Head, 29 October.
CATTLE EGRET, Dungarvan, 27 October-1 November.
YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER, Ardmore, 23-26 October.
YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER, Brownstown Head, 22-29 October.
3 CATTLE EGRETS, Lisselan, Tramore Backstrand, 19 October (1 near Lissean on 11 Dec).
DUSKY WARBLER (1st county record), Brownstown Head, 16-22 October.
GREAT WHITE EGRET, near Carrick-on-Suir, 14-15 October.
YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER, Helvick Head, 11-12 October.
LESSER WHITETHROAT, near Goat Island, Ardmore, 9-11 October.
PALLID HARRIER (1st county record), Tramore Backstrand, 6 October 2024.
2 LESSER WHITETHROATS, Helvick Head, 2 October.
LESSER WHITETHROAT, Brownstown Head, 25 September.
WRYNECK, Brownstown Head, 26 September to 8 October.
2 Yellow Wagtails, Brownstown Head, 22-23 September.
OSPREY, east Waterford, 19 September
GARGANEY, Tramore Backstrand, 19-23 September & 6-28 October.
Carrion Crow, Dunmore East, 17 September.
RED-BREASTED GOOSE, Tramore Backstrand, 17 September.
SPOONBILL, Blackwater Valley, 16 September 2024.
TREE PIPIT(S), Brownstown Head, 9 & 10 September.
MELODIOUS WARBLER, Brownstown Head, 8-11 September.
PECTORAL SANDPIPER, Dungarvan, 7-15 September.
OSPREY, Brownstown Head, 6 September.
3 CORY’S SHEARWATERS, Helvick Head, 1 September.
TREE PIPIT, Brownstown Head, 31 August.
SABINE’S GULL, Helvick Head, 27 August.
6 CORY’S SHEARWATERS, Ram Head, 25 August.
10 CORY’S SHEARWATERS, Ram Head & 8, Helvick Head, 21 August.
CORY’S SHEARWATER, Helvick Head, 19 August.
2 CORY’S SHEARWATERS, Helvick Head, 13 August.
6 CORY’S SHEARWATERS, Ram Head, 9 August.
CORY’S SHEARWATER, Tankardstown, 8 August.
15 CORY’S SHEARWATERS, Ram Head, 6 August.
2 CORY’S SHEARWATERS, Helvick Head & 1, Ram Head, 5 August.
OSPREY, West Waterford, 25 July-16 September.
BLACK-THROATED DIVER, Ferry Point, 1 July.
QUAIL, Comeragh Mountains, 16 June.
GOLDEN ORIOLE, Drum Hills., 3 June
HOBBY, east Waterford, 1 June.
HOBBY, Helvick Head, 27 May.
LESSER WHITETHROAT, Waterford Greenway, 19 May.
Yellow Wagtail, Brownstown Head, 17 May.
2 CETTI’S WARBLER’S, undisclosed (new) location, 17 May.
Female MARSH HARRIER, undisclosed location, 17 May.
HOBBY, undisclosed location, 15 May.
AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER, Tramore Backstrand, 9 May.
HOOPOE, Brownstown Head, 9 May.
BEARDED REEDLING, undisclosed location, 5 May.
First Spotted Flycatcher of year, Annestown, 27 Apr.
BLACK-THROATED DIVER, Clonea Bay, 19-26 Apr.
LESSER SCAUP, Knockaderry Reservoir, 18 Jan to 20 Apr.
First Whitethroat of year, Swines Head, 20 Apr.
Up to 8 CATTLE EGRETS, Ballynaclash, Blackwater Valley, 26 Jan to 19 Apr.
First Reed Warbler of year, Ballyscanlon, 19 Apr.
First Sedge Warbler of year, Lisselan, Tramore, 19 Apr.
OSPREY, Blackwater Valley, 18 Apr.
Yellow Wagtail, Clonea, 18 Apr.
First Cuckoo of year, Brownstown Head, 17 Apr.
GREEN-WINGED TEAL, Bunmahon, 12-17 Apr.
BLACK KITE (1st county record), Lisselan, Tramore, 16 Apr.
First Common Swifts of year, Tramore & Ardmore, 14 Apr.
First Grasshopper Warbler & Arctic Tern of year, 13 Apr.
First House Martins of year, N of Lismore, 7 Apr.
First Willow Warblers of year, Dungarvan & Helvick Head, 27 Mar.
First Swallows of year, Cappoquin, 21 Mar.
First Sand Martins of year, Ballyshunnock Reservoir, 18 March.
Male MARSH HARRIER, West Waterford, 19 Feb to 15 Mar.
First Wheatear of year, Whiting Bay, 11 Mar.
BLACK-THROATED DIVER, Dungarvan / Helvick, 3-7 Mar.
RING-NECKED DUCK, Knockaderry Reservoir, 25 Feb & 7 Mar.

Guide to bird sites in Waterford

Where to Watch ... Waterford Coast

For a copy of this article, published in the autumn 2008 issue of BirdWatch Ireland's Wings magazine, click below:

wheretowatch

Irish birding lists online: BUBO.org.

Find a grid reference: See www.gridreference.ie/, zoom & click location on map - useful when reporting sightings.

Updated Waterford bird species list (to 31/12/2023)

Bird species added to Co Waterford list annually 1970-2023

Waterfordbirds on Twitter: A Twitter news service (waterfordbirds @watbirds) is available for rapid circulation of bird news highlights for the county . See also brownstownbirds @brownstownbirds for Brownstown Head sightings.

BirdTrack App: For details of the free BirdTrack app for Android & iPhone, click here. All records are available to local/county bird recorders if you select that option when registering for BirdTrack (please do!).

Bird records - general request for sightings: The website compilers are always interested in sightings - not just of scarcer migrant or winter visitors, but also counts or confirmed breeding records of commoner species. Of particular value are sightings of uncommon residents like Barn Owl (precise breeding locations of sensitive species will not be published online or elsewhere). In addition to any records included on the website, all records will be added to a larger database of Waterford sightings, to help with ongoing assessment of local bird status (see What to report?). Please email (to reports at waterfordbirds.com) any sightings (recent or from any year), or digital photos, to the website compilers. We would also encourage you to sign up and contribute records to the online BirdTrack recording scheme covering Ireland and Britain.