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species
May 2010
Check here for possible updates
Mon 31 May:
BALLYSCANLAN LAKE: 3 adult HOBBIES now present.
COMERAGH MOUNTAINS: Merlin.
Sun 30 May:
BALLYSCANLAN LAKE (nr Fenor): HOBBY feeding over lake.
KILMEADEN POOLS: Male & female Gadwall.
Nr KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS: Male & female Hen Harrier, Buzzard
& Cuckoo.
Sat 29 May:
Nr BUNMAHON: Spotted Flycatcher at Seafield weir.
Fri 28 May:
KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: Hybrid Whooper / Mute Swan, adult & juvenile Dipper, & Cuckoo calling nearby.
BRICKEY CANAL (nr Dungarvan): Kingfisher.
Thurs 27 May:
BUNMAHON: Adult Ring-billed Gull at mouth of River Mahon.
Weds 26 May:
CLONEA STRAND: 1st-summer Mediterranean Gull at Ballinclamper; another colour-ringed
Sanderling at Ballinclamper had been ringed at Banc d'Arguin, Mauritania, 15 Dec 2009.
Tues 25 May:
DUNGARVAN: RED KITE overhead.
CLONEA STRAND: A colour-ringed Sanderling at Ballinclamper today had been ringed at Banc d'Arguin National Park,
Mauritania, west Africa, 4 Dec 2005, and resighted there Dec 2006 & Dec2007 before the Waterford sighting.
Nr BUNMAHON: Kingfisher.
Sun 23 May:
BALLYDWAN: Merlin.
Sat 22 May:
Nr DUNGARVAN: Merlin.
MONAVULLAGH/COMERAGH MOUNTAINS: Male Hen Harrier.
MID WATERFORD: Buzzard.
NR BALLYMACARBRY: Dipper at Creggane Bridge, Spotted Flycatcher SE of Creggane.
Fri 21 May:
KNOCKMEALDOWNMOUNTAINS: Cuckoo near Knockaunabulloga.
Thurs 20 May:
MONAVULLAGH/COMERAGH MOUNTAINS: Male Hen Harrier & 14+ Green
Hairstreak butterflies.
Nr BUNMAHON: Kingfisher.
Weds 19 May:
MID WATERFORD: Buzzard.
Nr BUNMAHON: 2 Kingfishers.
Tues 18 May:
Nr STRADBALLY: 2 Spotted Flycatchers & a Dipper at Carrickanaffrin Bridge.
Sun 16 May:
STRADBALLY: c30 species on Dawn Chorus outing including Treecreeper & Black Guillemot; Spotted Flycatcher &
Dipper at Carrickanaffrin Bridge.
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Spotted Flycatcher & 3 Wheatears.
Sat 15 May:
DRUM HILLS: 2 Cuckoos calling at Toor North, nr Mountstewart.
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 2 Spotted Flycatchers.
Fri 14 May:
MONAVULLAGH/COMERAGH MOUNTAINS: 2 Cuckoos
calling; female & 2 male Hen Harriers.
CLONEA STRAND: Purple Sandpiper at Ballinclamper.
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Spotted Flycatcher.
Weds 12 May:
PILLTOWN / KINSALEBEG: Male GARGANEY
(c5th county record?) at Pilltown constructed wetlands.
Sun 9 May:
NW WATERFORD: Pair of Buzzards.
COMERAGH MOUNTAINS: Cuckoo calling near Coumtay.
Sat 8 May:
MONAVULLAGH/COMERAGH MOUNTAINS: Female Hen Harrier.
KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS: Cuckoo calling near
Knocknafallia.
CURRAGH BEACH (nr Ardmore): Pair of Dippers.
Fri 7 May:
MID WATERFORD: Buzzard.
Nr BALLINAMULT: Dipper pair at Priestown Bridge.
Thurs 6 May:
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Spotted Flycatcher.
CASTLETOWN FEN: Cuckoo calling.
MONAMINTRA BOG: Grasshopper Warbler singing.
KILCARAGH / KNOCKBOY: Water Rail calling.
Weds 5 May:
CLONEA STRAND: 3 Great Northern Divers, adult dark-bellied
Brent Goose, 13 Whimbrel & 51 Sanderling at Ballinclamper.
Tues 4 May:
Nr MT MELLERAY: Dipper at Melleray Bridge.
Mon 3 May:
DUNGARVAN: Adult BLACK BRANT, adult dark-bellied Brent, & 2 probable 1st-smmer Black Brant hybrids at the Cunnigar.
CLONEA STRAND: 62 Whimbrel nr Clonea Castle; Whitethroat singing at Clonea Upper.
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Spotted Flycatcher, Whitethroat, 2 Grasshopper Warblers & 3-4 Wheatears.
Sun 2 May:
MONAVULLAGH/COMERAGH MOUNTAINS: Male Hen Harrier.
KILSHEELAN to CLONMEL: 2 Spotted Flycatchers
(1st of year) at Gurteen; Jay at Tikincor; total 22+ singing Blackcaps.
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 2 Swifts flew north.
RATHMOYLAN COVE: Whitethroat singing.
Sat 1 May:
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 2 Great Northern Divers on sea.
ANNESTOWN: Grasshopper Warbler.
Nr BALLYLANEEN: 20+ Yellowhammers.
BUNMAHON to BALLYVOYLE: 10+ Skylarks singing.
BALLYVOYLE: Whitethroat singing.
CLONEA STRAND: 4 Great Northern Divers.
MID WATERFORD: Buzzard.
Fri 30 April:
ARDMORE: Swift; 93 Whimbrel at Curragh beach.
CROHAUN: Long-eared Owl & 3 Cuckoos.
DUNGARVAN TOWN: 15 Swifts.
Nr BUNMAHON: Snipe drumming at Seafield.
Thurs 29 April:
WOODHOUSE: Turtle Dove.
Weds 28 April:
HELVICK HEAD: Garden Warbler, female Common
Redstart, & Blackcap.
BALLYVOONEY: Dipper.
Nr CROHAUN: 2 male Cuckoos calling, at Kilbrien Upper & Kilnafrehan
West.
Nr TALLOW: 3 Swifts flew west at Coolydoody Wood.
Tues 27 April:
RIVER FINISK: Dipper at Modelligo Bridge, below Millstreet.
Mon
26 April:
KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS: Cuckoo.
CROHAUN: Cuckoo.
PORTLAW: Kingfisher.
Sun 25 April:
FERRY POINT to ARDMORE: 3 Whitethroats & 3 Tree Sparrows.
WHITING BAY: Swift & Sedge Warbler.
RAM HEAD: Short-eared Owl.
DUNGARVAN: Common Scoter at Ring, near Helvick; Common Sandpiper at Ballyneety.
BALLINLOUGH: 2 Cuckoos.
Nr STRADBALLY: Dippers at Cloghlowrish & Durrow Bridges on River Tay; Grasshopper
Warbler singing nr Durrow Bridge; Swift at Kilminnin Upper.
TRAMORE BOATING LAKE: Whooper Swan.
Sat 24 April:
HELVICK HEAD: Whitethroat (first of spring), Wheatear, Blackcap,
6 Willow Warblers & 3 Chiffchaffs.
DUNGARVAN: 17+ occupied Little Egret nests; 47+ Whimbrel; Sedge Warbler
singing along Brickey River; 2 'Greenland' Wheatears at the Cunnigar.
CLONEA STRAND: 55 Whimbrel & an Arctic Tern
at Ballinclamper.
ANNESTOWN BOG: 3+ Sedge Warblers (first of spring)
nr Dunhill Castle.
BALLINLOUGH: 6 Sedge Warblers & Cuckoo.
KILL: 3 Sedge Warblers.
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Blackcaps, 3 Willow Warblers
& a Chiffchaff.
Fri 23 April:
DUNGARVAN: Swift (first of spring).
BALLINLOUGH: Cuckoo.
Thurs 22 April:
BALLINLOUGH: Cuckoo again.
Tues 20 April:
WEST WATERFORD: Buzzard.
RAM HEAD: 200 Manx Shearwaters, Minke Whale, 3 Bottlenose
Dolphins & 2 Risso's Dolphins.
BALLINLOUGH: Cuckoo - first of the year.
Mon 19 April:
DUNGARVAN: Male OSPREY flew west; 'Greenland' Wheatear at the Cunnigar.
Sun 18 April:
Nr KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS: Male Hen Harrier.
AGLISH: Dipper.
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 4 Willow Warblers.
Sat 17 April:
TALLOW: 2 Dippers on Glenaboy River.
DUNGARVAN: Common Sandpiper at Ballyneety.
CLONEA STRAND: White Wagtail, 35 Whimbrel & 5-6 Bottlenose
Dolphins at Ballinclamper; White Wagtail at Ballinard.
Nr BUNMAHON: 3 Common Sandpipers at River Mahon & 2 drumming Snipe.
ANNESTOWN: Common Sandpiper.
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Merlin & 3 Wheatears.
Fri 16 April:
COMERAGH/MONAVULLAGH MOUNTAINS: Female Hen Harrier & 4 pairs
of Wheatears.
Nr BUNMAHON: Woodcock.
Thurs 15 April:
WHITING BAY: 3 White Wagtails, & c80 pairs of Sand Martins excavating
burrows.
Weds 14 April:
CLONEA STRAND: White Wagtail & 52 Sanderling at Ballinard, 10 Whimbrel
at Ballinclamper.
DUNGARVAN: 10 Sandwich Terns at Ballynacourty.
Tues 13 April:
WEST WATERFORD: Buzzard.
NW WATERFORD: Another Buzzard.
Mon 12 April:
WEST WATERFORD: Buzzard.
Sun 11 April:
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Blackcap.
Nr TRAMORE: Barn Owl.
TRAMORE: 7 Gadwall at Boating Lake, 25 Whimbrel at Backstrand.
COOLFIN: Green Sandpiper along Clodiagh River.
CLONEA STRAND: 3 Great Northern Divers, 12 Black Guillemots, 3 Whimbrel, 45 Sanderling &
White Wagtail at Ballinclamper.
WEST WATERFORD: 2 Buzzards.
Sat 10 April:
RIVER BRICKEY (nr Dungarvan): Kingfisher & Red-legged Partridge
between Twomile & Knockmaon bridges, Green Sandpiper below Twomile Bridge, & totals of
27 Chiffchaffs, 16 Willow Warblers & 3 Blackcaps.
CLONEA STRAND: Adult dark-bellied Brent Goose & Purple
Sandpiper at Ballinclamper.
Nr WATERFORD CITY: Barn Owl.
MONAMINTRA BOG: Water Rail.
CASTLETOWN FEN: Grasshopper Warbler singing (first of spring).
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Wheatear & 2 Willow Warblers.
Fri 9 April:
WATERFORD CITY:
Buzzard.
CARRICKAVRANTRY: c25 Chiffchaffs, c12 Willow Warblers, Blackcap & Swallow.
WHITING BAY: Mixed flock of c65 Sand Martins, House Martins & Swallows.
CARRICKBEG: 2 Chiffchaffs & 6 Swallows.
Weds 7 April:
HELVICK HEAD: Red-throated
Diver, Sandwich Terns, Swallow, 20 Common Dolphins & 7 Porpoises.
Nr CARRICK-ON-SUIR: 2 Swallows upriver.
Tues 6 April:
KEREEN (nr Aglish):
6 Swallows.
Mon 5 April:
HELVICK HEAD:
Pomarine Skua, 2 Great Skuas, 2 Common Scoter & 6 Puffins
flew W (seawatch 12:00-13:00).
BROWNSTOWN HEAD:
Great Skua & 175 Manx Shearwaters W, Sandwich Tern E, 2 Great Northern Divers W &
2 E (seawatch 10:25-11:25); male Blackcap on land.
Sun 4 April:
KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS:
2 Red Grouse on Co Tipperary side.
BALLYQUIN (nr Ardmore): Good numbers of Swallows & Sand Martins.
RAM HEAD: Porpoise & several Manx Shearwaters.
DUNGARVAN: WATER PIPIT at the Cunnigar.
CARRICKBEG HILL (nr Carrick-on-Suir): Willow Warbler.
KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR:
Male RING-NECKED DUCK, c30 Swallows & c20 Sand Martins.
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Willow Warbler & 2 Tree Sparrows.
Sat 3 April:
CARRIGNAGOUR (nr Lismore):
Swallow.
HELVICK HEAD: Swallow, female Blackcap & 2 Chiffchaffs.
DUNGARVAN: House Martin (first of spring) at Abbeyside, 2 Swallows at Killongford, 6 Sandwich Terns at the Cunnigar.
CLONEA STRAND: Whimbrel, 6 Sandwich Terns, Wheatear &
3 Swallows at Ballinclamper., also Swallow near castle.
KILMURRIN COVE: 5 Sand Martins.
ANNESTOWN: House Martin & 3 Swallows; 2 Water
Rails calling & male Blackcap at Annestown Bog.
Nr TRAMORE: Sand Martin & 2 Willow Warblers, Monvoy; Swallow nr Islandtarnsey.
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 2 Willow Warblers.
WOODSTOWN BOG: Water Rail calling.
Fri 2 April:
CLONEA STRAND: 4 Swallows at Ballinard; 5 Whimbrel, Purple
Sandpiper, 4 Sandwich Terns & a Willow Warbler, Ballinclamper to
Ballinard.
BUNMAHON: Swallow.
Nr TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Swallow.
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 4 Willow Warblers.
Thurs 1 April:
BALLINARD (nr Clonea Strand): Wheatear.
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.click below for larger images
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| Hobby, Ballyscanlan Lake, 31 May 2010 © D Clarke |
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| Hen Harrier, male, nr Knockmealdown Mountains, 30 May 2010 © D Clarke |
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| Hen Harrier & Buzzard, nr Knockmealdown Mountains, 30 May 2010 © D Clarke |
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| Buzzard, just before release after recovering from suspected poisoning, 22 May 2010 © A Malcolm |
This bird was found ill, apparently poisoned, at a mid-Waterford location and would almost certainly have died if
not taken into captivity. Another Buzzard, taken into care in west Waterford on St Patrick's Day, recovered from confirmed
alpha-chloralose poisoning and was released. There have also been other suspected or confirmed poisonings of Buzzards in west
Waterford or east Cork this spring. The pesticide alpha-chloralose is legally available for "vermin control" in Ireland
(though banned in some countries), and the use of poisoned meat baits (but not livestock carcasses) is still allowed
for control of Foxes (but not of Magpies or Hooded Crows).
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| Dipper, Mahon Bridge, 30 May 2010 © D Clarke |
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| Kingfisher, Brickey canal, 28 May 2010 © D Clarke |
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| Spotted Flycatcher, Carrickanaffrin Bridge, nr Stradbally, 18 May 2010 © D Clarke |
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| Siskin, male, Carrignagour, nr Lismore, 2 May 2010 © A Malcolm |
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| Cuckoo, male, Kilbrien Upper, 1 May 2010 © D Clarke |
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| Cuckoo, male, Crohaun, 26 April 2010 © D Clarke |
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| Goshawk, captive, Co Waterford, Apr 2010 © D Clarke |
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| Yellowhammer, Knockanore, 23 Apr 2010 © D Clarke |
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| Kestrel, Ballinclamper, 22 Apr 2010 © D Clarke |
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| Wheatear, Greenland race, the Cunnigar, 19 Apr 2010 © D Clarke |
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| Common Sandpiper, Annestown, 17 Apr 2010 © M Cowming |
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| White Wagtail, Whiting Bay, 15 Apr 2010 © D Clarke |
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| Sand Martin, Whiting Bay, 15 Apr 2010 © D Clarke |
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| Buzzard, NW Co Waterford, 13 Apr 2010 © D Clarke |
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| Siskin, female, Strandside, Dungarvan, 10 Apr 2010 © D Clarke |
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| Dark-bellied Brent Goose, Ballinclamper, 10 April 2010 © M Cowming |
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