Waterford Birds December 2012 reports

December 2012

Check here for updates or further details

Mon 31 Dec:

Nr KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS: Female Hen Harrier.
DUNGARVAN: SURF SCOTER off Lookout, SPOONBILL & BLACK-NECKED GREBE at Western Bay, adult BLACK BRANT & 2 Long-tailed Ducks by the pitch & putt club, Jack Snipe above Ballyneety bridge, 15 Great Northern Divers, 29 Great Crested Grebes & 44 Red-breasted Mergansers around bay.
TRAMORE: 15 Waxwings at Seafield estate, 31 Gadwall at boating lake, 3 Shoveler at Lisselan.
EAST WATERFORD: Buzzard.
DUNMORE EAST: 2nd-winter Glaucous Gull.

WATERFORD CITY: c250 Pied Wagtails roosting in trees opposite the Tower Hotel at 17:30.

Sun 30 Dec:

Nr KNOCKANORE: Early frogspawn.

DUNGARVAN: BLACK BRANT at pitch & putt course, 1st-winter male SURF SCOTER, SPOONBILL, Long-tailed Duck & Otter off Lookout / pitch & putt , BLACK-NECKED GREBE off Ballynacourty pier, & adult dark-bellied Brent Goose at Duckspool.
TRAMORE TOWN: 15 Waxwings at Seafield (nr Newtown Hill estate), Black Redstart at west end of beach.
DUNMORE EAST: 2nd-winter Glaucous Gull, adult Mediterranean Gull and 9 Purple Sandpipers at pier.

Sat 29 Dec:

KEEREEN (nr Aglish): 12 Whooper Swans.
ARDMORE: 3 Mediterranean Gulls (1st-winter, 2nd-winter & adult).
HELVICK HEAD: Great Skua, 12 Red-throated Divers & a Merlin.

DUNGARVAN: 1st-winter SURF SCOTER & 3 Long-tailed Ducks off lookout, SPOONBILL in western bay, BLACK BRANT at pitch & putt course, BLACK-NECKED GREBE off Ballynacourty pier, Brambling at Strandside, & a Waxwing found dead at town bypass.

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: Kingfisher.
BALLYSHUNNOCK RESERVOIR: 23 Whooper Swans & 14 Tufted Duck.

KILLOWEN ORCHARD (nr Portlaw): c12 Waxwings.
TRAMORE: Ring-billed Gull & 17 Gadwall at boating lake, Spotted Redshank at Backstrand.

Fri 28 Dec:

DUNGARVAN: 1st-winter SURF SCOTER & Long-tailed Duck off lookout.

HELVICK HEAD: 2 adult Pomarine Skuas, 1 Manx Shearwater, 8 Red-throated Divers, c2000 Fulmars, c500 Gannets, c250 Kittiwakes & c1000 large auks (95% Guillemots) (seawatch 09:45-11:45).

TRAMORE: Black Redstart & Chiffchaff at west end of beach.

Thurs 27 Dec:

DUNGARVAN: 1st-winter SURF SCOTER & 3 Long-tailed Ducks inside Cunnigar, BLACK-NECKED GREBE off Ballynacourty, 2 Shoveler in western bay & BLACK BRANT on pitch & putt course.

BLACKWATER CALLOWS: Total 218 Whooper Swans (142 Lismore to Ballyduff, 76 west of Ballyduff), Kingfisher & feral Barnacle Goose at Lismore canal.

CLONEA STRAND: 5 Great Northern Divers, 2 Whimbrel & 3 Otters at Ballinard.

MOUNTBOLTON: Jay.

TIBBERAGHNY (Co Kilkenny): c360 Greylag Geese.

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: Shoveler.

TRAMORE: Adult Ring-billed Gull at boating lake (video), 12 Gadwall, Black Redstart & 3 Chiffchaffs.

EAST WATERFORD: Buzzard.

Weds 26 Dec:

DUNGARVAN: 1st-winter SURF SCOTER & Long-tailed Duck inside Cunnigar tip, adult Yellow-legged Gull at Ballyneety, & adult dark-bellied Brent Goose at Duckspool.

TRAMORE: 16 Waxwings still present at Ard na Groi estate.

Tues 25 Dec:

TRAMORE: Waxwings at Ard na Groi estate.

Mon 24 Dec:

DUNGARVAN: SURF SCOTER & 3 Long-tailed Duck off Lookout, BLACK-NECKED GREBE off Ballynacourty, 3 Pintail nr pitch & putt course.

TRAMORE: 14 Waxwings at Ard na Groi estate.

Sun 23 Dec:

DUNGARVAN: BLACK-NECKED GREBE off Ballynacourty pier, 3 Long-tailed Ducks & 12 Great Northern Divers in bay, 2 Tufted Ducks off pitch & putt,

CLONEA STRAND: 2 Whimbrel at Ballinclamper.

TRAMORE: 16 Waxwings at Ard na Groi estate, nr racecourse; 15 Gadwall at boating lake.

Sat 22 Dec:

BALLYVOONEY COVE: Common Scoter.

Fri 21 Dec:

DUNGARVAN: BLACK-NECKED GREBE off Ballynacourty pier.

BALLYMACMAGUE SOUTH: Merlin.

SEAFIELD: Green Sandpiper.

TRAMORE: Black Redstart nr O'Shea's Hotel, Shoveler & 8 Gadwall on boating lake.

Thurs 20 Dec:

TRAMORE: Waxwing in garden at Pickardstown.

EAST WATERFORD: Buzzard.

CLONEA STRAND: Black Redstart nr Clonea Hotel.

DUNGARVAN: Brambling at Strandside.

WEST WATERFORD: Buzzard.

Weds 19 Dec:

DUNGARVAN: 1st-winter male SURF SCOTER still present between pitch & putt course & the Cunnigar.

Nr DUNGARVAN: Barn Owl at 11 pm.

BLACKWATER CALLOWS: 183 Whooper Swans between Lismore & just west of Ballyduff.

Tues 18 Dec:

EAST WATERFORD: Buzzard.

Mon 17 Dec:

DUNGARVAN: Male Chaffinch with some African-type features at Strandside.

TRAMORE TOWN: Male Blackcap.

Sun 16 Dec:

DUNGARVAN: 1st-winter male SURF SCOTER & 2 Long-tailed Ducks off Lookout.

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 2 Long-tailed Ducks.

WATERFORD CITY: Brambling.

Sat 15 Dec:

DUNGARVAN: 1st-winter male SURF SCOTER & a Long-tailed Duck off Lookout, another Long-tailed Duck off Ballynacourty pier & 8+ Crossbills at Gold Coast golf-course.

TIBBERAGHNY (Co Kilkenny): 315 Greylag Geese & 56 Whooper Swans.

COOLFIN/DERRIGAL: 61 Greylag Geese (40 Coolfin, 21 Derrigal) & 15 Whooper Swans (Portnascully, Co Kilkenny).

Fri 14 Dec:

DUNGARVAN: 1st-winter male SURF SCOTER between Lookout & the Cunnigar, 2 Bramblings at Shandon.

Thurs 13 Dec:

WATERFORD CITY: Female Blackcap in garden, Francis Street.

DUNGARVAN: Brambling at Abbeyside.

TRAMORE: Flock of Waxwings at Crobally Upper, male Blackcap Tramore town.

Tues 11 Dec:

DUNGARVAN: 1st-winter male SURF SCOTER inside Cunnigar tip, 3 Crossbills at pitch & putt club, Chiffchaff at Knockanpower Lower.

CLONEA STRAND: Barnacle Goose at Ballinclamper.

Mon 10 Dec:

DUNGARVAN: 7 Crossbills behind Gold Coast.

Sun 9 Dec:

DUNGARVAN: 1st-winter SURF SCOTER & 2 Long-tailed Ducks off the Lookout, SPOONBILL on the Cunnigar, 3 Shoveler nr pitch & putt course, Merlin & 3 Waxwings at Abbeyside, & 9 Barnacle Geese. at Ballyneety.

CLONEA STRAND: Adult dark-bellied Brent Goose at Ballinclamper.

TRAMORE TOWN: 3 Waxwings.

Sat 8 Dec:

DUNGARVAN: 1st-winter SURF SCOTER & 3 Long-tailed Ducks off the Lookout, Black Redstart nr pitch & putt course, female Eider at Ballynagaul, 7 Crossbills at Gold Coast, & 9 Barnacle Geese.

CLONEA STRAND: 1st-winter Eider at Ballinclamper.

BUNMAHON: Green Sandpiper.

Nr BALLYLANEEN: Jack Snipe & Chiffchaff.

GREAT NEWTOWN HEAD: 5 Fin Whales.

Fri 7 Dec:

DUNGARVAN: 1st-winter SURF SCOTER still off the Lookout, towards the Cunnigar.

KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS: 22 Ravens along Vee road.

TALLOW to LISMORE: Barn Owl.

WEST WATERFORD: Buzzard.

CAPPOQUIN: 3 Otters.

DUNABRATTIN HEAD: 4 Fin Whales.

Thurs 6 Dec:

DUNGARVAN: Brambling at Strandside, Abbeyside.

Nr DUNGARVAN: Long-eared Owl.

TRAMORE TOWN: Waxwing.

Weds 5 Dec:

KILBARRY BOG (nr Waterford city): 12 Siskins & 5 Redpolls (including pale bird) along Tramore road walkway.

BALLYVOYLE: Adult male Eider & 2 Dippers.

DUNGARVAN: 1st-winter SURF SCOTER still present; Chiffchaff, male Blackcap & 20 Siskins at Springmount.

TOORANEENA: Waxwing.

ARDMORE: Merlin & 200+ Skylarks nr Goat Island.

RAM HEAD: 3 Fin Whales & 200+ Common Dolphins.

Tues 4 Dec:

WATERFORD CITY: 3 Waxwings.

Mon 3 Dec:

DUNGARVAN: 1st-winter male SURF SCOTER off the Lookout, 30+ Waxwings nr Campus garage on N25, 3 Long-tailed Ducks & 8 Barnacle Geese.

HELVICK HEAD: Great Skua, Fin Whale & 80 Common Dolphins.

COOLFIN/DERRIGAL: c210 Greylag Geese & 10 Whooper Swans nr Derrigal cross-roads.

EAST WATERFORD: Buzzard.

Sun 2 Dec:

DUNGARVAN: 1st-winter male SURF SCOTER, SPOONBILL, 3 Long-tailed Ducks & 9 Barnacle Geese off pitch & putt course; 35 Waxwings (video) by Campus garage at bypass N25 roundabout (also 2 at Ardscoil na nDeise); Brambling at Strandside; Green Sandpiper at Brickey canal.

CLONEA STRAND: Whimbrel & flyover Crossbill, female Blackcap at Ballinclamper, adult male Eider (video) & 2 Dippers at Ballyvoyle.

BUNMAHON: Short-eared Owl & Merlin.

TRAMORE: 13 Gadwall & adult-summer Mediterranean Gull.

Sat 1 Dec:

DUNGARVAN: 1st-winter male SURF SCOTER still off the Lookout, also 2 Long-tailed Ducks there; 9 Barnacle Geese at Ballyneety; 25+ Waxwings just W of Foley's garage, Youghal Road.

RAM HEAD: 2 Great Skuas, smaller skua species, 50+ Common Scoters & c30 Common Dolphins.

BALLYNACOURTY: 2 Waxwings & female Blackcap.
BALLYVOYLE: Adult male Eider.
NW WATERFORD: Buzzard.

BUNMAHON: Green Sandpiper.

DUNABRATTIN HEAD: 4 Fin Whales.
ANNESTOWN: Kingfisher and Water Rail.