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Bird reports Jan-Feb 2008

 
Waterford bird records January-February 2008

See migrant Lepidoptera page also (highlights below)

February 2008
 
Thurs 28 Feb:
Nr WATERFORD CITY:  2 Buzzards south of the city.
 
Tues 26 Feb:
Nr WATERFORD CITY:  Long-eared Owl at Couse roundabout.
 
Sun 24 Feb:
ISLANDTARNSEY (nr Kilfarrassy):  Flock of 125 Skylarks in stubble field.
GILES' QUAY (Co Kilkenny):  Kingfisher along Kilkenny bank of Suir, opposite Little Island.
 
Sat 23 Feb:
BLACKWATER CALLOWS:  4 Shoveler, a Shelduck (well inland) & 111 Whooper Swans west of Towers, between Lismore & Ballyduff.
 
Fri 22 Feb:
WATERFORD CITY:  A wintering (or very early) Chiffchaff singing between Alexander Street & Michael Street.
 
Mon 18 Feb:
KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS:  2 or 3 Red Grouse SW of the Vee, and inside Waterford border.
COMERAGH MOUNTAINS:  12 Crossbills at Boolabrien Upper (grid ref S1916).
DUNGARVAN (I-WeBS count):  BLACK-NECKED GREBE inside Cunnigar, 2 CATTLE EGRETS at Gortnadiha Lower, 2 Great Northern Divers, Whimbrel at Ballynagaul, 1130 Brent Geese including 3 dark-bellied Brent (1 Ballyneety, 2 Duckspool/Kilminnin); Common Seal at Killongford bridge.
 
Sun 17 Feb:
Nr CLASHMORE:  8 CATTLE EGRETS again at Ballycrompane (grid ref X114827).
VILLIERSTOWN QUAY (lower Blackwater):  Scaup.
KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS:  2 Crossbills at Knockadav (grid ref S014061).  [Also 3 Red Grouse & 2 Jack Snipe on Co Tipperary side of border.]
RAM HEAD:  3 Red-throated Divers.
DUNGARVAN:  1 CATTLE EGRET at Gortnadiha Lower about 1 km W of the Cunnigar (presumably one of the birds last reported at Ballyharrahan, near Killongford, 17 January).
 
Sat 16 Feb:
Nr CLASHMORE:  *8 CATTLE EGRETS at Ballycrompane (grid ref X114827).
VILLIERSTOWN QUAY (lower Blackwater):  Scaup & Otter.
BALLYNACLASH (lower Blackwater):  Otter.
HELVICK HEAD:  1st-winter Iceland Gull.
DUNMGARVAN:  Shoveler at Abbeyside.
DRUMLOHAN CROSS ROADS (nr Lemybrien / Stradbally):  3 Bramblings.
 
Fri 15 Feb:
VILLIERSTOWN (lower Blackwater):  Scaup.
 
Thurs 14 Feb:
VILLIERSTOWN (lower Blackwater):  Scaup.
 
Weds 13 Feb:
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  Red Admiral at Lisselan.
 
Tues 12 Feb:
COMERAGH MOUNTAINS:  Jack Snipe near Coummahon.
 
Mon 11 Feb:
LITTLE ISLAND:  Common Sandpiper near the ferry.
HALFWAY HOUSE area (nr Waaterford city):  Early / overwintering Red Admiral buterfly.
GLENDALOUGHIN (ne Nier Valley):   Another record of the rare migrant moths Euchromius ocellea.
 
Sun 10 Feb:
BAWNGARRANE (nr Ardmore / Grange):  2 CATTLE EGRETS still present, south of N25; 1 present earlier, plus another (1 of the 2?) north of N25, further west towards Youghal bridge.
BALLYLEMON:  Male Blackcap in garden.
RIVER BRICKEY (nr Dungarvan):  Kingfisher, Dipper & Chiffchaff just below Knockmaon Bridge; another Chiffchaff below Twomile Bridge.
DUNGARVAN:  BLACK-NECKED GREBE, 3 dark-bellied Brent Geese & a 2nd-winter Mediterranean Gull.
BALLINARD:  3 Red-throated Divers.
 
Sat 9 Feb:
BAWNGARRANE (nr Ardmore / Grange):  *2 CATTLE EGRETS seen from the N25.
NEWPORT (lower Blackwater):  2 Buzzards, ringtail Hen Harrier & an Otter.
DRUM HILLS:  Woodcock at Scordaun forest.
CLONEA STRAND:  12 Great Northern Divers & a Red-throated Diver.
TRAMORE TOWN:  2 rare migrant moths of species Euchromius ocellea (only 2nd or 3rd Irish record).
 
Weds 6 Feb:
RAM HEAD:  Fin Whale & 50+ Common Dolphins.
 
Tues 5 Feb:
Nr LEMYBRIEN / STRADBALLY:  2 CATTLE EGRETS & 4+ Brambling at Drumlohan Cross Roads.
MINE HEAD:  Iceland Gull.
WHITING BAY:  Glaucous Gull.
 
Mon 4 Feb:
ARDMORE HEAD:  Adult Mediterranean Gull.
BALLYNAMONA (nr Mine Head):  Blackcap.
 
Sun 3 Feb:
HELVICK HEAD:  1st-winter Iceland Gull & 2nd-winter Glaucous Gull.
 
Sat 2 Feb:
CLONEA STRAND:  WATER PIPIT & 2 Purple Sandpipers at Ballinclamper.
DUNGARVAN:  BLACK-NECKED GREBE & Long-tailed Duck off Sports Centre, Kingfisher & Common Sandpiper at Ballyneety.
BLACKWATER CALLOWS:  165 Whooper Swans & 670 Black-tailed Godwits west of Towers, Lismore to Ballyduff.
KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS:  9+ Crossbills (mostly males) near Knockadav.  See also video of Crossbill feeding in garden near Lismore last winter.
 
Fri 1 Feb:
Nr DUNGARVAN:  6 CATTLE EGRETS, Ballyeitragh (north of N72).
DUNGARVAN:  Tree Sparrow at Ballyneety, in maize field by former dump.
KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS:  Merlin & Hen Harrier.

January 2008
 
Thurs 31 Jan:
DUNGARVAN:  2 Brambling in garden at Abbeyside.
CLONEA STRAND:  Iceland Gull at Ballinclamper.
 
Weds 30 Jan:
BLACKWATER CALLOWS:  *2 CATTLE EGRETS at Ballysaggart More (grid ref X0199), north side of Blackwater between Lismore and Ballyduff; said to have been present for some time.
KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS:  Male Hen Harrier.
BALLYVOONEY COVE:  Black Redstart.
East of BALLYDOWANE COVE:  Another Black Redstart.
 
Thur 29 Jan:
Near STRADBALLY / LEMYBRIEN:  10 CATTLE EGRETS at Drumlohan Cross Roads.
BALLYVOONEY COVE:  2 Puffins.
CLONEA STRAND:  Water Pipit at Ballinclamper.
HELVICK HEAD:  2 Iceland  & 2 Glaucous Gulls.
 
Sun 27 Jan:
Near STRADBALLY / LEMYBRIEN:  *10 CATTLE EGRETS at Drumlohan Cross Roads (grid ref S3600), with 3 Little Egrets; also a Brambling with c200 Chaffinches.  (3 suspected Cattle Egrets were seen here on 6 Jan but only Little Egrets were confirmed until today.)
DUNGARVAN:  BLACK-NECKED GREBE, BLACK BRANT & Long-tailed Duck.
KILMURRAY, nr Dungarvan:  110+ Stock Doves.
KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS:  Hen Harrier.
RAM HEAD:  3 Red-throated Divers.
WHITING BAY:  1 Choughs & a dead Common Seal.
KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR:  Hybrid Whooper x Mute Swan adult & 44 Tufted Duck.
 
Sat 26 Jan:
CLONEA STRAND:  WATER PIPIT again at Ballinclamper.
DUNGARVAN:  2 female Eider & 3 Great Northern Divers in outer bay.
RIVER BRICKEY:  Kingfisher at Knockmaun, & Green Sandpiper.
HELVICK HEAD:  2 1st-winter Glaucous Gulls & 2 1st-winter Iceland Gulls.
KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS:  2 Crossbills north of Knockadav; 2 Woodcock and a calling Red Grouse SE of Knockshanahullion.
 
Fri 25 Jan:
CLONEA STRAND:  WATER PIPIT at Ballinclamper.
 
Sun 20 Jan:
KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS:  7 Crossbills north of Knockadav.
HELVICK HEAD:  1st-winter Iceland Gull at pier.
DUNGARVAN:  Long-tailed Duck & 2 female Eiders in bay; total 6 Common Seals (4 Ballyneety, 1 quay, 1 off pitch & putt).
CLONEA STRAND:  Whimbrel & 3 Purple Sandpipers at Ballinclamper.
TIBBERAGHNY BOG (Co Kilkenny):  Adult White-fronted Goose, 166 Greylag Geese, 44 Whooper Swans, 13 Little Egrets & 82 Hooded Crows.
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  774 Brent Geese & 230 Knot.
 
Sat 19 Jan:
WATERFORD CITY:  Male Blackcap at King's Channel.
CLONEA STRAND:  4 Great Northern Divers off Ballinclamper.
DUNGARVAN:  BLACK-NECKED GREBE & Common Seal off pitch & putt, 2 female Eiders off Ballynacourty pier.
TEMPLEMICHAEL (lower Blackwater):  Common Sandpiper.
 
Thurs 17 Jan:
DUNGARVAN (I-WeBS count):  BLACK-NECKED GREBE & Long-tailed Duck inside Cunnigar-tip (off pitch & putt), 2 CATTLE EGRETS nr Killongford, 2 female Eiders off Ballynacourty pier, Whimbrel at Ballynagaul, adult BLACK BRANT and adult dark-bellied Brent at the pitch & putt club, c840 light-bellied Brent, & 8 Great Northern Divers.
CLONEA STRAND:  Whimbrel, Purple Sandpiper, 26 Sanderling & 19 Chough at Ballinclamper, 10 Great Northern & 6 Red-throated Divers.
GULL ISLAND (Stradbally/Ballyvooney):  Adult or 3rd-winter Yellow-legged Gull with 247 Great Black-backed & 192 Herring Gulls.
 
Weds 16 Jan:
Nr YOUGHAL:  *GLOSSY IBIS flying over the Youghal dump area (Cork/Waterford), then flew up the River Blackwater -  the first Co Waterford record since 1946.
RAM HEAD:  Arctic Skua, 3 Red-throated Divers, & 2 Porpoises with calves.
DUNGARVAN:  Black Redstart at Ard Scoil na nDeise carpark.
 
mid Jan:
Nr VILLIERSTOWN (lower Blackwater):  Green-winged Teal.
 
Sun 13 Jan:
HELVICK HEAD:  Black Redstart on pier, 14 Great Crested Grebes, 177 Herring Gulls & 130 Great Black-backed Gulls.
DUNGARVAN:  2 female Eiders off Ballynacourty pier, Whimbrel & Black Guillemot at Knockanpower Lower, 14 Great Northern Divers, 1 Red-throated Diver & 44 Great Crested Grebes.
CLONEA STRAND:  Merlin, 9 Great Northern Divers, 2 Purple Sandpipers, 16 Sanderling & 12 Choughs,  Ballinclamper / Ballinard.
TRAMORE BOATING LAKE:  Otter.
 
Sat 12 Jan:
DUNMORE EAST:  Black Redstart in Inner Harbour / pier area.
RATHMOYLAN:  Tree Sparrow.
CASTLETOWN FEN:  Male Blackcap.
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  2 Long-tailed Ducks.
TRAMORE BOATING LAKE:  Adult Ring-billed Gull & adult Mediterranean Gull.
BALLYSHUNNOCK RESERVOIR:  Female Goosander (at east side) & 54 Whooper Swans.
DUNGARVAN:  Black Redstart at Devonshire Bridge, female Blackcap in a garden.
RAM HEAD:  c150 Common Dolphins.
WHITING BAY:  13 Choughs.
 
Early January:
Nr WHITING BAY:  2 Tree Sparrows at Ardoginna Head, Black Redstart at Goat Island.
 
Weds 9 Jan:
DUNGARVAN:  Eider off Ballynacourty.
 
Tues 8 Jan:
Nr STRADBALLY:  2 Bramblings with 300 Chaffinches at Drumlohan Cross Roads, also 4 Little Egrets.
 
Sun 6 Jan:
DUNGARVAN:  2 Eiders in bay.
BALLINARD:  Female Brambling.
CLONEA STRAND:  Whimbrel & Purple Sandpiper at Ballinclamper.
BALLYDOWANE:  Black Redstart.
 
Sat 5 Jan:
DUNGARVAN:  2 CATTLE EGRETS still present.
ARDMORE BEACH:  2 Mediterranean Gulls (adult + 2nd-winter).
Nr WHITING BAY:  Up to 20 Tree Sparrows at same farm as last winter (Springfield / Ballysallagh area), 2nd-winter Mediterranean Gull in adjacent fields.
CAMPHIRE (Bride/Blackwater confluence):  Black Swan feeding with Whooper Swans; also recorded in November 2007, and presumably an escapee (or free-flying bird) from a collection.
RINCREW (Tourig/Blackwater estuary):  4th-winter Yellow-legged Gull & 1st-winter Glaucous Gull.
 
Fri 4 Jan:
WATERFORD CITY RING ROAD:  *CATTLE EGRET, at Six Cross Roads junction.
 
Weds 2 Jan:
GARRARUS:  *CATTLE EGRET present since 25 December.
 
Tues 1 Jan:
DUNGARVAN:  2 CATTLE EGRETS still present near Killongford; adult BLACK BRANT & 2 adult Dark-bellied Brent Geese at pitch & putt field.

.click below for larger images

scaup_villierstown_feb2008_img_4857.jpg
Scaup, Villierstown, Feb 2008 © D Clarke

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Robin on fat-balls, Dungarvan, 23 Feb 2008 © D Clarke

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Otter, Killongford Bridge © D Clarke

treesparrow_ballyneety_1feb2008_img_3776.jpg
Tree Sparrow, Dungarvan, 1 Feb 2008 © D Clarke

whooperswans_1feb2008_img_3788.jpg
Whooper Swans, 1 Feb 2008 © D Clarke

glaucousgull_1w_helvick_26jan2008_p1130242.jpg
Glaucous Gull, 1st-winter, Helvick, 26 Jan 2008 © M Cowming

icelanggull_1w_helvick_26jan2008_p1130248.jpg
Iceland Gull, 1st-winter, Helvick, 26 Jan 2008 © M Cowming

waterpipit_ballinclamper_26jan2008_p1130211.jpg
Water Pipit, Ballinclamper, 26 Jan 2008 © M Cowming

waterpipit_ballinclampar_25012008_1.jpg
Water Pipit, Ballinclamper, Clonea Strand, 25 Jan 2008 © C Flynn

glaucousgull_20jan2008_img_3690.jpg
Glaucous Gull, 1st-winter, Helvick, 20 Jan 2008 © D Clarke

eider_dungarvan_19jan2008_img_4769.jpg
Eider, female, Dungarvan, 19 Jan 2008 © D Clarke

blackneckedgrebe_dungarvan_19012008_p1130177.jpg
Black-necked Grebe, Dungarvan, 19 Jan 2008 © M Cowming

commonseal_dungarvan_20012008_p1130198.jpg
Common Seal, Dungarvan, 20 Jan 2008 © M Cowming

rbgull_tramore_12012008_p1130094.jpg
Ring-billed Gull, Tramore boating lake, 12 Jan 2008 © M Cowming

medgull_adult_tramore_12012008_p1130087.jpg
Mediterranean Gull, adult (middle bird), Tramore boating lake, 12 Jan 2008 © M Cowming

chough_whitingbay_12012008.jpg
Chough, Whiting Bay, 12 Jan 2008 © Ann Trimble

cattleegret_killongford_01jan08_2a.jpg
Cattle Egret, Dungarvan, 1 Jan 2008 © C Flynn

cattleegret_killongford_01jan08_9.jpg
Cattle Egret, second individual, Dungarvan, 1 Jan 2008 © C Flynn

cattleegret_dungarvan_1jan2008.jpg
Cattle Egret, Dungarvan, 1 Jan 2008 © M Cowming

blackbrant_dungarvan_1jan2008.jpg
Black Brant, adult (top middle bird), Dungarvan, 1 Jan 2008 © M Cowming

dark_belliedbrent_dungarvan_1jan2008.jpg
Dark-bellied Brent Goose, adult (middle bird), Dungarvan, 1 Jan 2008 © M Cowming

Note: Sightings listed here are reports, not necessarily authenticated records.  * = species for which the Irish Rare Birds Committee currently requires substantiating descriptions or photographs.  Records are regularly updated, and older records added or amended where necessary .  Many thanks to observers who provided records above - any further records (current or older) would be appreciated.  
 
Please email any sightings, or text details of scarcer species to 0861701599; to report sightings of rarities to the national  Birds of Ireland News Service (BINS), phone 01-8307364.

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