Bird reports Co Waterford January-February 2009

Waterford bird records January-February 2009 (details subject to verification or correction)

older records - archive

February 2009

Last updated 9 March 2009

Sat 28 Feb:

HELVICK: Adult Iceland Gull & 1st-winter Glaucous Gull.

DUNGARVAN: Adult BLACK BRANT at the Cunnigar, 2 adult dark-bellied Brent nr the sports centre, Whimbrel at Knockanpower.

CLODIAGH RIVER (nr Portlaw): Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper & Kingfisher.

BALLYSHUNOCK RESERVOIR: Male Shoveler & 4 Great Crested Grebes.

Fri 27 Feb:

DUNGARVAN: 3 BLACK-NECKED GREBES at Ballynacourty.

Weds 25 Feb:

BLACKWATER CALLOWS: CATTLE EGRET between Ballyduff & Lismore.

WATERFORD CITY: 2 Kingfishers & 17 Mute Swans on St John's River near Scotch Quay.

Tues 24 Feb:

DUNGARVAN: Adult BLACK BRANT & 3 Long-tailed Ducks (male & 2 females) off Cunnigar tip.

HELVICK: 1st-winter Iceland Gull.

Sun 22 Feb:

BLACKWATER CALLOWS: 156 Whooper Swans (143 east of, 13 west of Ballyduff).

HELVICK: 1st-winter Iceland Gull.

CLONEA STRAND: 6+ Red-throated Divers.

Sat 21 Feb:

KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS: 7+ Red Grouse & 5 Woodcock nr Knockadav.

BLACKWATER CALLOWS: Female Goosander, 2 CATTLE EGRETS, 5 Little Egrets & a Common Sandpiper at Ballyroan East, Ballyduff.

Nr VILLIERSTOWN: 2 Dippers at Kilmolash bridge, Merlin at Clashnadarriv.

Nr CLASHMORE: 4 CATTLE EGRETS at Ballycrompane.

DUNGARVAN: 3 Long-tailed Ducks (male + 2 females) at Ballynacourty.

CLONEA STRAND: Whimbrel & 6 Purple Sandpipers at Ballinclamper.

BALLYDWAN BAY: Great Northern Diver & 18 Red-throated Divers.

BUNMAHON: 9 Red-throated Divers.

KNOCKMAHON to KILMURRIN COVE: 47 Red-throated Divers.

Fri 20 Feb:

DUNGARVAN: 3 BLACK-NECKED GREBES nr Ballynacourty pier.

Thurs 19 Feb:

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND (I-WeBS count): Totals included 698 Brent Geese, an adult dark-bellied Brent, 3 Long-tailed Ducks & 184 Knot; also a ringtail Hen Harrier at Lisselan & a Merlin at Kilmacleague.

TRAMORE BAY: 5 Red-throated Divers & 1 Great Northern Diver.

GARRARUS: 9 Red-throated Divers & a Black Guillemot.

KILFARRASY: 14 Red-throated Divers.

ANNESTOWN: 12 Red-throated Divers.

Weds 18 Feb:

WATERFORD CITY: Barn Owl seen c1030 pm.

Mon 16 Feb:

WATERFORD CITY: 10+ Waxwings again in St Herblain Park; 56 Snipe flew west over King's Channel.

HELVICK: 3rd-winter Iceland Gull.

WHITING BAY: 2 1st-winter Glaucous Gulls; large mixed flock of Tree Sparrows, House Sparrows & Chaffinches at Ballysallagh.

RINCREW: Iceland Gull, 3 Glaucous Gulls & 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls on Waterford side of Tourig estuary.

Sun 15 Feb:

BRICKEY CANAL: 2 Kingfishers & 2 Chiffchaffs.

DUNGARVAN: 2nd-winter Glaucous Gull at Ballyneety.

WATERFORD CITY: Female Blackcap at Ballinakill Downs.

WATERFORD HARBOUR (I-WeBS count): Totals included 125 Brent Geese (123 at Woodstown shellfish trestles), 10 Great Crested Grebes & 462 Black-tailed Godwits.

Sat 14 Feb:

DUNMORE EAST: 9 Purple Sandpipers.

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 4 Long-tailed Ducks (3 males) & a dark-bellied Brent Goose at Saleen.

BALLYSHUNNOCK RESERVOIR: 35 Whooper Swans & 4 Shoveler.

DERRIGAL: 14 Whooper Swans & 9 Greylag Geese.

BUNMAHON: Glaucous Gull (probably 1st-winter).

DRUMLOHAN (nr Stradbally): 2 CATTLE EGRETS.

STRADBALLY COVE: Red-throated Diver & 2 Dippers.

BALLYVOYLE COVE: 2nd-winter Glaucous Gull.

CLONEA STRAND: 14 Red-throated & 14 Great Northern Divers.

BALLINARD: Whimbrel & adult dark-bellied Brent Goose.

DUNGARVAN HARBOUR: 3 Long-tailed Ducks (1 male).

Thurs 12 Feb:

WATERFORD CITY: Waxwing flocks seen in three gardens today, in Grange Heights (c12 birds) and later St Herblain Park (11+, possibly 15 birds) and St John's Park (4 birds). Also a male Blackcap all winter, St Herblain Park, plus a female on several dates.

Tues 10 Feb:

HELVICK: Adult Iceland Gull.

BRICKEY RIVER: Merlin, Green Sandpiper, Kingfisher & 3 Chiffchaffs along the canal.

DUNGARVAN: 2 Common Sandpipers at Barnawee, Long-tailed Duck, Black Guillemot & Otter at Cunnigar point.

Mon 9 Feb:

CLONEA STRAND: 2 Little Gulls (adult & 1st-winter) & adult Mediterranean Gull at Ballinclamper.

DUNGARVAN town: 2 female Blackcaps.

Sun 8 Feb:

WATERFORD CITY: Male Blackcap.

Sat 7 Feb:

KILWATERMOY, nr Tallow: Woodcock.

KNOCKANORE: Woodcock.

NEWPORT EAST: 2 Merlin & 10 Fallow Deer.

Nr CLASHMORE: 5 CATTLE EGRETS at Ballycrompane

DUNGARVAN: 3 BLACK-NECKED GREBES & a Black Guillemot in bay, adult Ring-billed Gull at Ballynagaul, Blackcap in garden at Kilmurray.

CLONEA STRAND: Adult dark-bellied Brent Goose & 1st-winter Little Gull.

TRAMORE BOATING LAKE: Gadwall.

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Flock of 80 Snipe.

Thurs 5 Feb:

Nr WHITING BAY: 22+ Tree Sparrows at Ballysallagh.

ARDMORE: Adult Mediterranean Gull.

HELVICK PIER: 4 Little Gulls (1st-winter & 3 adults).

DUNGARVAN: 4 adult Little Gulls at Ballynagaul, adult Glaucous Gull at Poulapoucha, Ring.

Weds 4 Feb:

BALLINARD: 7 Little Gulls.

CLONEA STRAND: 14 Choughs at Ballinclamper.

BLACKWATER VALLEY: Buzzard.

Tues 3 Feb:

DUNGARVAN: 3 adult Little Gulls at Ballynagaul.

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Great Northern Diver at Saleen, Kingfisher at Clohernagh.

Mon 2 Feb:

BALLYNACOURTY POINT (Dungarvan/ Clonea): 8 Little Gulls (7 adults & a 1st-winter) off the lighthouse.

HELVICK HEAD: 6 adult Little Gulls (different from above though at same time).

Sun 1 Feb:

Nr CLASHMORE: 4 CATTLE EGRETS at Ballycrompane, Great Northern Diver off Clashmore Broads.

WHITING BAY: Great Northern Diver.

ARDMORE: 2 Little Gulls (adult & 1st-winter).

HELVICK: Female Eider.

DUNGARVAN town: Female Blackcap.

Last updated 6 March 2009

DUNGARVAN: BLACK-NECKED GREBE off the Gold Coast, Jack Snipe & 2 Glaucous Gulls (2nd- & 4th-winter) at the Cunnigar.

TIBBERAGHNY (Co Kilkenny): 2 Pink-footed Geese, 185 Greylag Geese, 36 Whooper Swans & 8 Little Egrets.

COOLFIN/DERRIGAL: 9 Greylag Geese & 12 Whooper Swans.

Fri 30 Jan:

Nr CLASHMORE: 2 CATTLE EGRETS at Ballycrompane.

DUNGARVAN town: 25 Siskins in garden.

Nr CLASHMORE: 4 CATTLE EGRETS at Ballycrompane (same location as 8 birds last winter).

DUNGARVAN: Adult Mediterranean Gull (a ringed bird) at Barnawee.

Nr THOMASTOWN (Co Kilkenny): An estimated 100,000+ Starlings seen going to roost.

DUNMORE EAST: Night-roost of 100+ House Sparrows just north of the Inner Harbour Kittiwake colony.

HELVICK HEAD: 2 Iceland Gulls (adult & 1st-winter).

DUNGARVAN town: Black Redstart at Kilrush Industrial Park (inside shop at Curran's Hardware!), female Blackcap in garden.

BALLYLEMON: Female Blackcap in garden.

CLONEA STRAND: 7+ Great Northern Divers at Ballinclamper.

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND (I-WeBS count): Totals included 830 Brent Geese, a Great Northern Diver & 140 Grey Plover.

CORBALLY: 260 Chaffinches in stubble fields.

DUNGARVAN (I-WeBS count): Totals included 7 Great Northern Divers, 3 BLACK-NECKED GREBES (inside Cunnigar tip), 1370+ Brent Geese, 2 adult dark-bellied Brent (at pitch & putt course) & a Kingfisher (at Cunnigar base); also 16 Siskin & a Goldcrest at garden feeders in town.

CLONEA STRAND: Whimbrel & 9 Purple Sandpipers at Ballinclamper, 43 Sanderling Ballinard / Ballinclamper, 2 Red-throated & 19 Great Northern Divers.

Nr BELLE LAKE: Short-eared Owl seen recently.

RATHMOYLAN: 150+ Skylarks in stubble fields & a Chiffchaff.

Sun 18 Jan:

DUNGARVAN: Adult dark-bellied Brent Goose off pitch & putt course; 12 Siskins, a Lesser Redpoll & a Goldcrest at garden feeders in town.

BALLINARD: Adult dark-bellied Brent Goose & 2 Whimbrel.

CLONEA STRAND: Adult Mediterranean Gull & 4 Purple Sandpipers at Ballinclamper.

Sat 17 Jan:

HELVICK HEAD: Female Eider.

DUNGARVAN: 3 BLACK-NECKED GREBES in bay, 3 Crossbills at Gold Coast golf-course.

CLONEA STRAND: 3 Purple Sandpipers at Ballinclamper.

Tues 13 Jan:

DUNGARVAN: 3 BLACK-NECKED GREBES off Gold Coast.

BALLYVOYLE COVE: 21 Choughs.

DUNGARVAN: 3 BLACK-NECKED GREBES & 3 Long-tailed Ducks off Gold Coast and Abbeyside prom, BLACK BRANT off pitch & putt, & 15 Siskins at a garden in town.

BLACKWATER CALLOWS: 3 CATTLE EGRETS, a female Goosander and a Common Sandpiper at Scartnacrooha, c1 mile W of Ballyduff; 2 Jays at the Towers, nr Lismore.

BLACKWATER VALLEY: Jay at Knockanore, male Tufted Duck at Dromana.

Nr WHITING BAY: Flock of Tree Sparrows (>5) at Ballysallagh.

CLONEA STRAND: 6 Purple Sandpipers at Ballinclamper.

BALYSHUNNOCK RESERVOIR: 19 Shoveler.

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Total of 695 Brent Geese.

DUNGARVAN: 2 Slavonian Grebes off Abbeyside church & 7 Shoveler near sports centre.

TOORANEENA-BALLYMACARBRY ROAD: A Woodcock flew over.

Mon 5 Jan:

Nr STRADBALLY: 2 CATTLE EGRETS at Drumlohan Coss Roads.

BUNMAHON: 3 Porpoises.

Nr ANNESTOWN: CATTLE EGRET at Kilcannon, Dunhill.

TRAMORE BOATING LAKE: Adult Ring-billed Gull & 3 Scaup.

ARDMORE BAY / RAM HEAD: 17 Red-throated Divers

RAM HEAD: 3 Fin Whales & a Porpoise.

CLONEA STRAND: 4 Purple Sandpipers at Ballinclamper, also 3 Tufted Duck flew past and 2 Red-throated Divers on the sea.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Merlin.

TRAMORE BOATING LAKE: Adult Ring-billed Gull, adult argentatus-race Herring Gull (1, possibly 2), 3 Scaup (male + 2 females), female Gadwall; also a Black Redstart nearby.

Nr ANNESTOWN BOG: CATTLE EGRET.

DERRIGAL/COOLFIN: 11 Whooper Swans nr Derrigal Cross Roads; 2 Green Sandpipers at Clodiagh Bridge.

BALLYSHUNNOCK RESERVOIR: 6 Gadwall & 9 Shoveler.

DUNGARVAN: Great Northern Diver & 23 Great Crested Grebes off Ballynacourty Pier.

BRICKEY RIVER: Green Sandpiper just below Twomile Bridge.

BUNMAHON: Female Common Scoter.

Nr STRADBALLY: 3 CATTLE EGRETS again present at Drumlohan Coss Roads.

KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS: Red Grouse & female Hen Harrier.

DUNGARVAN: Red-throated Diver in bay.

KNOCKMEALDOWN MONTAINS: Red Grouse & 5 Woodcock, Ballysaggart area.

BLACKWATER CALLOWS: 84 Whooper Swans.

CROSSERY (nr Knockanore): 11 Yellowhammers & 10 Stock Doves.

WHITING BAY: 5 Tree Sparrows at Ballysallagh.

.click below for larger images

Iceland Gull, adult, Helvick, 28 Feb 2009 © M Cowming

Glaucous Gull, 1st-winter, Helvick, 28 Feb 2009 © M Cowming

Dark-bellied Brent Goose, adult (right), Dungarvan, 28 Feb 2009 © M Cowming

Black Brant, adult, the Cunnigar, 28 Feb 2009 © M Cowming

Iceland Gull, 1st-winter, Helvick, 24 Feb 2009 © D Clarke

Kestrel, Ballinclamper, 24 Feb 2009 © D Clarke

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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