Waterford Birds January-February 2014 reports

Waterford bird records January-February 2014 (details subject to verification or correction)

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national records - www.irishbirding.com

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FEBRUARY 2014:

Check here (Waterford Birds blog) for more recent updates, further details or fuller species lists

Fri 28 Feb:

WHITING BAY: Iceland Gull & 2 Glaucous Gulls.

DUNGARVAN: 1st-winter Mediterranean Gull nr pitch & putt course.

CLONEA: Adult Mediterranean Gull at Ballinard.

MID WATERFORD: Buzzards at two locations (2 + 1).

TRAMORE: Adult Ring-billed Gull at boating lake.

Thurs 27 Feb:

DUNGARVAN: SIBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF at Springfield, behind Topaz garage.

Weds 26 Feb:

FERRY POINT: 3 Glaucous Gulls (1st-winter & 2 adults) & a 1st-winter Iceland Gull.

CALISO BAY: Adult Glaucous Gull.

WHITING BAY: 2 adult Glaucous Gulls.

ARDMORE: Merlin at Curragh.

WEST WATERFORD: Buzzard.

CASTLETOWN FEN: Water Rail & 2 Shoveler.

Sun 23 Feb:

TRAMORE: Adult Ring-billed Gull at boating lake.

HELVICK: 2 adult Glaucous Gulls.

Sat 22 Feb:

WATERFORD CITY: 3 Sand Martins (first of year) at River Suir by train station - very early.

TRAMORE: Merlin, 22 Gadwall & 2nd-winter Glaucous Gull at Lisselan.

CLONEA: Adult Glaucous Gull at Ballinclamper.

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

WHITING GULL: Adult Glaucous Gull.

FERRY POINT: Adult Glaucous Gull.

Fri 21 Feb:

HELVICK: 2 adult Glaucous Gulls.

DUNGARVAN: 1st-winter Glaucous Gull at Ballyneety.

Thurs 20 Feb:

FERRY POINT: Glaucous Gull.

WHITING BAY: 2 Glaucous Gulls.

RAM HEAD: Pomarine Skua.

HELVICK: Glaucous Gull.

Weds 19 Feb:

TRAMORE: 2 Glaucous Gulls (1st-winter & 2nd-winter) on beach.

CALISO BAY: Adult Glaucous Gull.

FERRY POINT: 2 Glaucous Gulls (adult & 1st-winter).

Tues 18 Feb:

FERRY POINT: Yellow-legged Gull & 3 adult Glaucous Gulls.

RAM HEAD: 9 Great Northern Divers & 200 Common Dolphins.

WATERFORD NATURE PARK (Kilbarry): Water Rail.

Mon 17 Feb:

TRAMORE: Adult Ring-billed Gull near boating lake, adult Iceland Gull & 1st-winter Glaucous Gull on beach.

Sun 16 Feb:

DUNGARVAN: 3 Long-tailed Ducks off the Cunnigar, 10 Great Northern Divers in harbour, Kingfisher at Ballyneety.

CLONEA: 18 Great Northern Divers.

WATERFORD HARBOUR: 62 Great Crested Grebes including 57 off Geneva Strand.

Sat 15 Feb:

YOUGHAL ESTUARY: 4 adult Glaucous Gulls at Ferry Point, 1st-winter Glaucous Gull at Rincrew, Otter at Tinnabinna.
WHITING BAY: 1st-winter Mediterranean Gull, 1st-winter Glaucous Gull & 2nd-winter Iceland Gull.
WEST WATERFORD: Buzzard.
DUNGARVAN: SPOONBILL at Barnawee near old railway bridge, 3 Long-tailed Ducks off pitch & putt course, 3rd-winter Glaucous Gull at Ballynacourty, Dark-bellied Brent Goose at Ballyneety.
DERRIGAL/COOLFIN: 200+ Greylag Geese & 23 Whooper Swans.
KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: Male RING-NECKED DUCK & a Water Rail.
MID WATERFORD: Buzzard (").
BALLYVOYLE: 1st-winter Iceland Gull & adult Mediterranean Gull.
BALLYDWAN: 1st-winter Iceland Gull.
TRAMORE: Short-eared Owl & Gadwall at Lisselan, 1st-winter Glaucous Gull, 2 Shoveler & 14 Gadwall at boating lake, 804 Black-tailed Godwits at Pickardstown, 679 Brent Geese at Backstrand.
CASTLETOWN FEN: Water Rail & 15 Shoveler.
WATERFORD HARBOUR: Adult Glaucous Gull at Cheekpoint.

Thurs 13 Feb:

FERRY POINT: 2 Glaucous Gulls (adult & 1st-winter) & 1st-winter Iceland Gull.

WHITING BAY: Adult Glaucous Gull.

DUNGARVAN: 2nd-winter Glaucous Gull.

Mon 10 Feb:

DUNGARVAN: SPOONBILL off pitch & putt course, 14 Great Northern Divers in bay.

HELVICK HEAD: 3 Great Northern Divers.

CLONEA STRAND: Adult Glaucous Gull at Ballinard, 7 Whimbrel Ballinard to Ballinclamper, 2 adult or 3rd-winter Yellow -legged Gulls N of Ballyvoyle Cove, 5 Great Northern Divers in bay.

MID WATERFORD: Buzzard.

Sun 9 Feb:

ARDMORE: Adult Mediterranean Gull.

HELVICK: Adult Glaucous Gull.

DUNGARVAN: SPOONBILL off pitch & putt course, 3 Long-tailed Ducks & 8 Great Northern Divers in bay, Chiffchaff at Southways, Abbeyside.

CLONEA: Adult Glaucous Gull.

SEAFIELD: Green Sandpiper.

MID WATERFORD: 5 Buzzards.

TRAMORE: Adult Ring-billed Gull, adult Glaucous Gull & 21 Gadwall at boating lake, adult Little Gull near dump, Common Scoter & 2 Pintail off Saleen, Chiffchaff at Lisselan.

Sat 8 Feb:

TRAMORE: Adult Little Gull & adult Ring-billed Gull at boating lake.

EAST WATERFORD: Buzzard.

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

Thurs 6 Feb:

DUNGARVAN: Adult Glaucous Gull at Poulaphouca / Knockanpower Lower, male Long-tailed Duck inside Cunnigar, Green Sandpiper at Killongford pools.

CLONEA STRAND: 3 Mediterranean Gulls (1st-winter & 2 adults) at Ballyvoyle end.

Weds 5 Feb:

DUNGARVAN: Green Sandpiper at Brickey canal, adult Glaucous Gull at Ballynagaul, 2nd-winter Mediterranean Gull near pitch & putt course.

ARDMORE: Common Scoter at Curragh.

Tues 4 Feb:

CARRIGNAGOUR (nr Lismore): 7 Crossbills.

Mon 3 Feb:

BUNMAHON: 1st-winter Mediterranean Gull.

WHITING BAY: 2nd-winter Iceland Gull.

Sun 2 Feb:

HELVICK: Adult KUMLIEN'S GULL.

WEST WATERFORD: Buzzard.

Sat 1 Feb:

TRAMORE: Adult Ring-billed Gull, adult Iceland Gull, adult & 1st-winter Glaucous Gull, Mediterranean Gull, 24 Shoveler & 26 Gadwall at boating lake.

BALLYSHUNNOCK RESERVOIR: Male RING-NECKED DUCK.

DUNGARVAN: Adult Glaucous Gull at Ballynagaul.

WHITING BAY: 6+ Tree Sparrows at Springfield Lower, 1st-winter Glaucous Gull.

JANUARY 2014:

Check here (Waterford Birds blog) for more recent updates, further details or fuller species lists

Fri 31 Jan:

DUNGARVAN: 1st-winter Glaucous Gull off Cunnigar car-park.

Thurs 30 Jan:

WATERFORD CITY: Chiffchaff at Francis Street.

TRAMORE: Gadwall & 11 Shoveler at boating lake.

Weds 29 Jan:

SEAFIELD / BUNMAHON: CATTLE EGRET still present.

DUNGARVAN: SPOONBILL below Killongford bridge.

CLONEA STRAND: Whimbrel.

Mon 27 Jan:

TRAMORE: Adult Ring-billed Gull., 1st-winter Glaucous Gull & 6 Shoveler at boating lake.

Sun 26 Jan:

ARDMORE: Female Common Scoter.

WHITING BAY: Tree Sparrow at Springfield Lower.

Sat 25 Jan:

HELVICK HEAD: 2 LITTLE AUKS W.

KINSALEBEG: 2nd-winter Iceland Gull at Tiknock.

WHITING BAY: 10+ Tree Sparrows at Springfield.

ARDMORE: Female Brambling at Curragh, 2nd-winter Mediterranean Gull at Ardmore town.

DUNGARVAN: SPOONBILL in Western Bay, Merlin at Youghal Road.

TRAMORE: 1st-winter Glaucous Gull & adult Ring-billed Gull (video) at boating lake.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Great Skua W & 2 Porpoises (seawatch 14:35-15:20).

Fri 24 Jan:

AT SEA: 3 Manx Shearwaters, 10 Great Skuas & 2 'Blue' Fulmars between Mine Head & Dungarvan from R.V. Celtic Explorer, all well within sight of land (further details).

Thurs 23 Jan:

BLACKWATER CALLOWS: Kingfisher at Lismore, 38 Whooper Swans at Ballyduff.

WEST WATERFORD: Buzzard at 2 locations.

BALLYSHUNNOCK RESERVOIR: Kingfisher.

COOLFIN: 30 Whooper Swans.

Weds 22 Jan:

FERRY POINT: 1st-winter Glaucous Gull, 3+Iceland Gulls & adult Yellow-legged Gull.

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: Male RING-NECKED DUCK.

TRAMORE: 1st-winter Glaucous Gull, 10 Shoveler & 18 Gadwall at boating lake, Chiffchaff at west end of beach.

Tues 21 Jan:

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: Male RING-NECKED DUCK.

Mon 20 Jan:

HELVICK: 2 KUMLIEN'S GULL (adult & 1st-winter) at pier, also a 1st-winter Iceland Gull of nominate subspecies.

RAM HEAD: 2 Fin Whales, 200 Common Dolphins & an Otter.

Sun 19 Jan:

HELVICK: 2 1st-winter Iceland Gulls at pier - one now considered to be KUMLIEN'S GULL (Iceland Gull of subspecies Larus glaucoides kumlieni) - 2nd county record.

SEAFIELD / BUNMAHON: CATTLE EGRET still present.

MID WATERFORD: 2 Buzzards.

TIBBERAGHNY (Co Kilkenny): 32 Whooper Swans.

DERRIGAL: also 32 Whooper Swans.

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: Male RING-NECKED DUCK.

BOATSTRAND: Adult Mediterranean Gull.

ISLANDIKANE: 71 Choughs.

Nr LITTLE ISLAND: Common Sandpiper.

Sat 18 Jan:

SEAFIELD / BUNMAHON: CATTLE EGRET.

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: Male RING-NECKED DUCK.

DUNGARVAN: SPOONBILL & 4 Long-tailed Ducks.

Nr WHITING BAY: 10 Tree Sparrows at Springfield.

KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS: 4+ Red Grouse.

BLACKWATER CALLOWS: c60 Whooper Swans above Ballyduff.

Thurs 16 Jan:

TRAMORE: Adult Ring-billed Gull at boating lake.

Weds 15 Jan:

TRAMORE: Merlin at Lisselan.

WHITING BAY: 2 Tree Sparrows at west end, 9-10 Yellowhammers.

Tues 14 Jan:

BALLYSHUNNOCK RESERVOIR: Male RING-NECKED DUCK.

BUNMAHON: CATTLE EGRET & adult Mediterranean Gull.

MID WATERFORD: Buzzard.

Mon 13 Jan:

BALLYSHUNNOCK RESERVOIR: Male RING-NECKED DUCK (last reported here on 13 December).

PORTLAW: Green Sandpiper below bridge in village.

Sun 12 Jan:

SEAFIELD / BUNMAHON: CATTLE EGRET.

CLONEA: Whimbrel & Purple Sandpiper at Ballinclamper.

HELVICK HEAD: Balearic Shearwater E.

ARDMORE: 2 Common Scoter at Curragh beach.

Sat 11 Jan:

TRAMORE: 1st-winter Glaucous Gull, 18 Shoveler & 43 Gadwall at boating lake, 3 Shoveler & 658 Brent Geese at Backstrand, 2 Common Scoter in Tramore Bay, Chiffchaff in Tramore town.

DUNGARVAN: Chiffchaff at the Cunnigar.

RAM HEAD: 30 Common Dolphins.

BLACKWATER VALLEY: Day-flying bat species at Dromana bridge.

Fri 10 Jan:

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 5 GLOSSY IBISES.

SEAFIELD / BUNMAHON: CATTLE EGRET.

BALLYSHUNNOCK RESERVOIR: Gadwall.

KILMEADEN: Jay.

Thurs 9 Jan:

DUNGARVAN: SPOONBILL & 3 Long-tailed Ducks inside the Cunnigar, 3 Chiffchaffs (1+ eastern-type) behind Topaz garage at Springfield, 16 Great Northern Divers in bay.

CLONEA: Whimbrel at Ballinclamper, 8 Great Northern Divers in bay.

BALLYVOYLE COVE: 2 Dippers at bridge.

TRAMORE: Greylag Goose, Common Scoter & 2 Shoveler at Lisselan.

Weds 8 Jan:

SEAFIELD / BUNMAHON: 1 CATTLE EGRET still present.

Mon 6 Jan:.

NR WHITING BAY: 2 Tree Sparrows, Springfield area.

Sun 5 Jan:.

TRAMORE: 1st-winter Glaucous Gull at boating lake, Merlin at Backstrand.

Sat 4 Jan:

BIRD-RACE: Two teams recorded 103 and 85 species, respectively.

SEAFIELD / BUNMAHON: 2 CATTLE EGRETS.

TRAMORE: Adult Ring-billed Gull, 1st-winter Glaucous Gull & 1st-winter male Pintail at boating lake; Greylag Goose at Lisselan.

BALLYSHUNNOCK RESERVOIR: Pochard.

DUNGARVAN: Common Sandpiper at Killongford, adult Yellow-legged Gull off pitch & putt course.

DRUM HILLS: Woodcock.

Fri 3 Jan:

SEAFIELD: CATTLE EGRET again present.

CLONEA: Great Skua, Whimbrel & 3 Purple Sandpipers at Ballinclamper.

DUNGARVAN: SPOONBILL off pitch & putt course, 2 Long-tailed Ducks off Quann's.

HELVICK HEAD: LITTLE AUK flew W.

ARDMORE: Adult Mediterranean Gull on beach, female Brambling at Curragh stream.

WEST WATERFORD: Buzzard at two locations.

LISMORE: Jay.

Thurs 2 Jan:

TRAMORE: 1st-winter Glaucous Gull, adult Mediterranean Gull & 1st-winter male Pintail at boating lake, 3 Common Scoter in Bay.

EAST WATERFORD: 2 Buzzards.

CLONEA: Whimbrel , 2 Purple Sandpipers & 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls at Ballinclamper.

DUNGARVAN: SPOONBILL at the Cunnigar, & 2 Long-tailed Ducks.

HELVICK: 2nd-winter Glaucous Gull.

Weds 1 Jan:

BLACKWATER CALLOWS: 119 Whooper Swans.

HELVICK HEAD: Balearic Shearwater & Glaucous Gull.

DUNGARVAN: SPOONBILL at the Cunnigar, 3 Long-tailed Ducks off Quann's, & Dark-bellied Brent Goose at Duckspool, Merlin & adult Yellow-legged Gull at Ballyneety.

CLONEA: Whimbrel & Purple Sandpiper at Ballinard / Ballinclamper.

BALLYDWAN to BALLYVOONEY: Merlin.

SEAFIELD / BUNMAHON: CATTLE EGRET still present.

DERRIGAL: 14 Whooper Swans.

TRAMORE: 1st-winter Glaucous Gull at boating lake.

EAST WATERFORD: 2 Buzzards.