BIrd reports June-July 2006

Waterford bird records, June-July 2006

archive

See migrant lepidoptera page also (highlights below)

HELVICK HEAD: A Great Shearwater, 8 Storm Petrels, 11 Common Scoter, 3 Great Skuas, 7 Arctic Skuas, 3 Pomarine Skuas & 10 Puffins flew west.

DUNGARVAN: 63 Little Egrets, including 51 at Killongford.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 2 Arctic Skuas west, a Great Skua & a Black Guillemot east (1-hr seawatch 1345-1445 hrs); also a Hummingbird Hawk-moth.

CLONEA STRAND: Juvenile Mediterranean Gull at Ballinclamper.

Nr LISMORE: Jay at Ballyrafter House Hotel; Yellowhammer & recently-fledged Spotted Flycatcher at Ballinanchor.

Nr AGLISH: Blackcap & 2 Yellowhammers, also a Clouded Yellow.

CLONEA STRAND: Adult Mediterranean Gull, Ballinclamper.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Migrant moths included a Vestal & a Scarce Bordered Straw.

Near TALLOW: 3 singing Yellowhammers.

Near LISMORE: Jay found dead.

RAM HEAD: Minke Whale.

LOWRY BRIDGE/WHITESTOWN, nr Mothel: Blackcap singing.

CURRAGHTAGGART, nr Clonea Power: Spotted Flycatcher, 5+ Emperor dragonflies at a small (artificial?) lake.

DUNGARVAN: Common Sandpiper along Brickey river.

PORTLAW: Kingfisher carrying food to nest burrow, also 2 Stock Doves, 2 singing Blackcaps.

BALLYSHUNNOCK RESERVOIR: Water Rail.

RAM HEAD: 2 Puffins.

ARDMORE: 2 Mediterranean Gulls (adult + 2nd-summer); 2 Stock Doves & a Spotted Flycatcher north of Ardmore.

PAULSWORTH, nr Ardmore: Adult Mediterranean Gull.

KNOCKBRACK QUARRY, nr Clashmore: 6+ Emperor dragonflies (including egg-laying).

BALLYSHUNNOCK RESERVOIR: Whimbrel, 2 Great Crested Grebes & a singing Blackcap.

KILMEADEN POOLS: 4 Green Sandpipers & a Stock Dove.

Sat 8 July:

HELVICK HEAD: 3-4 Storm Petrels, 2 Pomarine Skuas, 3 Arctic Skuas & 15 Puffins during an evening seawatch.

Fri 7 July:

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Migrant moths included a Scarce Bordered Straw.

Mon 3 July:

DUNGARVAN: 23 Little Egrets in Gold Coast/Barnawee area, 2 Common Sandpipers at Barnawee.

ARDMORE: Adult Mediterranean Gull.

DUNGARVAN: Possible Great White Egret reported in Barnawee/Gold Coast area.

Nr KILMACTHOMAS: 2 singing Yellowhammers.

Nr KILCLOONEY FOREST: 2 Grasshopper Warblers & 4 Blackcaps singing, 1 Yellowhammer.

DUNGARVAN: 7 Common Sandpipers, Ballyneety.

BALLINARD: 1 Common Sandpiper.

BALLYVOONEY COVE: 5 Common Scoter.

KILMEADEN POOLS: 4 Green Sandpipers.

BALLYSHUNNOCK RESERVOIR: Whooper Swan & singing Blackcap; also a Stock Dove nearby.

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: Whooper/Mute Swan hybrid.

Nr MAHON BRIDGE: 3 singing Blackcaps.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 12 Choughs.

June 2006

Fri 30 June:

TINNABINNA area, nr Youghal bridge: Stock Dove, 2 Yellowhammers & singing Blackcap.

Weds 28 June:

BALLYMACART: Singing Blackcaps at Ballymacart & Ballintlea bridges.

Sun 25 June:

NIRE VALLEY: 3 singing Blackcaps.

BOHADOON MOUNTAIN, nr Crohaun: Grasshopper Warbler & 7 Ravens; also a Clouded Yellow.

Nr CLASHMORE: 3 Emperor dragonflies & 3+ Common Newts at pools in a former quarry, also 3 Hummingbird Hawk-moths.

Sat 24 June:

BALLINARD: A Pomarine Skua & 9 Common Scoters flew west; also a Hummingbird Hawk-moth.

NIRE VALLEY: Adult + fledgling Dipper nr Hanora's Cottage.

Fri 23 June:

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Migrant moths included a Scarce Bordered Straw.

Sun 18 June:

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 3 Pomarine Skuas (2nd- or 3rd-summer birds) flew west in 1 hr (1650-1750 hrs), also a Puffin on the sea.

Sat 17 June:

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 14 Choughs; migrant moths included 2 Bordered Straws.

KILLONE, nr Knockaderry: 2 Stock Doves, singing Blackcap & a Spotted Flycatcher.

LISNAKILL: Singing Blackcap & Yellowhammer.

Fri 16 June:

GRALLAGH BRIDGE: Spotted Flycatcher, 2 singing Blackcaps.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Migrant moths included a Cosmopolitan & a Delicate.

Weds 14 June:

RAM HEAD: 136 occupied Kittiwake nests in study-plots that held 204 nests in June 2005 - a 33% decline suggesting total population may now be <170 nests (v. 244 in 2005 & >1000 in 1985); also a Minke Whale & 3 Porpoises.

ARDMORE HEAD: 2 Hummingbird Hawk-moths.

KILMACTHOMASD: Hummingbird Hawk-moth.

Mon 12 June:

Nr LISMORE: Male Hen Harrier.

Sun 11 June:

DUNGARVAN: Apparent hybrid Whooper/Mute Swan at Ballyneety bridge.

GORTNALAGHT WOOD, nr Lemybrien: 6 singing Blackcaps; also a Clouded Yellow.

BALLYGARRAN/LISSAHANE, nr Knockaderry: 2 Yellowhammers; also a Hummingbird Hawk-moth.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 195 Manx Shearwaters east in 20 mins (1710-1730hrs) (585E/hr); migrant lepidoptera included 3 Bordered Straws.

Sat 10 June:

DUNGARVAN: Turtle Dove feeding on bird table, Abbeyside.

Nr SUGAR LOAF ROCK: 2 Cuckoos, a singing Blackcap & 2 Yellowhammers; also a Hummingbird Hawk-moth.

LISNAKILL, nr Orchardstown: Hummingbird Hawk-moth.

Nr MOUNT CONGREVE: Singing Blackcap.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: An Arctic Skua flew west, a Storm Petrel east and 85 Manx Shearwaters east in 25 mins (200E/hr) afternoon/evening, also 8 Swifts; migrant moths included a Cosmopolitan (3rd county record?).

Fri 9 June:

LISMORE to THE VEE: Male Hen Harrier.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Migrant moths trapped Friday night included a Delicate.

Thurs 8 June:

Nr LISMORE: Crossbills heard.

Tues 6 June:

Nr LISMORE: Female Hen Harrier.

Mon 5 June:

Nr LISMORE: Male Hen Harrier.

Nr KILL: Singing Blackcap, Bog; another & a singing Yellowhammer, Kilbeg.

Sun 4 June:

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Highlight was a Quail calling just before midnight, apparently attracted to a mercury vapour light-trap used for moth-catching. Migrant moths included another Delicate.

BALLYSHUNNOCK RESERVOIR: Summering adult Whooper Swan, 2 Great Crested Grebes & a singing Blackcap.

Nr KILMACTHOMAS: 3 singing Blackcaps & 5 Yellowhammers.

RAM HEAD: Hummingbird Hawk-moth.

Sat 3 June:

WATERFORD CITY: An unidentified kite species (suspected Black Kite) flew over Collins Avenue, with 3 Buzzards.

FENOR area: Turtle Dove nr village, singing Blackcap; also 4 Hairy Dragonflies at Fenor Bog.

BALLYSCANLAN LOUGH: A singing Reed Warbler (1st site record?); also 6 Hairy Dragonflies.

RAM HEAD: 12 Common Dolphins, 7 Porpoises, a Minke Whale & 2 Basking Sharks.

Nr CLASHMORE: Dragonflies at artificial pools here included an Emperor.

Nr LISMORE: Bank Vole at Carrignagour.

Fri 2 June:

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Migrant moths included a Delicate.

Thurs 1 June:

TRAMORE TOWN: Bordered Straw moth.

.click below for larger images

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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