Waterford bird reports March-April 2011

Waterford bird records March-April 2011 (details subject to verification or correction)

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April 2011

Check here for updates or further details.

Saturday 30 April:

Nr BUNMAHON: NIGHT HERON & Grasshopper Warbler at Seafield.

CLASHMORE BROADS: Female-type MARSH HARRIER.

KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS: 2 male Hen Harriers (1 albinistic).

RUSSELLSTOWN WOOD (SW of Clonmel): 5 Crossbills & 4 Jays.

COMERAGH/MONAVULLAGH MOUNTAINS: Pair of Hen Harriers & 20+ Green Hairstreak butterflies.

Nr DRUM HILLS: 2 male Hen Harriers.

HELVICK HEAD: Basking Shark.

DUNGARVAN: SPOONBILL at Killongford.

CLONEA STRAND: SCANDINAVIAN ROCK PIPIT at Ballinclamper.

ANNESTOWN: Grasshopper Warbler.

FENOR (inland): 12 Choughs

Fri 29 Apr:

Nr BUNMAHON: Adult NIGHT HERON (2nd county record) at Seafield.

KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS: Male Hen Harrier.

GLENSHASK QUARRY: Red Squirrel.

DALLIGAN RIVER: Dipper nr Shanbally.

WATERFORD CITY: Swift nr Whitfield Clinic.

Thurs 28 Apr:

KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS: Cuckoo calling & Grasshopper Warbler along Melleray road.

WEST WATERFORD: 2 Buzzards.

COMERAGH MOUNTAINS: Pair of Hen Harriers, also 2 Jays.

Off MINE HEAD: Basking Shark.

ANNESTOWN BOG: Female MARSH HARRIER - the 5th sighting in county this spring.

Weds 27 Apr:
COMERAGH MOUNTAINS: Cuckoo calling in Glenary valley.

KNOCKNAGOUR (nr Lismore): Several Grasshopper Warblers singing.

CLONEA STRAND: 2 Basking Sharks off Ballyvoyle Cove.

MONAMINTRA BOG: Water Rail calling & Snipe drumming.

CASTLETOWN FEN: Grasshopper Warbler singing.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 3 Great Northern Divers on sea, a Puffin flew east, 2 Tree Sparrows & a Grasshopper Warbler.

CLONMEL (Co Tipperary): 3+ Swifts.

Tues 26 Apr:
KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS: Female./immature Hen Harrier.

WEST WATERFORD: 3 Buzzards (2 locations).
BLACKWATER VALLEY: 6 singing Reed Warblers,at Camphire.

DUNGARVAN: 2 Grasshopper Warblers at Brickey canal.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: An adult summer Black-throatd Diver flew east; also Grasshopper Warbler & Hummingbird Hawk-moth.

Mon 25 Apr:
HELVICK HEAD: 1st-summer WOODCHAT SHRIKE still present.

Nr DUNGARVAN: Female Hen Harrier.
KILMURRIN COVE: Grasshopper Warbler.
BALLINLOUGH: Singing Reed Warbler, Cuckoo & Water Rail.
CARRIGAVRANTRY: Cuckoo calling.
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 3 male Gadwall at Clohernagh, 10 Whimbrel.

Sun 24 Apr:
HELVICK HEAD: WOODCHAT SHRIKE.

WEST WATERFORD: 2 pairs of Buzzards.

KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS: 4 Grasshopper Warblers & a Cuckoo.
LISMORE: Jay.
Nr CLONMEL: Jay at Glenabbey/Russellstown wood.
BALLYMACART: 2 Grasshopper Warblers & a Whitethroat.
BALLINARID (west of Bunmahon): Grasshopper Warbler.
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Spotted Flycatcher (1st of year) & Grasshopper Warbler.
BELLE LAKE: Grasshopper Warbler.

Sat 23 Apr:

BLACKWATER VALLEY: 1st-summer MARSH HARRIER at Newport Quay; Common Seal at Newport; Reed Warbler singing at Raheen quay, Clashmore.

KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS: 4 Hen Harriers (male & 3 females).

MONAVULLAGH MOUNTAINS: Long-eared Owl & Grasshopper Warbler at Crohaun; Merlin.

CALISO BAY: 2 Whitethroats.

BALLYMACART: Whitethroat.

HELVICK HEAD: 1st-summer male WOODCHAT SHRIKE, 3 Whitethroats, 200 Manx Shearwaters, 30 Common Dolphins & a Basking Shark.

DUNGARVAN: Sub-adult SPOONBILL at Killongford.

BALLINLOUGH: Cuckoo & Grasshopper Warbler.

MOUNT CONGREVE / KILLOTERAN: Grasshopper Warbler & 2 Swifts.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 190 Manx Shearwaters west (seawatch 18:20-19:20).

Fri 22 Apr:

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Pomarine Skua, Arctic Skua, Puffin & 1035 Manx Shearwaters east, Great Skua & 16 Whimbrel west (seawatch 15:30-16:30).

CLONEA STRAND: Swift (1st of year) nr Clonea Strand Hotel, Grasshopper Warbler at Ballinclamper,

Nr DUNGARVAN: Barn Owl @ 00:30.

HELVICK HEAD: WOODCHAT SHRIKE, Tree Sparrow & Whitethroat.

Thurs 21 Apr:

BLACKWATER VALLEY: Reed Warbler (1st of year) & Whitethroat at Raheen quay, Clashmore.

North of LISMORE: 10+ Grasshopper Warblers singing.

HELVICK HEAD: 1st-summer male WOODCHAT SHRIKE still present.

BALLYMACART: Whitethroat.

BALLYSCANLON: 2 Whitethroats.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 4 Whitethroats & a Grasshopper Warbler.

Weds 20 Apr:

HELVICK HEAD: WOODCHAT SHRIKE.

CLONEA STRAND: Dippers nesting at Ballyvoyle Bridge, 23 Red-throated Divers offshore.

CARRIGNAGOUR (north of Lismore): Grasshopper Warbler singing.

Nr BALLINAMULT: Dipper.

Tues 19 Apr:

HELVICK HEAD: WOODCHAT SHRIKE, also an unidentified harrier species.

DUNGARVAN: SPOONBILL at Killongford; Kingfisher & 2 Grasshopper Warblers at brickey canal.

MONAVULLAGH MOUNTAINS: Green Hairstreak at Coumaraglin.

Mon 18 Apr:

HELVICK HEAD: 1st-summer male WOODCHAT SHRIKE still present; a female MARSH HARRIER flew east.

ANNESTOWN BOG: Male MARSH HARRIER.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Singing Whitethroat (1st of year) & Grasshopper Warbler.

MONAVULLAGH MOUNTAINS: 12 Ravens & Green Hairstreak butterfly at Coumaraglin; singing Whitethroat at Bohadoon wood; Hen Harrier.

Sun 17 Apr:

HELVICK HEAD: WOODCHAT SHRIKE.
DUNGARVAN: Sub-adult SPOONBILL & 2nd-summer Mediterranean Gull at Killongford; Water Rail at Brickey canal.
SEAFIELD (nr Bunmahon): Grasshopper Warbler reeling.

ANNESTOWN BOG: 3 Grasshopper Warblers & 3 Sedge Warblers.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: WOODCHAT SHRIKE (1st-summer female) still present.

Sat 16 Apr:

HELVICK HEAD: 1st-summer male WOODCHAT SHRIKE (6th county record), Grasshopper Warbler & Sedge Warbler.
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Another WOODCHAT SHRIKE, 25 Whimbrels west, 29+ Basking Sharks, Minke Whale & 2 Porpoises.

MID WATERFORD: Buzzard at two locations.

CROUGHAUN HILL (nr Kilmacthomas): 21+ singing Willow Warblers.
Nr WHITING BAY: Grasshopper Warbler singing (1st of year) & 20+ Tree Sparrows along Goat Island road.
RAM HEAD: 5 Great Northern Divers, Minke Whale, 12 Porpoises, 5 Common Dolphins & 3 Basking Sharks.
CLONEA STRAND: 150+ Whimbrel & 2 Porpoises at Ballinclamper; Grasshopper Warbler singing at Ballyvoyle.
KILMURRIN COVE: Grasshopper Warbler singing.

Fri 15 Apr:

LISMORE to THE VEE: Cuckoo north of Carrignagour (1st of year).

KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS: Female Hen Harrier.
CASTLETOWN FEN: Water Rail.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Striped Hawk-moth light-trapped tonight.

Thurs 14 Apr:

DUNGARVAN: SPOONBILL at Killongford.

LEMYBRIEN: Merlin.

Mon 11 Apr:

CLONEA STRAND: Adult Dark-bellied Brent Goose at Ballinard.

MONAVULLAGH MOUNTAINS: Male Hen Harrier & 5 Wheatears.

Sun 10 Apr:

Nr BALLYMACARBRY: Painted Lady butterfly at Curraghateskin.

MONAVULLAGH MOUNTAINS: Female Hen Harrier & 10 Wheatears.

Nr TIBBERAGHNY BOG: Adult Mediterranean Gull.

CLONEA STRAND: 4 Great Northern Divers at Ballyvoyle.

Nr BUNMAHON: Sedge Warbler singing (1st of year).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 3 Blackcaps, 4 Tree Sparrows & 3 Red Admirals.

Sat 9 Apr:

Nr YOUGHAL: 3rd-calendar-year Glaucous Gull.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 3 Common Scoter on sea, 3 Whimbrel east.

CLONEA STRAND: Whimbrel & 3 Great Northern Divers at Ballinclamper, Common Sandpiper at Ballyvoyle.

BLACKWATER VALLEY: Water Rail at Killahaly Bridge.

Fri 8 Apr:

DRUM HILLS: Male Hen Harrier.

Thurs 7 Apr:

BLACKWATER / BRIDE VALLEY: Female Hen Harrier.

Mon 4 Apr:

MID WATERFORD: Buzzard.

CLONEA STRAND: 8 Sandwich Terns at Ballinclamper.

Sun 3 Apr:

RINCREW: 3rd-calendar-yr Glaucous Gull, 2nd cy Iceland Gull & leucistic Herring Gull on Co Waterford side.

WEST WATERFORD: Buzzard.

BALLYDWAN COVE: 3 Great Northern & 3 Red-throated Divers.

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: 2 Gadwall.

BALLYSHUNNOCK RESERVOIR: Blackcap & 4 Willow Warblers.

TRAMORE BAY: 5 Gadwall & 20 Sandwich Terns.

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Spotted Redshank & Whimbrel at Pickardstown; 5 White-fronted Geese & a Gadwall at Lisselan.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Blackcap, 2 Willow Warblers & 2 Tree Sparrows.
BELLE LAKE: ringtail Hen Harrier.

Sat 2 Apr:

ANNESTOWN BOG (nr Dunhill): Female MARSH HARRIER (first county record since 1997), singing Blackcap & Willow Warbler, House Martin & 2 Orange-tip butterflies.

RINCREW: OSPREY flew north.

SEAFIELD (nr Bunmahon): Green Sandpiper.

CLONEA STRAND: Black-throated Diver (first in several years), 18 Great Northern & 6 Red-throated Divers, 14 Tufted Duck & 2 Sandwich Terns west & 5 Whimbrel in off sea.

DUNGARVAN: Brambling at Strandside, Abbeyside; 3 House Martins, singing Blackcap & 2 Willow Warblers at Brickey canal.

HELVICK HEAD: Male Wheatear & female/imm Black Redstart.

BALLYMACART: Blackcap singing.

ARDMORE: 2 adult male Black Redstarts at Round Tower.

VARIOUS LOCATIONS: Swallows, Sand Martins & Chiffchaffs widespread.

Fri 1 Apr:

ARDMORE: Black Redstart at the Round Tower.

HELVICK HEAD: Puffin & 22 Manx Shearwaters (seawatch 17:55-18:30).

DUNGARVAN: Brambling at Strandside, Abbeyside; House Martin.

KILMACTHOMAS: Nordic/eastern-type Jackdaw again.

Early/mid Apr:

STRADBALLY: Hoopoe.

March 2011

Check here for possible updates or further details.

Thurs 31 Mar:

DUNGARVAN: Great Skua & Sandwich Tern at the Cunnigar.

WEST WATERFORD: Buzzard.

BUNMAHON: Merlin.

CARRICKAVRANTRY: 3 Willow Warblers & c12 Chiffchaffs.

Weds 30 Mar:

DRUM HILLS: Male Hen Harrier.

Nr BUNMAHON: 5 Kingfishers & 2 Treecreepers along River Mahon.

WATERFORD CITY: Black Redstart in a city garden.

Tues 29 Mar:

DUNGARVAN: 4 Swallows.

HELVICK HEAD: Sand Martin.

BALLYMACART: 5 Chiffchaffs.

WHITING BAY: 4 Sand Martins.

Mon 28 Mar:

DUNGARVAN: Adult BLACK BRANT at the Cunnigar.

Sun 27 Mar:

HELVICK HEAD: Swallow, Black Redstart, Wheatear, 2 Willow Warblers & an unidentified harrier species.

Nr BUNMAHON: 2 House Martins (1st of year) & 2 Treecreepers at Seafield.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 2 Black Redstarts, 3 Wheatears, 7+ Tree Sparrows, 2 Willow Warblers & 6+ Chiffchaffs.

RATHMOYLAN COVE: 3 Sand Martins.

Sat 26 Mar:

CAPPOQUIN: Sand Martins.

CALISO BAY: 5 Wheatears & a Peacock butterfly.

WHITING BAY: Willow Warbler nr Ballysallagh, 3 Sand Martins.

ARDMORE: 4 Black Redstarts, 4 Sand Martins & a Merlin.

BALLYMACART: 2 Black Redstarts & 3 Wheatears.

BALLYVOYLE: 2 Sand Martins.

CLONEA STRAND: Black Redstart at Ballinclamper, Wheatear at Ballinard.

Nr BUNMAHON: Merlin at Seafield.

VARIOUS SITES: Chiffchaffs widespread today.

Fri 25 Mar:

BALLYMACART: 2 Black Redstarts.

WEST WATERFORD: Buzzard.

DUNGARVAN: Swallow at Kilmurray.

BUNMAHON: Willow Warbler (1st of year).

BALLYLANEEN: 2 Swallows.

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Chiffchaff & 2 Swallows.

Thurs 24 Mar:

KILMURRIN COVE: 4 Swallows.

Weds 23 Mar:

DUNGARVAN: Brambling & Blackcap at Strandside; Kingfisher, Dipper & 7+ Chiffchaffs at Brickey Canal; Sand Martin.

Tues 22 Mar:

RAM HEAD: 33 Red-throated & 2 Great Northern Divers, 40 Common Dolphins, 7 Porpoises & a Basking Shark.

HELVICK HEAD: 12 Small Tortoiseshell & 2 Peacock butterflies.

BALLINAMULT: 8 Green-veined White butterflies.

Nr BUNMAHON: 15+ Yellowhammers.

Nr WATERFORD CITY: 2 Swallows opposite Whitfield Clinic, Cork Road.

Mon 21 Mar:

DUNGARVAN: Male Brambling at Abbeyside.

BALLYMACARBRY & BALLINAMULT: Small Tortoiseshell butterflies.

Sun 20 Mar:

Nr BUNMAHON: 3 Kingfishers on River Mahon, Common Sandpiper at Seafield.

DUNGARVAN: Male Brambling at Abbeyside.

Sat 19 Mar:

EAST WATERFORD: Buzzard.

BUNMAHON: Common Sandpiper (1st of year), 2 Sand Martins & 3 Red-throated Divers.

CLONEA STRAND: Scandinavian Rock Pipit & 15+ Choughs.

DUNGARVAN: Green Sandpiper, Merlin, Kingfisher & 2 Chiffchaffs at Brickey canal; male Brambling at Abbeyside.

HELVICK HEAD: An early Puffin & Manx Shearwater west.

ARDMORE BAY: 8 Red-throated Divers.

Fri 18 Mar:
COMERAGH MOUNTAINS: Dipper at Coumshingaun, Chiffchaff on way down.

KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS: Peacock butterfly at Knockadav.

Thurs 17 Mar:
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Spotted Redshank at Pickardstown in main channel, 4 White-fronted Geese at Lisselan.

BELLE LAKE: Chiffchaff.

BALLYSHUNNOCK RESERVOIR: Chiffchaff.

ANNESTOWN: Chiffchaff.

BOATSTRAND: 1st-winter Iceland Gull.

CLONEA STRAND: Male Common Scoter.

BALLINARD: 15 Whimbrel (1st obvious arrival of year) & 3 Sandwich Terns.

DUNGARVAN: 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Water Rails & 2 Kingfishers at Brickey canal.

CROHAUN: 14 Ravens.

ARDMORE BAY: 18 Red-throated & 2 Great Northern Divers.

RAM HEAD: Manx Shearwater west (1st of year).

WHITING BAY: 2 Shoveler (flew east), 2 Great Northern Divers & 105 Sanderling.

KINSALEBEG: 2 female Pintail.

Weds 16 Mar:

KILMEADEN: Swallow (1st of year).

Nr BUNMAHON: Chiffchaff (probably 1st migrant individual of the year) & Green Sandpiper at Seafield.

DUNGARVAN: Another Chiffchaff at the Brickey canal.

Tues 15 Mar:

BLACKWATER VALLEY: High count of 39 Yellowhammers at Cappoquin, Common Seal on River Bride.

FINISK BRIDGE: 2 Dippers.

DUNGARVAN: Sand Martin.

Mon 14 Mar:

Nr BUNMAHON: Barn Owl.

TRAMORE: Male Wheatear (1st of year) at the sandhills.

CLONEA STRAND / BALLYNACOURTY POINT: Sandwich Tern at Ballinard (1st of year).

Sun 13 Mar:

WEST WATERFORD: 2 male Hen Harriers & 12 Ravens.

SEAFIELD (nr Bunmahon): 5-6 Yellowhammers & 20+ Reed Buntings.

EAST WATERFORD: Buzzard.

Sat 12 Mar:

WEST WATERFORD: Buzzard.

RINCREW: leucistic Herring Gull.

WHITING BAY: Sand Martin (1st of year), Kingfisher & 21 Choughs.

ARDMORE BEACH: Adult intermedius-race Lesser Black-backed Gull & 45 Brent Geese.

DUNGARVAN: Brambling at Strandside, 2 Kingfishers at Brickey canal.

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 5 White-fronted Geese at Lisselan.

Fri 11 Mar:

YOUGHAL BRIDGE: Iceland Gull at Co Waterford side.

Thurs 10 Mar:

DUNGARVAN: Green Sandpiper at Brickey canal.

EAST WATERFORD: Buzzard.

Tues 8 Mar:

KILMACTHOMAS: eastern-type Jackdaw again.

RAM HEAD: Common Lizard.

Sun 6 Mar:

BALLYVOONEY: Glaucous Gull on Gull Island.

Sat 5 Mar:

WHITING BAY: 4 Common Scoter W, Shoveler on sea.

WATERFORD CITY: Female Blackcap at Morrison's Court.

Thurs 3 Mar:

DUNGARVAN: Red Admiral butterfly.

Weds 2 Mar:

WHITING BAY: Velvet Scoter.

SEAFIELD (nr Bunmahon): Green Sandpiper.

Tues 1 Mar:

RAM HEAD: 13 Red-throated Divers, c120 Common Dolphins & an early Painted Lady butterfly.

.click below for larger images

Night Heron, adult, Seafield, nr Bunmahon, 30 Apr 2011 © D Clarke

henharrier_albinistic_knmealdowns_30042011_dc_img_3335_small.jpg

Hen Harrier, albinistic bird, Knockmealdown Mountains, 30 Apr 2011 © D Clarke

Scandinavian Rock Pipit (littoralis race), Ballinclamper, Clonea Strand, 30 April 2011 © M Cowming

Marsh Harrier, Clashmore Broads, 30 Apr 2011 © M Cowming

Skylark, Knockmealdown Mountains, 29 Apr 2011 © A Malcolm

Night Heron, adult, Seafield,nr Bunmahon, 29 Apr 2011 © D Clarke

Basking Shark, off Mine Head, 28 April 2011 © F O'Connell

Reed Bunting, male, nr Ballydwan, 26 Apr 2011 © D Weldon

Woodchat Shrike, 1st-summer male, Helvick Head, 23 Apr 2011 © A Malcolm

Raven, Helvick Head, 23 Apr 2011 © A Malcolm

Whitethroat, 23 Apr 2011 © A Malcolm

Hen Harriers, male & female, Knockmealdown Mountains, 23 Apr 2011 © D Clarke

Hen Harriers, 2 females or immatures, Knockmealdown Mountains, 23 Apr 2011 © D Clarke

Emperor moth, female, Brownstown Head, 23 Apr 2011 © PM Walsh

Treecreeper, Seafield, nr Bunmahon, 20 Apr 2011 © D Weldon

regurgitating a pellet

mobbed by Raven & Hooded Crow

contrast between blacker (new) & browner (retained juv) flight feathers indicates first-summer bird

sparh_nrlismore_11042011_img_8002.jpeg.jpg

Preliminary breeding distribution 2008-2011 @ 12 April 2011 (Atlas bird of the day)

note plastic ring on this bird - presumably an escapee from captive stock (or illegally captured?)

greyheroninboat._dungarvan_03042011jpg.jpg

Treecreeper sightings needed! - still underrecorded for the Waterford Breeding Bird Atlas (see provisional maps 2006-2010)

blackredstart_forimm_ardmore_26032011_img_7293_small.jpg

brambling_strandside_dungarvan_12032011_img_5782_small.jpg

Details received 31/03/2011: bird was ringed as a 1st-year Chaffinch on 2 Oct 2007 on Helgoland island, Germany.

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.

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