Waterford Birds March-May 2014 reports

Waterford bird records March-May 2014 (details subject to verification or correction)

submit sightings - email or text 0861701599 (what to report)

submit records to BirdTrack

national records - www.irishbirding.com

Twitter - @watbirds

MAY 2014:

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

Sat 31 May:

WHITING BAY: 2 Great Northern Divers.

RAM HEAD: Storm Petrel & 3 Basking Sharks.

WEST WATERFORD: 2 Buzzards.

COMERAGH/MONAVULLAGH MOUNTAINS: Cuckoo, male Hen Harrier & 16+ Green Hairstreak butterflies.

BALLYSCANLON: Treecreeper with 3+ fledglings.

Weds 28 May:

BLACKWATER VALLEY: 2 Reed Warblers at Raheen Quay, Clashmore.

RAM HEAD: 11 Common Scoter W & 9 Basking Sharks (seawatch 12:50-14:00).

HELVICK HEAD: 2 Roseate Terns on Helvick buoy.

WEST WATERFORD: 2 Buzzards.

COMERAGH MOUNTAINS: Cuckoo below Crotty's.

NORTH WATERFORD: 2 Buzzards.

BALLYSCANLON: Jay & Otter.

Sun 25 May:

BALLINCLAMPER (Clonea): Turtle Dove again present.

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Cuckoo & 6 Tufted Duck at Lisselan.

LISMORE: Spotted Flycatcher.

Fri 23 May:

ANNESTOWN: LITTLE RINGED PLOVER - 3rd county record,

Thurs 22 May:

HELVICK HEAD: Spotted Flycatcher - first report of the year (late!).

Weds 21 May:

ANNESTOWN BOG: Water Rail & Long-eared Owl chick.

Tues 20 May:

BALLINCLAMPER (Clonea): LONG-TAILED SKUA flew high overhead towards Dungarvan (19:20); Turtle Dove still present.

HELVICK HEAD: 2 Arctic Skuas flew south overhead.

Mon 19 May:

BALLINCLAMPER (Clonea): Turtle Dove.

Nr WATERFORD CITY: 13 Whimbrel N over Holy Cross.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Great Northern Diver on sea & 305 Manx Shearwaters E (seawatch 16:15-17:15).

Sun 18 May:

Nr ANNESTOWN BOG: Cuckoo calling.

SEAFIELD (nr Bunmahon): Reed Warbler.

Sat 17 May:

CLONEA: Female Whinchat.

Fri 16 May:

Nr DUNGARVAN: Long-eared Owl.

BALLYSCANLON LAKE: 2 Crossbills.

Thurs 15 May:

RAM HEAD: 5 Great Northern Divers, 5 Risso's Dolphins & a Porpoise (seawatch 17:50-19:10).

COLLIGAN: Dipper adult feeding fledgling.

Weds 14 May:

DUNGARVAN: 2 Long-tailed Ducks, 4 Great Northern Divers & 3 Arctic Terns near Ballynacourty lighthouse, 20 late Brent Geese near the Cunnigar.

TRAMORE BAY: 2 Red-throated Divers.

KNOCKANDUFF: Grasshopper Warbler & 20+ Whitethroats.

Tues 13 May:

DUNGARVAN: 2 Long-tailed Ducks at Quanns.

Mon 12 May:

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: Grasshopper Warbler.

ARDMORE: 2 Great Northern Divers at Curragh.

Sun 11 May:

KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS: Hen Harrier.

BALLINLOUGH: Female Tufted Duck.

Sat 10 May:

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 12 Pomarine Skuas & an Arctic Skua W, 2 Great Skuas E & 2 Porpoises (seawatch 13:40-15:10).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 2 Gadwall at Lisselan.

DUNGARVAN: 2: Long-tailed Ducks at Quanns.

Fri 9 May:

MONAVULLAGH MOUNTAINS: Male Hen Harrier.

Thurs 8 May:

Nr VILLIERSTOWN: Woodcock roding.

Weds 7 May:

KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS: Cuckoo calling at Vee road.

WEST WATERFORD: Buzzard.

Mon 5 May:

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Great Skua, Yellow Wagtail, Tree Sparrow & 2 Swifts.

WATERFORD CITY: Swifts over Ferrybank, Ballybricken (3) & IDA Park, Cork Road (10+).

HELVICK HEAD: Adult Pomarine Skua, 3 Great Skuas, 4 Great Northern Divers, Common Tern, & 95 Puffins (seawatches 10:00-11:00 & 12:00-13:30); 5000+ Manx Shearwaters (10:00-11:00).

ARDMORE: Adult summer Red-throated Diver at Curragh,

Sun 4 May:

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Sedge Warbler & 2 Swifts.

DUNGARVAN: 30+ Swifts flying west over town.

Sat 3 May:

HELVICK HEAD: Male Pochard, Great Skua, Arctic Skua, 2 Arctic Terns & 4 Puffins during brief seawatch.

Fri 2 May:

DUNGARVAN: 2 Swifts over town centre.

CARRIGAVANTRY: Common Sandpiper.

Thurs 1 May:

Nr TALLOW: 3+ Woodcock displaying over conifer forest.

APRIL 2014:

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

Tues 30 Apr:

HELVICK HEAD: Cuckoo.

Tues 29 Apr:

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 2 Barnacle Geese & 60+ Whimbrel at Lisselan.

Mon 28 Apr:

RAM HEAD: 3 Great Skuas (seawatch 10:00-11:45).

Sun 27 Apr:

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: CATTLE EGRET nr Corballymore Wood, 2 Barnacle Geese & a Sedge Warbler at Lisselan, 70 Whimbrel.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 19 Whimbrel, 3 Blackcaps, 2 Whitethroats, 12 Willow Warblers & 2 Tree Sparrows.

Sat 26 Apr:

CLONEA: Roseate Tern & 2 Arctic Terns off Ballinard - both first of the year.

SEAFIELD (nr Bunmahon): Swift - first of the year.

Fri 25 Apr:

HELVICK HEAD: Red-legged Partridge (presumably a gun-club release) - one of 3+ seen in area in last few days.

Thurs 24 Apr:

Nr TALLOW: Woodcock roding at two locations.

Weds 23 Apr:

CLONEA: Several hundred Whimbrel in from sea, adult dark-bellied Brent Goose & 20+ White Wagtails.

ARDMORE: 67 Whimbrel arrived at Curragh.

CALISO BAY: Merlin.

LISMORE: Common Sandpiper & 3 Whitethroats.

Tues 22 Apr:

KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS: Cuckoo heard - first of year.

CLONEA: 45 Whimbrel & a Whitethroat at Ballinclamper.

Mon 21 Apr:

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 23 Wheatears, 4 Willow Warblers & 3 Whimbrel.

Sun 20 Apr:

BUNMAHON: Female MARSH HARRIER (flew east).

WHITING BAY: Sedge Warbler.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Blackcap & 14 Willow Warblers.

Sat 19 Apr:

BLACKWATER VALLEY: Barnacle Goose at Newport East.

WHITING BAY: 2nd-calendar-year Iceland Gull in ploughed field.

MONAVULLAGH MOUNTAINS: Pair of Hen Harriers sky-dancing.

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: Common Sandpiper.

CARRIGAVRANTRY: Sedge Warbler.

KILBARRY BOG: Water Rail at Waterford Nature Park.

SOUTH KILKENNY: Buzzards during last week.

Fri 18 Apr:

Off BALLYVOYLE (from boat): Great Skua & 15 Whimbrel.

DUNGARVAN: 3 Long-tailed Ducks near Ballynacourty pier.

HELVICK HEAD: Whitethroat.

Thurs 17 Apr:

EAST WATERFORD: Red Kite.

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 2 Barnacle Geese still at Lisselan.

BALLYSCANLAN LAKE: 1st-year Iceland Gull.

Weds 16 Apr:

Nr BELLE LAKE: First Grasshopper Warbler of year.

BUNMAHON: First Sedge Warbler of year, also a Whitethroat.

TRAMORE: Whitethroat.

ARDMORE: Whimbrel & Common Sandpiper at Curragh.

WEST WATERFORD: Buzzard.

Tues 15 Apr:

DUNGARVAN: HOOPOE at the Cunnigar.

GLENSEHALANE (nr Cappoquin): 2 Dippers.

EAST WATERFORD: 4 Buzzards.

Sun 13 Apr:

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 2 Barnacle Geese & c200 Swallows at Lisselan.

Nr KILSHEELAN: 2 Common Sandpipers along River Suir.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 2 Tree Sparrows.

Sat 12 Apr:

BALLYVOYLE: Dipper.

STRADBALLY: Dipper.

MID WATERFORD: Buzzard.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Tree Sparrow.

Fri 11 Apr:

CALISO BAY: 6+ Blackcaps.

BALLYVOYLE: 3rd-year Glaucous Gull.

EAST WATERFORD: 3 Buzzards.

Thurs 10 Apr:

Nr WATERFORD CITY: RED KITE over Holy Cross, Cork Road.

Weds 9 Apr:

CLONEA: Adult Glaucous Gull & White Wagtail at Ballinard.

WHITING BAY: Merlin.

CALISO BAY: Whitethroat (first of year).

Nr LISMORE: Blackcap singing.

VARIOUS: Widespread arrival of Swallows today, with reports from Ardmore, Dungarvan, Tramore & south Kilkenny (see blog).

Sun 6 Apr:

ARDMORE: Red-legged Partridge (presumed released or escaped bird) long New Line road.

WEST WATERFORD: Buzzard.

VARIOUS: Early-arrived migrants (Sandwich Tern, Sand Martin, House Martin, Swallow, Wheatear, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler) now fairly widespread, so only selected records of these species will be posted from in the coming weeks.

Sat 5 Apr:

HELVICK HEAD: 2nd-calendar-year Glaucous Gull.

Fri 4 Apr:

DUNGARVAN: Merlin & 2 Swallows at Ballyneety.

CLONEA: 2 House Martins near hotel.

KILMACTOMAS: Swallow.

Thurs 3 Apr:

DUNGARVAN: Merlin & 2 Swallows at Ballyneety.

Thurs 3 Apr:

DUNGARVAN: Merlin & 2 Swallows at Ballyneety.

TRAMORE: 3 Sand Martins at boating lake.

Weds 2 Apr:

Nr CLASHMORE: Jay.

DUNGARVAN: 3 Swallows in town centre (first of year).

SEAFIELD (nr Bunmahon): 2 Swallows & 2 Sand Martins.

ARDMORE: 21 Sandwich Terns & 3 Sand Martins at Curragh.

Tues 1 Apr:

CLONEA: 23 Sandwich Terns & 2 Wheatears at Ballinard.

NEWTOWN GLEN (Tramore Bay): 3 Chiffchaffs.

EAST WATERFORD: 2 Buzzards.

MARCH 2014:

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

Mon 31 Mar:

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: Male RING-NECEKD DUCK still present.

MID WATERFORD: 2 Buzzards.

CLONEA: 1st-winter Glaucous Gull, 13 Sandwich terns & a Wheatear at Ballinard.

DUNGARVAN: Dungarvan in town centre, Sandwich Tern off Ballynacourty Pier.

HELVICK HEAD: 2 1st-winter Glaucous Gull, 2 Wheatears, 2 Chiffchaffs & a Willow Warbler.

FERRYPOINT: Sandwich Tern & Wheatear.

Sun 30 Mar:

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Merlin, 2 Sand Martins, 2 Wheatears, 5 Willow Warblers (first of year), 12 Chiffchaffs (1 eastern-type) & an Otter.

WATERFORD CITY: Hummingbird Hawk-moth, Ferrybank.

Nr KILL: 7 Sand Martins over waste treatment facility.

MID WATERFORD: 2 Buzzards.

DUNGARVAN: 2 Sand Martins over town centre.

ARDMORE: House Martin W over bay (first of year).

Sat 29 Mar:

DUNGARVAN: Male GARGANEY still above Barnawee Bridge.

FERRY POINT: 4 Sandwich Terns.

GOAT ISLAND (nr Ardmore): Glaucous Gull.

WEST WATERFORD: 2 Buzzards.

WATERFORD NATURE PARK (Kilbarry): Kingfisher & Chiffchaff.

Fri 28 Mar:

BALLYVOYLE COVE: 2 Wheatears.

DUNGARVAN: Sandwich Tern at Ballynacourty pier.

Nr CAPPOQUIN: Chiffchaff.

WEST WATERFORD: 2 Buzzards.

Weds 26 Mar:

WHITING BAY: 1st-winter Glaucous Gull.

Tues 25 Mar:

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: Male RING-NECEKD DUCK on small lake.

WHITING BAY: 1st-winter Glaucous Gull; Tree Sparrow near west end.

Sun 23 Mar:

HELVICK: 1st-winter Glaucous Gull & 2 Sandwich Terns.

DUNGARVAN: Male Wheatear at Abbeyside church.

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 13 Gadwall at Lisselan.

EAST/MID WATERFORD: Buzzard at two locations.

Sat 22 Mar:

WHITING BAY: 1st-winter Glaucous Gull; 3 Tree Sparrows near west end.

CALISO BAY: Male Wheatear.

DUNGARVAN: Male GARGANEY again at Barnawee, 5 Long-tailed Ducks off Abbeyside beach, Green Sandpiper at Killongford pools.

CLONEA: 5 Sandwich Terns (first of year) at Ballinclamper, 2 1st-winter Glaucous Gulls at Ballinard.

WEST WATERFORD: 2 Buzzards.

SEAFIELD (nr Bunmahon): Sand Martin.

Fri 21 Mar:

DUNGARVAN: Male GARGANEY at Barnawee (video).

Weds 19 Mar: