Waterford bird reports November-December 2010

December 2010

Check here for possible updates or further details.

Fri 31 Dec:

DUNGARVAN: Male Velvet Scoter & Slavonian Grebe off Ballynacourty pier; Blackcap at Ballyneety.

BALLYVOYLE: 10+ Great Northern Divers, 8+ Red-throated Divers & a Dipper.

STRADBALLY: Dipper.

BOATSTRAND: 4 Common Scoters flew east.

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Pink-footed Goose, 5 White-fronted Geese & 10 Shoveler at Lisselan; total 45 Gadwall (probably a record count for Waterford).

TRAMORE BOATING LAKE: Adult Ring-billed Gull & adult Mediterranean Gull.

DUNMORE EAST: 3 Purple Sandpipers.

Thurs 30 Dec:

DUNGARVAN: Slavonian Grebe & 2 BLACK-NECKED GREBES off Ballynacourty pier.

LOWRY BRIDGE: Red Squirrel.

COOLFIN: 17 Whooper Swans & a Chiffchaff.

BALLYSHUNNOCK RESERVOIR: 2 male Pintail, 5 Gadwall, 13 Shoveler & 13 Whooper Swans.

ANNESTOWN: Great Crested Grebe, male Shoveler & 45 Skylarks.

TRAMORE: Adult Ring-billed Gull (photo).

Weds 29 Dec:

DUNGARVAN: BLACK BRANT & 5 Shoveler off pitch & putt course.

COLLIGAN WOOD: Jay.

BALLYSHUNNOCK RESERVOIR: 2 male Pintail, 6 Gadwall, 9 Shoveler & a Kingfisher.

TRAMORE: Black Redstart at west end of beach.

Tues 28 Dec:

RINCREW: Adult Yellow-legged Gull at Tourig estuary (Waterford & Cork sides).

BLACKWATER VALLEY & CALLOWS: c280 Whooper Swans.

DUNGARVAN: Slavonian Grebe & 2 BLACK-NECKED GREBES off Ballynacourty pier; adult dark-bellied Brent Goose at Quann's; Pintail off pitch & putt course; 2 Shoveler in Western Bay; Waxwing at Ballynacourty; 3 Blackcaps (male & 2 female) at Strandside, Abbeyside; Blackcap & 14 Siskins at Springmount.

BUNMAHON: Coot, 55 Teal & 3 Bar-tailed Godwits.

BALLYSHUNNOCK RESERVOIR: 3 Pintail (2 male & 1 female), 3 Gadwall & 8 Shoveler.

Mon 27 Dec:

DUNGARVAN: 2 BLACK-NECKED GREBES off Ballynacourty pier; 2 male Tufted Duck at Ballyneety.

STRADBALLY: 2 Dippers.

WATERFORD CITY: Male Blackcap at Collins Avenue.

Sun 26 Dec:

DUNGARVAN: 2 BLACK-NECKED GREBES off Ballynacourty pier; 2 Blackcaps (male & female), Abbeyside for the last 3 weeks.

TRAMORE: Blackcap in garden.

Sat 25 Dec:

DUNGARVAN: Grey Plover in garden at Seapark, Abbeyside.

Nr BALLYDWAN COVE: Bar-tailed Godwith & Snipe feeding in garden.

TRAMORE: Blackcap in garden during the last week.

Fri 24 Dec:

DUNGARVAN: 3 Blackcaps (males & female) in town centre; 6 Shoveler at Quann's; Coot & male Tufted Duck at Ballyneety, female Tufted Duck near Lidl.

Thurs 23 Dec:

DUNGARVAN: 2 BLACK-NECKED GREBES off Ballynacourty; Black Redstart at Country Life store car-park, Park Hotel roundabout; Coot at the quay.

Weds 22 Dec:

WATERFORD CITY: Male Blackcap at King's Channel.

Tues 21 Dec:

BALLYSHUNNOCK RESERVOIR: 7 Gadwall & 8 Shoveler.

WATERFORD CITY: 3 Blackcaps (2 males & a female) at Francis Street.

Mon 20 Dec:

DUNGARVAN: Male & female Blackcap in town centre.

Sun 19 Dec:

DUNGARVAN: 3 BLACK-NECKED GREBES & female Eider off Ballynacourty pier; female Blackcap in Southways estate.

BALLYNACOURTY POINT: Otter.

Nr BUNMAHON: Merlin & 20 Yellowhammer at Seafield.

CARRICKBEG (Co Tipperary / Waterford vice-county): 5 Goosanders on River Suir near the Co Waterford border.

WATERFORD CITY: Male & female Blackcap at Francis Street.

Sat 18 Dec:

DUNGARVAN: Male Blackcap at Southways, Abbeyside; Water Rail & 9 Redpolls at Springmount.

CARRICK-ON-SUIR (Co Tipperary / Waterford vice-county): 6 female or immature Goosanders just upriver.

Thurs 16 Dec:

DUNGARVAN: Male & female Blackcap at Strandside, Abbeyside.

WEST WATERFORD: Buzzard.

Weds 15 Dec:

DUNGARVAN: 3 BLACK-NECKED GREBES off Ballynacourty.

ANNESTOWN: Chiffchaff.

Tues 14 Dec:

Nr KILMANAHAN: c45 Whooper Swans at Ballydonagh.

DUNGARVAN: Blackcap at Strandside, Abbeyside.

BUNMAHON: Kingfisher.

DUNMORE EAST: Merlin near Black Knob.

Mon 13 Dec:

WATERFORD CITY: Male Blackcap at Francis Street.

Sun 12 Dec:

DUNGARVAN: Waxwing & Black Redstart at Abbeyside, BLACK-NECKED GREBE off Gold Coast, Barnacle Goose, dark-bellied Brent Goose & 6 Shoveler (2 male, 4 female) off pitch & putt course, & male Gadwall at Killongford.

HELVICK HEAD TO BROWNSTOWN HEAD: c9 Fin Whales including 1 off Helvick & 2 off Clonea.

BRICKEY RIVER: Kingfisher.

BALLYVOYLE BRIDGE: 2 Dippers.

STRADBALLY: 5 Red-throated Divers.

BUNMAHON: 45 Common Dolphins.

Nr BALLYDWAN: Jack Snipe.

RINCREW: Yellow-legged Gull on Youghal/Cork side.

Sat 11 Dec:

BALLINARD (nr Clonea Strand): Female Eider.

DUNGARVAN: BLACK-NECKED GREBE off Ballynacourty, Barnacle Goose at Ballyneety & 2 male Shoveler off pitch & putt course.

WEST WATERFORD: Buzzard.

Weds 8 Dec:

PORTLAW: Water Rail.

BALLINLOUGH: Kingfisher & Water Rail.

Nr BUNMAHON: 20-30 Stock Doves at Seafield; 4 Fin Whales & 2 Minke Whales <1 km off Tankardstown copper mines.

Tues 7 Dec:

Nr DUNGARVAN: Skylark feeding on garden patio at Kilmurray during the continuing cold snap.

Mon 6th Dec:

DUNGARVAN: Barnacle Goose, BLACK BRANT & female Pintail off pitch & putt course. High count of 16 Blackbirds feeding on apples in garden at Shandon.

Sun 5th Dec:

Off MINE HEAD: Male Eider flew east a mile offshore.

DUNGARVAN: 10 Little Grebes at Ballyneety, Great Northern Diver in western bay.

CLONEA/BALLYVOYLE HEAD: 2 Fin Whales.

Off BUNMAHON: 6 Fin Whales & a smaller whale.

Sat 4th Dec:

DUNGARVAN: Barnacle Goose, BLACK BRANT & female Shoveler off the pitch & putt course, 50 Skylarks, a Water Rail & 7 Pintail at the Cunnigar; also a Hooded Crow seen to chase & kill at Redshank at the Cunnigar.

CLONEA: Fin Whale.

WEST WATERFORD: Buzzard.

Fri 3rd Dec:

DUNGARVAN: Barnacle Goose, male & female Pintail & 2 female Shoveler near the pitch & putt course.

WEST WATERFORD: Buzzard.

Weds 1st Dec:

DUNGARVAN: BLACK BRANT & Barnacle Goose near the pitch & putt course, Kingfisher & Chiffchaff at the Brickey canal.

November 2010

Check here for possible updates or further details.

Tues 30th Nov:

Nr BUNMAHON: Merlin, 2 Kingfishers, Blackcap, Brambling, 6-7 Yellowhammers & an Otter at Seafield.

Mon 29th Nov:

Nr BUNMAHON: Male Blackcap at Seafield.

MID WATERFORD: Buzzard.

Nr LISMORE: Jay.

Sun 28th Nov:

Nr DUNGARVAN: Barn Owl seen at 17:40.

CLONEA STRAND: 3 Purple Sandpipers at Ballinclamper.

Nr BUNMAHON: Kingfisher, c100 Snipe & male Blackcap at Seafield. 4 Fin Whales & a smaller whale off Bunmahon.

WATERFORD CITY: 50+ Goldfinches in garden near Ballybricken.

Sat 27th Nov:

DUNGARVAN: Female Pintail off sports centre, 38 Skylarks arrived in at pitch & putt course.

Nr BUNMAHON: Male Blackcap at Seafield.

Nr STRADBALLY: Brambling.

MID WATERFORD: Buzzard.

Fri 26th Nov:

DUNGARVAN: BLACK BRANT at the Cunnigar.

Nr BUNMAHON: Male Blackcap at Seafield.

Weds 24th Nov:

DUNGARVAN: 2 SPOONBILLS near pitch & putt course, Kingfisher at Barnawee.

PORTLAW: Kingfisher.

Tues 23rd Nov:

Nr STRADBALLY: Brambling.

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: c400 Brent Geese.

Sun 21st Nov:

DUNGARVAN: 4 SPOONBILLS at the Cunnigar.

Nr WATERFORD CITY: Long-eared Owl.

EAST WATERFORD: Buzzard.

Fri 19th Nov:

DUNGARVAN: 3 SPOONBILLS near pitch & putt course.

Nr BUNMAHON: 2 Green Sandpipers at Seafield.

Thurs 18th Nov:

DUNGARVAN: 2 SPOONBILLS at the Cunnigar.

Weds 17th Nov:

Nr STRADBALLY: Brambling.

Mon 15th Nov:

CLONEA STRAND: BUFF-BELLIED PIPIT& WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER at Ballinclamper.

Nr ARDMORE: Hen Harrier.

CO KILKENNY: GOLDEN EAGLE (reintroduced or escaped bird?).

Sun 14th Nov:

CLONEA STRAND: WATER PIPIT, WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER & 4 Purple Sandpipers at Ballinclamper.

DUNGARVAN: 4 SPOONBILLS at the tip of the Cunnigar.

BUNMAHON: c4 Fin Whales offshore.

Sat 13th Nov:

CLONEA STRAND: BUFF-BELLIED PIPIT & WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER at Ballinclamper, also a Curlew Sandpiper, Slavonian Grebe & 3 Great Northern Divers; a Swallow east at Ballinard.

WHITING BAY: 3 Tree Sparrows.

WEST WATERFORD: Buzzard (also 2 at same location recently).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 3rd-winter Yellow-legged Gull at Saleen.

RATHMOYLAN: Female Hen Harrier.

Fri 12th Nov:

CLONEA STRAND: BUFF-BELLIED PIPIT at Ballinclamper (new bird - not the bird seen 17th-24th October) - 2nd county record - also a Whimbrel, 4 Purple Sandpipers & 31 Choughs.

Thurs 11th Nov:

WHITING BAY: 3-400 mixed Redwings & Fieldfares in off sea & 4 Yellowhammers.

Weds 10th Nov:

Nr KILMACTHOMAS: Barn Owl flew across road at 18:15.

RAM HEAD: Red-throated Diver, 200 Common Dolphins & 2 Red Admirals.

Mon 8th Nov:

CLONEA STRAND: Juvenile WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER still at Ballinclamper.

DUNGARVAN: 2 SPOONBILLS by pitch & putt course.

Sun 7th Nov:

Nr STRADBALLY: Brambling, c500 Chaffinches & 3 Red Admirals.

DUNGARVAN: Swallow at Abbeyside.

MID WATERFORD: Buzzard.

Sat 6th Nov:

CLONEA STRAND: Juvenile WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER at Ballinclamper, also a Purple Sandpiper.

WEST WATERFORD: Single Buzzards seen at two locations.

BLACKWATER CALLOWS: 145 Whooper Swans & a Kingfisher at Ballyneroon.

RAM HEAD: 5 Red-throated Divers, 100+ Common Dolphins, 2 Porpoises, a Minke Whale & a large whale species.

ARDMORE: 2 Mediterranean Gulls (1st-winter & 2nd-w).

HELVICK HEAD to MINE HEAD: 2 Fin Whales offshore.

STRADBALLY: Merlin.

Nr BUNMAHON: Barn Owl.

PORTNASCULLY (nr Coolfin): 41 Greylag Geese & Greenshanks on Co Kilkenny side,

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Pink-footed Goose, 7 White-fronted Geese, 3 Whooper Swans & a female Scaup at Lisselan.

CORBALLY BEG (nr Tramore Backstrand): Swallow.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Lapland Bunting, Merlin, 3 Blackcaps & 1+ White-fronted Goose (flew east).

RATHMOYLAN: Female Hen Harrier.

Fri 5th Nov:

DUNGARVAN: Mediterranean Gull & 20 Snipe at Ballyneety bridge, Swallow at the Quay.

DERRIGAL/COOLFIN (nr Portlaw): 40+ Greylag Geese at Derrigal cross roads.

Nr BUNMAHON: Chiffchaff at Seafield.

TRAMORE BOATING LAKE: Gadwall.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Merlin.

Thurs 4th Nov:

WATERFORD CITY: 2 late Swallows at King's Channel.

Tues 2nd Nov:

DUNGARVAN: 3 SPOONBILLS flew north high over the pitch & putt course.

Mon 1st Nov:

DUNGARVAN TOWN: Otter walking along road at the Mooring's pub at 13:40 (3 Otters at same location on 28 Oct).