Waterford Birds November-December 2013 reports

DECEMBER 2013:

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

Tues 31 Dec:

HELVICK HEAD: 'Blue' Fulmar, Great Skua & Puffin (1-hr seawatch 11:00-12:00).

DUNGARVAN: 3 Long-tailed Ducks off pitch & putt course, Water Rail at Killongford, & Dark-bellied Brent Goose.

SEAFIELD / BUNM,AHON: CATTLE EGRET still present.

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

Mon 30 Dec:

SEAFIELD: CATTLE EGRET.

HELVICK HEAD: LITTLE AUK, adult Yellow-legged Gull & Great Skua.

BLACKWATER CALLOWS: 43 Whooper Swans.

CURRAGHMORE ESTATE (Portlaw): Treecreeper & 2 Jays.

Sun 29 Dec:

SEAFIELD: CATTLE EGRET.

TRAMORE: Adult Mediterranean Gull at boating lake.

EAST WATERFORD: 2 Buzzards.

DUNGARVAN: SPOONBILL, & Otter below Devonshire bridge.

Sat 28 Dec:

SEAFIELD: CATTLE EGRET (video).

TRAMORE: Adult Ring-billed Gull, 1st-winter Glaucous Gull (video), 45 Gadwall & 15 Shoveler at boating lake; Greylag Goose, 2 Shoveler & 3 Gadwall at Lisselan.

CASTLETOWN FEN: Water Rail.

DERRIGAL: Adult White-fronted Goose, c270 Greylag Geese & 37 Whooper Swans.

PORTLAW: Jay at Curraghmore Estate, Green Sandpiper at River Clodiagh.

BALLYSHUNNOCK RESERVOIR: 38 Whooper Swans & 2 Shoveler.

EAST/MID WATERFORD: Buzzard at three locations.

Nr LEMYBRIEN: Woodcock.

CLONEA: Purple Sandpiper.

DUNGARVAN: SPOONBILL, 2 Long-tailed Ducks & Otter off pitch & putt course, Long-tailed Duck off Ballynacourty pier.

Fri 27 Dec:

BUNMAHON/SEAFIELD: 2 CATTLE EGRETS (2nd bird flew into roost in large pines beside bridge at Bunmahon, 15:40).

TRAMORE: 2nd-winter Glaucous Gull at boating lake carpark.

Nr WATERFORD CITY: Otter at King's Channel opposite Little Island.

DUNGARVAN: Merlin at Ballyrandle, Chiffchaff & 2 Whimbrel at Knockanpower Lower, Ring.

Thurs 26 Dec:

BUNMAHON: CATTLE EGRET.

ANNESTOWN: 2nd-winter Mediterranean Gull.

MID WATERFORD: Buzzard.

CLONEA: Purple Sandpiper.
DUNGARVAN: SPOONBILL & 2 Long-tailed Ducks at the Cunnigar, Green Sandpiper at Brickey canal, 2 Otters at Killongford bridge.

Weds 25 Dec:

BUNMAHON: CATTLE EGRET (video).

DUNGARVAN: 4 Long-tailed Ducks & adult Mediterranean Gull '3H97' at Quann's, Water Rail at Killongford.

Tues 24 Dec:

BUNMAHON: CATTLE EGRET.

Mon 23 Dec:

BUNMAHON: CATTLE EGRET.

Sun 22 Dec:

BUNMAHON/SEAFIELD: 1 CATTLE EGRET (video).

DUNGARVAN: Swallow at Abbeyside, 3 Long-tailed Ducks near the Cunnigar, Otter upstream of N25 bridge.

Sat 21 Dec:

BUNMAHON/SEAFIELD: 2 CATTLE EGRETS.

Fri 20 Dec:

DUNGARVAN: 4 Long-tailed Ducks & Otter off pitch & putt course.

Thurs 19 Dec:

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 5 Gadwall & 2 Kingfishers at Lisselan.

EAST WATERFORD: Buzzard.

CLONEA: 2 Chiffchaffs at Ballinclamper.

DUNGARVAN: Otter off pitch & putt course.

Tues 17 Dec:

WATERFORD CITY: Kingfisher on St John's River.

DUNHILL: 2 Tree Sparrows.

Mon 16 Dec:

EAST WATERFORD: 2 Buzzards.

Sun 15 Dec:

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 3rd-winter Yellow-legged Gull & 620+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

Sat 14 Dec:

CLONEA STRAND: 11+ Great Northern Divers off Ballinclamper.

Fri 13 Dec:

BALLYSHUNNOCK RESERVOIR: Adult male RING-NECKED DUCK.

TRAMORE: Ring-billed Gull, 42 Gadwall & 9 Shoveler at boating lake.

Weds 11 Dec:

Nr TRAMORE: GLOSSY IBIS flying towards Backstrand over Old Tramore Road just N/NE of Ballinattin junction - same bird as seen flying NW over Backstrand on 10 November?

Tues 10 Dec:

DUNGARVAN: SPOONBILL & 2 Long-tailed Duck.

Mon 9 Dec:

DUNGARVAN: SPOONBILL off pitch & putt course.

TRAMORE: Ring-billed Gull & Mediterranean Gull at boating lake, Barnacle Goose at Lisselan.

EAST WATERFORD: Buzzard.

Sun 8 Dec:

DUNMORE EAST: 2nd-winter Glaucous Gull.

TRAMORE: Merlin at Lisselan.

EAST WATERFORD: Buzzard at two locations.

Sat 7 Dec:

DUNMORE EAST: 5 Purple Sandpipers.

TRAMORE: Adult Ring-billed Gull, 3 Mediterranean Gulls, 50 Gadwall & 13 Shoveler at boating lake; Ring-billed Gull (different bird?) at Backstrand west of spits; Short-eared Owl, Gadwall & 4 Pintail at Lisselan.

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: 2 Shoveler.

BALLYSHUNNOCK RESERVOIR: Kingfisher & 52 Whooper Swans.

DUNGARVAN: SPOONBILL & 4 Long-tailed Duck off pitch & putt course, Barnacle Goose at Ballyneety, Green Sandpiper at brickey canal.

BLACKWATER VALLEY: 20 Yellowhammers at Newport East.

Fri 6 Dec:

DUNGARVAN: SPOONBILL, 4 Long-tailed Duck & Barnacle Goose off pitch & putt course.

BALLYSHUNNOCK RESERVOIR: 42 Whooper Swans.

DUNHILL: 2 Tree Sparrows.

TRAMORE: Adult Ring-billed Gull at boating lake.

DUNMORE EAST: 9 Purple Sandpipers.

Thurs 5 Dec:

TRAMORE: Adult Ring-billed Gull at boating lake.

DUNMORE EAST: 2nd-winter Glaucous Gull.

Mon 2 Dec:

DUNGARVAN: SPOONBILL, 4 Long-tailed Duck & Otter off pitch & putt course.

Sun 1 Dec:

DUNGARVAN: SPOONBILL, Barnacle Goose (video) & 4 Long-tailed Duck from pitch & putt course, Green Sandpiper at Brickey river.

BALLYNACOURTY POINT: Whimbrel, Otter, Minke Whale & Porpoise from the lighthouse.

TANKARDSTOWN: Merlin, Minke Whale & 22 Common Dolphins.

NOVEMBER 2013:

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

Sat 30 Nov:

DUNGARVAN: Barnacle Goose at Ballyneety; 4 Long-tailed Duck & 2 Shoveler off pitch & putt course.

WEST WATERFORD: Buzzard.

CROHAUN: Woodcock.

GARRANBAUN: Merlin.

DERRIGAL: Adult White-fronted Goose (video), 273 Greylag Geese & 24 Whooper Swans.

BALLYSHUNNOCK RESERVOIR: 37 Whooper Swans.

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: 2 Shoveler.

TRAMORE: 4 Pintail, Gadwall & Chiffchaff at Lisselan; 15 Shoveler & 49 Gadwall at boating lake.

EAST WATERFORD: Buzzard.

Fri 29 Nov:

BUNMAHON: Kingfisher; 2 Fin Whales offshore.

ANNESTOWN: Kingfisher.

MID WATERFORD: Buzzard.

Weds 27 Nov:

TRAMORE: 37 Gadwall & 5 Shoveler at boating lake.

BALLYSCANLON: 3 Crossbills.

NEWTOWN CROSS (nr Kilmacthomas): Woodcock.

HELVICK HEAD: Merlin & Minke Whale.

Tues 26 Nov:

DUNHILL: Tree Sparrow.

Mon 25 Nov:

DUNMORE EAST to MINE HEAD: 6 Great Skuas , 3 Common Scoter, 4 Fin Whales, 5 Minke Whales & 30-40 Common Dolphins from boat.

ANNESTOWN: Kingfisher.

BUNMAHON: Kingfisher.

BALLYDWAN: Adult Iceland Gull.

MID WATERFORD: Buzzard.

Sun 24 Nov:

DUNGARVAN: Adult Yellow-legged Gull at Ballyneety, 4 Long-tailed Duck off sports centre.

BALLYVOYLE: 3 Fin Whales, 2 Minke Whales & a Porpoise.

TRAMORE: 4 Shoveler at boating lake.

DUNMORE EAST: 1st-winter Glaucous Gull; also 30+ Common Dolphins between pier & Hook Head.

Sat 23 Nov:

TRAMORE: 4 Pintail & 8 Gadwall at Lisselan, Long-tailed Duck (between spits) & adult dark-bellied Brent Goose at Backstrand, 45 Gadwall & 11 Shoveler at boating lake, 33 Common Scoter in the Bay, & 2 Blackcaps at Tramore House.

EAST WATERFORD: 2 Buzzards.

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: Male Shoveler.

DERRIGAL: 22 Whooper Swans & 5 Greylag Geese.

DUNGARVAN: 4 Long-tailed Ducks off pitch & putt course, 3 adult Yellow-legged Gulls & adult Mediterranean Gull at Ballkyneety, HUMPBACK WHALE & 3 Fin Whales off mouth of bay.

Fri 22 Nov:

TRAMORE: 24 Gadwall & 2 Shoveler at boating lake.

BUNMAHON: A late Swallow, 27 Common Scoter, 2 Fin Whales & 50 Common Dolphins.

EAST WATERFORD: Buzzard at two locations.

Weds 20 Nov:

Nr DRUM HILLS: Male Hen Harrier.

CARRIGNAGOUR (nr Lismore): Whooper Swans flying over at midnight last night.

Tues 19 Nov:

DUNGARVAN: SPOONBILL & 3 Long-tailed Duck at the Cunnigar, 2 Whooper Swans W past pitch & putt course.

Mon 18 Nov:

MID WATERFORD: Buzzard.

Sun 17 Nov:

DUNGARVAN: SURF SCOTER in bay.

BALLYDWAN: Manx Shearwater W.

DERRIGAL: 11 Whooper Swans.

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: Shoveler.

TRAMORE: 43 Gadwall & 7 Shoveler at boating lake, 4 Gadwall at Lisselan.

EAST WATERFORD: Buzzard.

Sat 16 Nov:

DUNGARVAN: SURF SCOTER, 3 Long-tailed Ducks , 660 Brent Geese & Lesser Black-backed Gulls off Cunnigar tip, SPOONBILL on the Cunnigar, 3 adult Yellow-legged Gulls & adult Mediterranean Gull at Ballyneety.

HELVICK HEAD: 3 Common Scoter, Common Dolphins & Porpoises.

CLONEA: 1st-winter Mediterranean Gull, 16 Great Northern Divers & 250+ Gannets.

BALLYVOONEY COVE: 8 Red-throated Divers.

BUNMAHON: Mediterranean Gull.

KILMURRIN: Mediterranean Gull.

TRAMORE: 41 Gadwall, 9 Shoveler & adult Mediterranean Gull at boating lake, Scaup at Lisselan, Merlin at Backstrand.

DUNMORE EAST to W of TRAMORE: Great Skua, Glaucous Gull, Fin Whale, 7 Minke Whales, 11 Porpoises & 100 Common Dolphins from boat.

EAST WATERFORD: Buzzard.

Fri 15 Nov:

NW WATERFORD: Buzzard.

COLLIGAN WOODS: Dipper.

HELVICK HEAD: 2 Great Skuas, 7 Common Scoter & lots of Common Dolphins & Porpoises.

TANKARDSTOWN (nr Bunmahon): Minke Whale & small numbers of Common Dolphins & Porpoises.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 16 Tree Sparrows.

Thurs 14 Nov:

Nr LITTLE ISLAND: Kingfisher.

Tues 12 Nov:

DUNGARVAN (I-WeBS count): SURF SCOTER again off Ballynacourty pier, SPOONBILL on Cunnigar, 2 Long-tailed Ducks near Cunnigar point, 10 Great Northern Divers & 60 Great Crested Grebes in bay, VAGRANT EMPEROR dragonfly near sports centre, and HUMPBACK WHALE, Fin Whales, Porpoises & Common Dolphins off bay.

HELVICK to CLONEA: 200+ Gannets.

CALISO BAY: Merlin.

RAM HEAD: Pomarine Skua, 7 Manx Shearwaters & 200+ Common Dolphins.

MUGGORT'S BAY: Great Skua W.

TRAMORE: 17 Gadwall at boating lake.

Sun 10 Nov:

TRAMORE (I-WeBS count): GLOSSY IBIS over Kilmacleague / Clohernagh (flew NW), Long-tailed Duck in backstrand, Short-eared Owl & Scaup at Lisselan, 5 Whooper Swans at Riverstown, 22 Gadwall & 8 Shoveler at boating lake, & total 828 Brent Geese.

DUNGARVAN: SURF SCOTER off Ballynacourty pier, Green Sandpiper at Killongford pools.

EAST WATERFORD: Buzzard.

HELVICK HEAD: 2 Swallows.

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

Nr WHITING BAY: 2 Tree Sparrows at Moord.

WEST WATERFORD: Buzzard.

Sat 9 Nov:

DUNGARVAN: Female or 1st-winter male SURF SCOTER off Ballynacourty pier, SPOONBILL off pitch & putt course, adult Yellow-legged Gull & adult Mediterranean Gull at Ballyneety.

CLONEA: Merlin at Ballinclamper.

BALLYSHUNNOCK RESERVOIR: Adult Mediterranean Gull.

DERRIGAL/PORTNASCULLY: 59 Greylag Geese at Derrigal cross, 10 Whooper Swans at Portnascully (Co Kilkenny).

ANNESTOWN: Merlin & Kingfisher.

TRAMORE BAY: Great Skua W off Newtown Cove,

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 14 Common Scoter W.

Fri 8 Nov:

TRAMORE: Scaup, adult Mediterranean Gull, Kingfisher & Chiffchaff at Lisselan; 17 Gadwall & 3 Shoveler at boating lake.

ANNESTOWN: Kingfisher.

BUNMAHON: Kingfisher & Fin Whale.

MID WATERFORD: 2 Buzzards.

KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS: Large flock of Crossbills still at Killballyboy Woods, Co Tipperary.

Thurs 7 Nov:

TRAMORE: 35 Gadwall & 3 Shoveler at boating lake.

Mon 4 Nov:

RAM HEAD: 2 Great Skuas, Arctic Skua, Merlin, Fin Whale, Minke Whale & 50 Common Dolphins (seawatch 11:00-12:45).

Sun 3 Nov:

BLACKWATER CALLOWS: 115 Whooper Swans, Lismore to Ballyneroon.

BLACKWATER VALLEY: 29 Whooper Swans & 8 Greylag Geese at Camphire.

WEST WATERFORD: Buzzard.

WHITING BAY: Mediterranean Gull.

DRUM HILLS: Male Hen Harrier.

HELVICK: Otter.

TRAMORE: Scaup at Lisselan, 8 Gadwall at boating lake, 4 Swallows at Ballycarnane Woods.

TIBBERAGHNY (south Kilkenny): 7 Whooper Swans.

Sat 2 Nov:

DUNGARVAN: Swallow at the Lookput.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 4 Great Skuas & 350 Gannets W (seawatch 08:25-11:25).

Fri 1 Nov:

BALLYSHUNNOCK RESERVOIR: Male RING-NECKED DUCK, 3 Scaup, 21 Whooper Swans & 6 Stock Doves.

DUNGARVAN: Hummingbird Hawk-moth at Kilmurray.

BLACKWATER CALLOWS: 89 Whooper Swans west of Lismore.