Waterford bird reports October 2010

Waterford bird records October 2010 (details subject to verification or correction)

older records - archive

Check here for possible updates or further details.

Sun 31st Oct:

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Adult Yellow-legged Gull at Saleen, Pink-footed Goose & 4 White-fronted Geese (2 adult & 2 juvenile) at Lisselan.

TRAMORE BOATING LAKE: 5 Gadwall (3 males & 2 female).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Male Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaffs & 3 Swallows.

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: 3 female Scaup & 48 Tufted Duck.

CLONEA STRAND: Juvenile WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER still present at Ballinclamper, also a Curlew Sandpiper, Merlin & White Wagtail.

BLACKWATER CALLOWS: 24 Whooper Swans at Ballyduff.

Sat 30th Oct:

CLONEA STRAND: Juvenile/1st-winter WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER again at Ballinclamper, also 58 Sanderling, a Black Redstart & 2 Blackcaps.

DUNGARVAN: 2 SPOONBILLS off pitch & putt course, adult BLACK BRANT & juv Common Tern at the Cunnigar.

HELVICK HEAD: 7+ Blackcaps & a Swallow.

STRADBALLY: Common Sandpiper, Kingfisher & 2 Dippers.

BUNMAHON: Kingfisher.

Nr BALLYLANEEN: 20+ mixed Swallows & House Martins.

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: 5 Scaup.

TRAMORE BOATING LAKE: Adult Mediterranean Gull & 3 Gadwall.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Blackcap.

Fri 29th Oct:

DUNGARVAN TOWN: 2 House Martins & a Swallow.

Weds 27th Oct:

CLONEA STRAND: Juvenile/1st-winter WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER still present at Ballinclamper, also Merlin & 3 Red-throated Divers.

BALLYLANEEN: Jack Snipe.

Mon 25th Oct:

CLONEA STRAND: Juvenile/1st-winter WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, 2 juv Curlew Sandpipers, Short-eared Owl, Merlin & 20+ Choughs.

BLACKWATER VALLEY: 130 Whooper Swans & a road-casualty Merlin at Camphire, Common Seal at Villierstown.

HELVICK HEAD: 2 Great Skuas (seawatch 17:20-17:50).

DUNGARVAN: Whimbrel at Ballynagaul.

Nr CROHAUN: 12+ Ravens.

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: 2 female/immature BLUE-WINGED TEAL & 6 Scaup.

BALLYSHUNNOCK RESERVOIR: Shoveler & 7 Whooper Swans.

STRADBALLY: Common Sandpiper, Kingfisher & 2 Dippers.

Nr STRADBALLY: Merlin at Carrickahilla.

NORTH WATERFORD: Buzzard.

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Pink-footed Goose & female Scaup at Lisselan.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Merlin.

Sun 24th Oct:

CLONEA STRAND: Juvenile/1st-winter WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER (2nd county record), BUFF-BELLIED PIPIT, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, Lapland Bunting (flew over), Merlin, 5+ White Wagtails & Tree Sparrow at Ballinclamper.

DUNGARVAN: Juvenile LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER (video) & adult BLACK BRANT at the Cunnigar, Kingfisher & Common Sandpiper at Barnawee, juv Arctic Tern at Ballynacourty.

WHITING BAY: Clouded Yellow butterfly.

BALLYLANEEN: Redwing & 2 Fieldfares.

MID WATERFORD: Buzzard.

Sat 23rd Oct:

CLONEA STRAND: BUFF-BELLIED PIPIT, 2 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers, Merlin & 1st-winter Mediterranean Gull at Ballinclamper.

DUNGARVAN: 2 juv Curlew Sndpipers at Ballyneety.

Fri 22nd Oct:

CLONEA STRAND: BUFF-BELLIED PIPIT at Ballinclamper.

DUNGARVAN: LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER still at the Cunnigar.

Nr BUNMAHON: Woodcock at Seafield.

MID WATERFORD: 2 Buzzards.

Thurs 21st Oct:

DUNGARVAN: LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, Merlin & 280 Brent Geese at the Cunnigar.

CLONEA STRAND: Adult Mediterranean Gull at Ballinclamper.

North of DUNGARVAN: Barn Owl seen at 22:45.

Weds 20th Oct:

CLONEA STRAND: BUFF-BELLIED PIPIT still present at Ballinclamper, also 3 Curlew Sandpipers.

DUNGARVAN: LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER at the Cunnigar, 2 SPOONBILLS & 60+ Little Egreets at Killongford.

RAM HEAD: 2 Fin Whales, probable Humpback Whale & 80 Common Dolphins.

EAST OF RAM HEAD: Short-eared Owl c1 km from shore (details).

STRADBALLY: 4 Dippers.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 20 Greylag Geese flying over & a Tree Sparrow.

Tues 19th Oct:

CLONEA STRAND: BUFF-BELLIED PIPIT at Ballinclamper. See video © P. Archer.

WEST WATERFORD: 2 Buzzards.

Mon 18th Oct:

CLONEA STRAND: BUFF-BELLIED PIPIT again present at Ballinclamper, also 2 Curlew Sandpipers there.

DUNGARVAN: Juvenile LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER still at the Cunnigar/

WHITING BAY: 20+ Choughs.

DUNHILL: Female GARGANEY photographed at ponds behind Dunhill Education Centre (record added 14/10/2013!)

WATERFORD CITY: Barn Owl seen regularly recently.

Sun 17th Oct:

CLONEA STRAND: *BUFF-BELLIED PIPIT (1st county record) at Ballinclamper.

DUNGARVAN: Juvenile LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER & 2 Ruddy Shelduck (probably hybrids) at the Cunnigar, 2 SPOONBILLS at Killongford.

TRAMORE BAY: 2 Red-throated Divers, 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls & a Porpoise.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 2+ White-fronted Geese, Water Rail, 3 Reed Warbler & male Blackcap; 9 Red-throated Divers west, 4 Great Northern Divers east, 23 Common Scoter west (19 east) & 4 Porpoises (seawatch 08:25-11:25).

Sat 16th Oct:

DUNGARVAN: Juvenile LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, adult dark-bellied Brent Goose, 2 Ruddy Shelduck (probably hybrids) & a Lapland Bunting at the Cunnigar; 2 SPOONBILLS at Killongford including a "new" colour-ringed bird (yellow over green ring on right leg, yellow flag on left leg)..

AGLISH: 7 Redwings.

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 314 Brent Geese.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Reed Warbler (juvenile ringed), 125 Skylarks, Fieldfare, 2 Tree Sparrows, 6 Lesser Redpolls & 2 Siskins.

Fri 15th Oct:

DUNGARVAN: Juvenile LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER still at the Cunnigar.

RAM HEAD: 3-5 Fin Whales, 6-8 Bottlenose Dolphins & 20-30 Swallows.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Reed Warbler & male Blackcap.

Thurs 14th Oct:

DUNGARVAN: Juvenile LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER (video ) at the Cunnigar.

Nr BUNMAHON: 3 Green Sandpipers & 5 Yellowhammers at Seafield.

MID WATERFORD: Buzzard.

Weds 13th Oct:

DUNGARVAN: Juvenile LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER at the Cunnigar.

Tues 12th Oct:

DUNGARVAN: Juvenile LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER at the Cunnigar.

Mon 11th Oct:

HELVICK HEAD: Female Hen Harrier, Redstart, 2 Black Redstarts, Whinchat, Reed Warbler, Willow Warbler & Pied Flycatcher.

TRAMORE SANDHILLS: Short-eared Owl & Water Rail.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 2+ Sand Martins, Spotted Flycatcher, Reed Warbler, 3 Blackcaps, 6+ Chiffchaffs, 6 Tree Sparrows & 2 Siskins.

Sun 10th Oct:

DUNGARVAN: Juvenile LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER still at the Cunnigar, 2 juv Curlew Sandpipers at Western Bay.

WHTING BAY: 4 Mediterranean Gulls (1st-winter, 2nd-winter & 2 adults).

ARDMORE: Whinchat & 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls.

GREAT NEWTOWN HEAD: Redwings heard at night; migrants moths trapped included single Vestal, Gem, Delicate & Cosmopolitan.

TRAMORE TOWN: Another Delicate.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Jack Snipe, 2 Red-throated Divers, female/immature Hen Harrier, 2 Wheatears, 2 Pied Flycatchers, 3 Spotted Flycatchers, Reed Warbler, Garden Warbler, Whitethroat, & 15 Lesser Redpolls (ringed).

Sat 9th Oct:

DUNGARVAN: Juvenile LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER (1st county record) at the Cunnigar.

WHITING BAY: WRYNECK, Little Stint, Ruff, juvenile Curlew Sandpiper & 5 Mediterranean Gulls.

HELVICK HEAD: Long-eared Owl, Arctic Skua, 3 Great Skuas & 8 Common Scoter.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Black Redstart, Whinchat, 2 Wheatears, 2 Pied Flycatchers, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 45 Swallows (east), 75 House Martins (east), Whitethroat, 4 Chiffchaffs & a late Willow Warbler; Vestal moth caught tonight

Fri 8th Oct:

TRAMORE TOWN: Redwing heard at night.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Merlin, 20 Swallows (east), 2 Wheatears & 2 Spotted Flycatchers & 14 Red Admirals; 2 Arctic Skuas west (seawatch 17:40-18:20).

RATHMOYLAN: Female/immature Hen Harrier, 110+ Skylarks & 120+ Woodpigeons.

Thurs 7th Oct:

CLONEA STRAND: 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls at Ballinclamper.

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 2 Green Sandpipers at Clohernagh.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 2 Tree Sparrows; a Vestal moth trapped tonight.

Weds 6th Oct:

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Arctic Skua west (seawatch 10:20-11:20).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Pink-footed Goose (at Lisselsn), 255 Brent Geese, 45 Little Egrets, a Whimbrel & 335 Black-tailed Godwit.

CLONEA STRAND: adult Mediterranean Gull at Ballinclamper.

WEST WATERFORD: Long-eared Owl (found dead) & 2 Buzzards.

Tues 5th Oct:

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Arctic Skua west (seawatch 11:55-12:55) & 2 Tree Sparrows.

Mon 4th Oct:

HELVICK HEAD: Balearic Shearwater, 3 Great Skuas, Pomarine Skua, Arctic Skua & Arctic Tern (seawatch 18:00-19:00).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 15 Lesser Redpolls (ringed), 2 Tree Sparrows & a Wheatear; 150 Gannets west in 1 hr (seawatch 16:40-17:40); White-speck moth trapped.

DUNMORE EAST: Juvenile Arctic Tern.

DUNMORE EAST: Porpoise.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Chiffchaffs, 45+ Skylarks, 5 Lesser Redpolls, a Siskin & 23+ Red Admirals.

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Pink-footed Goose & 130 Brent Geese at Lisselan.

DUNGARVAN: Juvenile Ruff & juv Curlew Sandpiper at Killongford, Kingfisher at Ballyneety.

DUNMORE EAST: Adult SABINE'S GULL.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Balearic Shearwater, Sooty Shearwater, 103 Manx Shearwaters & 4 Great Skuas west, 4 Arctic Skuas west (2 east) & a Common Scoter east (seawatch 08:05-12:15).

Nr BUNMAHON: HOBBY at Seafield.

BALLYNACOURTY POINT: 3 Great Skuas & an Arctic Skua.

DUNGARVAN: 6 Curlew Sandpipers at Killongford.

HELVICK HEAD: 6 Grey Phalaropes, 5 Great Skuas, 2 Arctic Skuas, 3 Pomarine or Arctic Skuas & a Puffin west (seawatch c12:00-13:00).

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.click below for larger images

Otter, Dungarvan quays, 31 Oct 2010 © Gavin Clarke

White-fronted Geese, Lisselan, Tramore Backstrand, 31 Oct 2010 © M Cowming

White-rumped Sandpiper, juv/1st-winter, Ballinclamper, Clonea Strand, 25 October 2010 © R McLaughlin

White-rumped Sandpiper, juv/1st-winter, Ballinclamper, Clonea Strand, 25 October 2010 © M Cowming

Chough, Ballinclamper, Clonea Strand, 25 October 2010 © R McLaughlin

Common Seal, Villierstown, 25 Oct 2010 © D Clarke

Lesser Black-backed Gull, colour-ringed, Whiting Bay, 24 Oct 2010 © D Clarke

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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