Recent reports

See guidance on what to report (not necessarily all for online publication here).

Thanks to all observers and photo-contributors, and to the organisers of the WhatsApp groups covering birds and other wildlife in Co Waterford, for their help.

JANUARY 2025

Sat 18 Jan:
DUNGARVAN: 2 male Pintail opposite Nissan garage.
BRIDE VALLEY: Green Sandpiper at Tallow Bridge.
BLACKWATER VALLEY/CALLOWS: Pink-footed Goose & White-fronted Goose at Bewley SE of Cappoquin, 7 White-fronted Geese along Callows, Common Sandpiper & Jays.

Fri 17 Jan:
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 17 Greylag Geese at Kilmacleague.
N of LISMORE: Crossbills & Great Spotted Woodpecker

Thurs 16 Jan:
DUNGARVAN: Now 2 Slavonian Grebes in bay, from Ballynacourty towards Abbeyside.

Weds 15 Jan:
TRAMORE : Merlin, 18 Pintail & 10 Shoveler at Lisselan, male Tufted Duck & 10 Gadwall at boating lake.
SUIR VALLEY: Green Sandpiper along River Clodiagh below Portlaw.
KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: Great Spotted Woodpecker & 6 Coot.
CLONEA BAY: Whimbrel & Purple Sandpiper at Ballinclamper.

Tues 14 Jan:
DUNGARVAN: 2 Yellow-legged Gulls at Ballyneety, Blackcap, Chiffchaff & c.15 Reed Buntings at Kilmurry.
BLACKWATER VALLEY: Barn Owl near Affane Cross.
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 17 Greylag Geese, 7 Pintail & a Kingfisher at Lisselan, Jack Snipe on saltmarsh between Lisselan & Kilmacleague.
KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: RING-NECKED DUCK & Scaup
DUNGARVAN: 1st-winter male Goldeneye at Barnawee, Chiffchaff & 2 Water Rails behind Nissan garage.
BLACKWATER/BRIDE: Great Spotted Woodpecker, Tallow & Jays, Lismore.

Sun 12 Jan:
BALLYMACAW: 4-5 CATTLE EGRETS.
TRAMORE ROAD: 3 CATTLE EGRETS E side of main road c.500 m from Halfway.
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 31 Pintail.
Near COMERAGH/MONAVULLAGH MOUNTAINS: Treecreeper.
DUNGARVAN: Slavonian Grebe, 83 Great Crested Grebes, 12 Great Northern Divers & male Common Scoter in the bay.

Sat 11 Jan:
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 16 Greylag Geese, 8 Shoveler & 4 Gadwall at Lisselan.
KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: RING-NECKED DUCK, Scaup & 2 Coot.
BALLYSHUNNOCK RESERVOIR: Gadwall & 2 Tufted Duck.
Near COMERAGH/MONAVULLAGH MOUNTAINS: Jays & Great Spotted Woodpecker.
DUNGARVAN: 2 Goldeneye & 17 Shoveler off pitch & putt course, Slavonian Grebe off Ballynacourty Pier.
BLACKWATER VALLEY: White-fronted Goose, Pink-footed Goose & Greylag Goose still at Bewley, SE of Cappoquin.
N of LISMORE: 6 Crossbills flying over.

Fri 10 Jan:
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 12 Pintail off the old dump.
COLLIGAN MOUNTAIN: Blackcap.

Thurs 9 Jan:
KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: 2 RING-NECKED DUCKS, a Scaup & 3 Shoveler.
DUNGARVAN: Black Redstart at Boreenatra, 2 Goldeneye (male & female) at Barnawee.
BLACKWATER VALLEY: Single White-fronted Goose, Pink-footed Goose & Greylag Goose feeding with c.190 Whooper Swans at Bewley, SE of Cappoquin; Barn Owl, Cappoquin.

Weds 8 Jan:
CLONEA BAY: 2 Purple Sandpipers & adult Mediterranean Gull at Ballinclamper, Black Redstart & Whimbrel at Ballinard, Dipper & 1000s of gulls (mainly Black-headed) at Ballyvoyle.
DUNGARVAN: Slavonian Grebe between Ballynacourty & Abbeyside, Great Spotted Woodpecker at Kilmurry.

Tues 7 Jan;
BRIDE VALLEY: Green Sandpiper & 30+ Golden Plover, Tallow.
N of LISMORE: Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Mon 6 Jan:
DUNMORE EAST: Black Redstart.
DUNGARVAN: Blackcap.

Sat 4 Jan:
KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: RING-NECKED DUCK & Scaup.
Near MONAVULLAGH/COMERAGH MOUNTAINS: Great Spoted Woodpecker, Glendalligan.
DUNGARVAN: HAWFINCH in a garden in Abbeyside.
N of LISMORE: Crossbills.

Fri 3 Jan:
Near MONAMINTRA CROSS-ROADS: Short-eared Owl flying SW towards Castletown Fen road.
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Long-tailed Duck again at Lisselan, 30 Pintail in Backstrand.
CLONEA BAY: Whimbrel at Ballinard, 7 Red-throated Divers at Ballyvoyle (among 1000s of seabirds).
DUNGARVAN: Chiffchaff beside Brickey Canal, 2 Water Rails along stream behind Nissan garage.
BRIDE VALLEY: Green Sandpiper at Tallow Bridge.

Thurs 2 Jan:
CLONEA BAY: 3 Purple Sandpipers at Ballinclamper.
DUNGARVAN: Male GOOSANDER at Barnawee, Slavonian Grebe off Ballynagaul, 4 Pintail (2 males & 2 females) & a female Shoveler in Western Bay.
BLACKWATER VALLEY: Common Sandpiper & flock of 20+ Yellowhammers at Newport East.
BLACKWATER CALLOWS: 7 Pink-footed Geese.

Weds 1 Jan:
DUNGARVAN: Slavonian Grebe in bay, Barn Owl at Kilmurry.
CLONEA BAY: 2 Purple Sandpipers & 1 Whimbrel at Ballinclamper.
WHITING BAY: Merlin.
BLACKWATER CALLOWS: 7 Pink-footed Geese.
Near LISMORE: Woodcock near Ballysaggart.

DECEMBER 2024

Tues 31 Dec:
HELVICK HEAD: A very unseasonal Storm Petrel, also a Manx Shearwater.

Mon 30 Dec:
DUNMORE EAST: Female/immature Black Redstart.
DUNGARVAN: Slavonian Grebe in outer bay between Murray’s pub (Ring/Helvick) & Ballynacourty lighthouse, Shoveler in Western Bay, Chiffchaff at Kilmurry.
DRUM HILLS: 4 Woodcock, Old Parish.

Sun 29 Dec:
TRAMORE: 2 Jack Snipe at Kilmacleague saltmarsh.
KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: 3 RING-NECKED DUCKS (2 males & a female), 2 Scaup (male & female) & a Great Spotted Woodpecker.
STRADBALLY: Dipper.
CLONEA BAY: Dipper at Ballyvoyle.
COLLIGAN MOUNTAIN: Blackcap & Barn Owl.
BALLYCURRANE: Barn Owl.
ARDMORE: Female/immature Black Redstart at St Declan's Monastery.

Sat 27 Dec:
DUNGARVAN: 15+ Reed Buntings & a Chiffchaff, Kilmurry.
CLONEA BAY: Whimbrel & 3 Purple Sandpipers at Ballinclamper.
BLACKWATER VALLEY: Green Sandpiper near Cappoquin.
BLACKWATER CALLOWS: 7 Pink-footed Geese with 37 Whooper Swans near Ballyduff.

Weds 25 Dec:
WATERFORD CITY: Male Blackcap in city, Long-eared Owl at ring road, Couse.
SUIR VALLEY: Great Spotted Woodpecker at Carriganore.

Tues 24 Dec:
RATHMOYLAN: Female/immature Black Redstart.
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Female/ immature Black Redstart.
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Adult Mediterranean Gull at boating lake.
DUNGARVAN: Slavonian Grebe & Common Scoter off Ballynacourty pier.
BLACKWATER VALLEY: Dipper at Clashmore.
Near CALISO BAY: Black Redstart just S of five cross-roads.
Near WHITING BAY: Merlin near Ballysallagh.
N of LISMORE: Crossbills & Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Mon 23 Dec:
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND White-fronted Goose DUNGARVAN: Black Redstart at Poulaphuca; flock of 53+ Great Crested Grebes off Cunnigar car-park.

Sun 22 Dec:
RATHMOYLAN COVE: Female/immature Black Redstart.
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Long-tailed Duck, 26+ Pintails & 3 Tufted Duck.

Sat 21 Dec:
DUNGARVAN: Female/immature Black Redstart again at graveyard / Boreenatra.

Fri 20 Dec:
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 1st-winter Curlew Sandpiper & a Kittiwake at western Backstrand.
DUNGARVAN: Slavonian Grebe & Common Scoter off Ballynacourty pier.

Thurs 19 Dec:
RATHMOYLAN COVE: Black Redstart.
TRAMORE: White-fronted Goose at Kilmacleague; Long-tailed Duck, 6 Pintail, Shoveler & 2 Whooper Swans at Lisselan; 14 Gadwall at boating lake.
CLONEA BAY: Black Redstart at Ballinard; Purple Sandpiper & Whimbrel at Ballinclamper; adult Mediterranean Gull at Ballyvoyle.

Weds 19 Dec:
N of LISMORE: Crossbills & Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Mon 16 Dec:
SUIR VALLEY: Pink-footed Goose, 164 Greylag Geese & 96 Whooper Swans at Tibberaghny (Co Kilkenny).
DUNGARVAN: Dipper near entrance to Dungarvan golf-course.

Sun 15 Dec:
DUNGARVAN: Female/immature Black Redstart at Tournore, Abbeyside.
BLACKWATER CALLOWS: 7 Pink-footed Geese still present.

Sat 14 Dec:
DUNGARVAN: Black Redstart, 3 Pintail & 2 Shoveler at/off pitch & putt course, 2 Goldeneye (male + female) at Killongford, 224 Knot at Barnawee / Kilminnin, 81 Great Crested Grebes & 1400 Brent Geese around the bay.
CLONEA BAY: Over-wintering Whimbrel at Ballinclamper, & now 2 Black Redstarts at Ballinard.

Fri 13 Dec:
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Long-tailed Duck, 3 Pintail & 12 Whooper Swans at Lisselan.
KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: Scaup & just 1 male RING-NECKED DUCK today, also <20 Tufted Duck.
CLONEA BAY: Single Black Redstarts at Ballinard & Ballyvoyle.
BLACKWATER VALLEY: 6 Yellowhammers, Newport area.

Thurs 12 Dec:
KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: All 3 RING-NECKED DUCKS still present, also Scaup & c.37 Tufted Ducks.
DUNGARVAN: Adult Yellow-legged Gull at Ballyneety.
CLONEA BAY: Purple Sandpiper at Ballinclamper.
N of LISMORE: Great Spotted Woodpecker & Jays.

Weds 11 Dec:
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Long-tailed Duck again at Lisselan (later W of spits), 12 Pintail north Backstrand, CATTLE EGRET in crop field at Quillia near Lisselan, adult Mediterranean Gull at boating lake.
BLACKWATER VALLEY: 69 Whooper Swans at Kereen.
BLACKWATER CALLOWS: 7 Pink-footed Geese, Lismore to Ballyduff.
N of LISMORE: Woodcock.

Tues 10 Dec:
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Long-tailed Duck & Short-eared Owl at Lisselan.
KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: 3 RING-NECKED DUCKS now present (2 males & a female), also Scaup & 16 Tufted Duck.
DUNGARVAN: 3 female Pintail & pair of Shoveler off pitch & putt course.
BLACKWATER VALLEY: 1 MARSH HARRIER still present.

Mon 9 Dec:
DUNGARVAN: Female Pintail, male Shoveler & adult Dark-bellied Brent Goose near pitch & putt course, Black Redstart at St Mary's graveyard.
WEST WATERFORD: Red Kite.

Sun 8 Dec:
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 3 Barnacle Geese at Lisselan, Common Scoter betyween the spits.
DUNGARVAN: 3 Whooper Swans off pitch & putt course.

Fri 6 Dec:
HELVICK HEAD: Black Redstart at cove.

Thurs 5 Dec:
BLACKWATER CALLOWS: 7 Pink-footed Geese still present between Lismore & Ballyduff.

Tues 3 Dec:
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Barnacle Goose, 15 Greylag Geese, Long-tailed Duck, 2 Gadwall & Kingfisher at Lisselan.
Near COMERAGH/MONAVULLAGH MOUNTAINS: Blackcap, Glendalligan.
DUNGARVAN: Black Redstart beside Youghal Road roundabout.
HELVICK HEAD: 7+ late Manx Shearwaters & an adult Mediterranean Gull (seawatch 15:00-16:00).
BLACKWATER/BRIDE VALLEY: Dipper at Clashmore, Green Sandpiper at Tallow Bridge, Common Sandpiper Blackwater valley.
BLACKWATER CALLOWS: 7 Pink-footed Geese between Lismore & Ballyduff.
N of LISMORE: Jay & Crossbills.

Mon 2 Dec:
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Merlin, 15 Greylag Geese, male Goldeneye, Long-tailed Duck, Tufted Duck & 29 Pintail at Lisselan.
CLONEA BAY: 2 Purple Sandpiper & a Whimbrel at Ballinclamper.
DUNGARVAN: Black Redstart at the Lookout, female Blackcap at Nissan stream, Dungarvan town.
N of LISMORE: Barn Owl.

Jan-Dec 2023

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