Waterford bird reports Jan-Dec 2023

DECEMBER 2023 (in progress)

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.

Sun 31 Dec:
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: White-fronted Goose, 13 Greylag Geese, adult dark-bellied Brent Goose, Scaup, Tufted Duck, Pintail, 4 Shoveler, & Kingfisher at Lisselan; CATTLE EGRET at Cloghernagh / Airport Road junction; Short-eared Owl.
BELLE LAKE: Ringtail Hen Harrier.

Fri 29 Dec:
DUNGARVAN: Treecreeper behind Nissan garage.

Thurs 28 Dec:
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Scaup, 2 Pintail, 4 Shoveler, 10 Gadwall, 13 Greylag Geese at Lisselan, Curlew Sandpiper on Backstrand & 2 Merlins.

Weds 27 Dec:
HELVICK HEAD: BLACK-THROATED DIVER & Manx Shearwater feeding.
BLACKWATER VALLEY: Green Sandpiper in flooded field in Clashmore.
WEST WATERFORD: Red Kite.

Tues 26 Dec:
DUNGARVAN: GREAT WHITE EGRET at Western Bay.
Near CARRIGANORE: Long-eared Owl over the N25.
WATERFORD HARBOUR: Common Sandpiper at Cheekpoint.

Fri 22 Dec:
DUNGARVAN: 2 male GOOSANDERS on Colligan estuary near Ballyneety Bridge, Kingfisher.
KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: Male LESSER SCAUP .

Thurs 21 Dec:
DUNGARVAN: 2 male GOOSANDERS on Colligan estuary, off Fraher's Field, 1 Slavonian Grebe off Ballynacourty.
CLONEA BAY: Purple Sandpiper at Ballinclamper.
DUNMORE EAST: Purple Sandpiper.

Weds 20 Dec:
KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: Male LESSER SCAUP & 8 Tufted Duck.

Tues 19 Dec:
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Scaup, 6 Pintail, 4 Shoveler, 8 Gadwall & 13 Greylag Geese at Lisselan.
WEST WATERFORD: 2 Red Kite.

Sun 17 Dec:
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Scaup, 2 Pintail & 13 Greylag Geese at Lisselan.

Fri 15 Dec:
BLACKWATER CALLOWS: GREAT WHITE EGRET & several Great Spotted Woodpeckers along River Blackwater W of Lismore.
HELVICK HEAD: Black Redstart at cove.
DUNGARVAN: 2 Slavonian Grebes off Gold Coast.
KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: Male LESSER SCAUP, 10 Tufted Ducks, & Dipper.

Thurs 14 Dec:
KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: Male LESSER SCAUP & Great Spotted Woodpecker.
DUNGARVAN: Adult BLACK BRANT; Merlin at Ballymacmague.
N of LISMORE: 7 Crossbills.

Weds 13 Dec:
BLACKWATER VALLEY: Kingfisher at Ballynatray, 2 Treecreepers near Ballinaclash Quay.
W WATERFORD: Red Kite (2 present at same location for previous 3 days).
DRUM HILLS: Barn Owl at Ballycurrane, near Clashmore.
DUNGARVAN: 2 Slavonian Grebes off Ballynacourty Pier.
BUNMAHON: Green Sandpiper.
WATERFORD CITY: Male Blackcap.

Tues 12 Dec:
BUNMAHON: 18 Common Scoter off beach.

Sun 10 Dec:
KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: Male LESSER SCAUP & 10 Tufted Duck.
N of LISMORE: 5 Crossbills.

Sat 9 Dec:
WATERFORD HARBOUR: Scaup off Woodstown beach.
KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: Male LESSER SCAUP, 2 Whooper Swans & 3 Crossbills.
Near KILMEADEN: GREAT WHITE EGRET flying over N25.

Fri 8 Dec:
KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: Male LESSER SCAUP newly found, & 11 Tufted Duck.
BELLE LAKE: 2nd-winter Mediterranean Gull.
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 1st-winter Little Gull, viewed from Lisselan seawall.
ANNE VALLEY: Water Rail & Jay.
DUNGARVAN: Adult BLACK BRANT at pitch & putt course, Barn Owl in town centre.

Weds 6 Dec:
HELVICK HEAD: 69+ Common Scoter (6 flocks including one of 60+) passed (seawatch 10:00-12:15), flock of 60 Common Scoter on sea later in afternoon.
DUNGARVAN: Adult BLACK BRANT at pitch & putt course, late / wintering Sandwich Tern in outer Dungarvan bay (below Murray's Pub, Helvick).
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 3 Bewick's Swans,Pintail, Scaup & 2 Tufted Ducks at Lisselan.

Tues 5 Dec:
KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS: 2 Red Grouse.
BLACKWATER CALLOWS: Female Pintail & 76 Whooper Swans.
WHITING BAY: 100+ Red-throated Divers.
ARDMORE BAY: 5 Mediterranean Gulls.
DUNGARVAN: 2 Slavonian Grebes in Bay.

Mon 4 Dec:
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 3 Bewick's Swans at Lisselan.
BLACKWATER/BRIDE VALLEY: Green Sandpiper below Tallow bridge, 200 Black-tailed Godwits & several Jays along Callows W of Lismore.
Near CARROLL'S CROSS: Barn Owl over N25.

Sun 3 Dec:
ANNE VALLEY: Several Chiffchaffs & Water Rails.
KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: 2 male RING-NECKED DUCKS, 25 Tufted Ducks & a calling Great Spotted Woodpecker.
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 3 Bewick's Swans at Lisselan.

Sat 2 Dec:
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 2 Bewick's Swans (1st county record since Jan 2012!), 61 Whooper Swans, 12 Greylag Geese, Merlin, 3 Pintail, Scaup, 25 Gadwall & a Tufted Duck all at Lisselan.
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Short-eared Owl.
ANNE VALLEY: Great Spotted Woodpecker, Kingfisher & 6+ Chiffchaffs.
KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: Male RING-NECKED DUCK, 26 Tufted Ducks & 3 Coots.
DUNGARVAN: Now 2 Slavonian Grebes off Ballynacourty Pier.

Fri 1 Dec:
ANNE VALLEY: CETTI'S WARBLER heard & seen - 1st Co Waterford record.
DUNGARVAN: Now 2 Slavonian Grebes off Ballynacourty Pier.

OCTOBER 2023 (in progress)

Mon 30 Oct:
DUNGARVAN: 2 CATTLE EGRETS at Killongford / Brickey mouth.
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 2 CATTLE EGRETS, Long-tailed Duck & Curlew Sandpiper at Lisselan.

Sat 28 Oct:
ANNE VALLEY: MARSH HARRIER again.
BUNMAHON: GLOSSY IBIS.
DUNGARVAN: Spotted Redshank in Western Bay.

Fri 27 Oct:
ANNE VALLEY: MARSH HARRIER.

Thurs 26 Oct:
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 2 CATTLE EGRETS & male GOOSANDER at Lisselan.

Weds 25 Oct:
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Pochard & Long-tailed Duck at Lisselan.
DUNGARVAN: 2 CATTLE EGRETS near River Brickey, Spotted Redshank in Western Bay.
DRUM HILLS: Brambling & 5 Crossbills, Old Parish.
Near LISMORE: Several Fieldfares.

Mon 23 Oct:
DUNGARVAN: 3 CATTLE EGRETS at Glenbeg, by River Brickey.

Sun 22 Oct:
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Ring Ouzel.

Sat 21 Oct:
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 3 FIRECRESTS present (1 newly ringed & the 2 previously ringed birds); high count of c.550 Herring Guls on/around the Head (c.250 at Rinneshark, c.300 Coolum fields).
DUNGARVAN: Spotted Redshank again in Western Bay.

Thurs 19 Oct:
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 2 ringed FIRECRESTS still present.

Tues 17 Oct:
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 1 FIRECRESTS retrapped (1st-yr female), 2 Merlins.

Mon 16 Oct:
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 2 FIRECRESTS (1st-yr male & 1st-yr female) & 19 Lesser Redpolls ringed.

Sat 14 Oct:
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 6 Common Scoter E, 32 Lesser Redpolls ringed, & 2 Siskins.
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: RING-NECKED DUCK on main lake at Lisselan.
DUNGARVAN: Spotted Redshank in Western Bay.

Fri 13 Oct:
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Pink-footed Goose & 2 Ruff at Lisselan.
AT SEA off BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 85 Great Shearwaters, 12 Sooty Shearwaters, 5 Manx Shearwaters, juvenile LONG-TAILED SKUA, 2 Great Skuas & 3 Arctic Skuas from RV Celtic Explorer, on a heading S off Brownstown Head out to 88 km SSE of there - the Long-tailed Skuas 21 km S of Brownstown, the Great Shearwaters at the c.88 km mark.

Thurs 12 Oct:
AT SEA off RAM HEAD: 31 CORY'S SHEARWATERS, 27 Great Shearwaters, 3 Sooty Shearwaters, 3 Manx Shearwaters, 2 Great Skuas & a juvenile Pomarine Skua from RV Celtic Explorer, on a line S off Ram Head out to 94 km SSE of there - closest Great Shearwaters to shore c.7 birds c.21 km SE, Cory's 1 45 km SSE of Ram.
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Pink-footed Goose at Lisselan.
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 20 Lesser Redpolls ringed.

Weds 11 Oct:
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Pink-footed Goose at Lisselan.

Tues 10 Oct:
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Female or immature Common Redstart still present.

Mon 9 Oct:
DUNGARVAN: Curlew Sandpiper in Western Bay.

Sun 8 Oct:
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 8 Siskins.

Sat 7 Oct:
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Female or immature Common Redstart, Spotted Flycatcher, also 93 Cormorants W over the head (in 3 flocks).

Fri 6 Oct:
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Female or immature COMMON ROSEFINCH (3rd county record) ringed, Spotted Flycatcher.

Thurs 5 Oct:
HELVICK HEAD: Black Tern, Grey Phalarope, 1-2 Arctic Skuas, 4 Arctic Terns, 3 Puffins & c.20 Manx Shearwaters (seawatch 14:45-16:45).
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Spotted Flycatcher.

Weds 4 Oct:
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: LESSER WHITETHROAT & Spotted Flycatcher.
DUNGARVAN: 370 Knot at Ballyneety.

Tues 3 Oct:
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Adult female RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHER & a Spotted Flycatcher.
DUNGARVAN: strong>LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER on the Cunnigar.
HELVICK HEAD: LESSER WHITETHROAT.

Mon 2 Oct:
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Adult female RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHER, LESSER WHITETHROAT, 400+ Meadow Pipits W, & Barn Owl.
DUNGARVAN: Adult WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN now present between Cunnigar point & Dungarvan town.

Sun 1 Oct:
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Adult female RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHER ringed, LESSER WHITETHROAT & Barn Owl.
TRAMORE: 1 Grey Phalarope still present at Boating Lake.
N of LISMORE: 15-20 Crossbills.

SEPTEMBER 2023 (in progress)

Sat 30 Sep:
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Adult female RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHER (5th site record), Spotted Flycatcher & Whinchat.
DUNGARVAN: Adult WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN at Colligan River.

Fri 29 Sep:
DUNGARVAN: Adult WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN at Colligan River; a DOTTEREL flew over Ballyneety Bridge, further upriver; also a Kingfisher at Balyneety.
TRAMORE: 1 Grey Phalarope at Boating Lake.

Thurs 28 Sep:
HELVICK HEAD: 2 Balearic Shearwaters & 2 Storm Petrels (seawatch 11:15-15:00).
DUNGARVAN: Adult WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN at Colligan River, also an adult Mediterranean Gull there.
TRAMORE: 2 Grey Phalaropes at Boating Lake.
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 1st-yr Pied Flycatcher ringed.

Weds 27 Sep:
DUNGARVAN: Adult WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN at Colligan River.
N of LISMORE: Flock of 9-15 Crossbills present most days over the last week.

Tues 26 Sep:
DUNGARVAN: Moulting adult WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN (3rd county record) at Colligan River just off the Park Hotel; AMERICAN CLIFF SWALLOW (1st county record) flying W over town centre with House Martins & Swallows.
TRAMORE: 2 Grey Phalaropes (1 at the Boating Lake, 1 off seawall at Lisselan, Backstrand).

Mon 25 Sep:
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: PADDYFIELD WARBLER & BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER (2nd site record).
TRAMORE: 3 Grey Phalaropes (2 at the Boating Lake, 1 off seawall at Lisselan, Backstrand).
HELVICK HEAD: 2 Grey Phalaropes alighted on sea.

Sun 24 Sep:
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: PADDYFIELD WARBLER & TREE PIPIT.
HELVICK HEAD: 1 Balearic Shearwater, 1 Storm Petrel, 2 juvenile LONG-TAILED SKUAS, 17+ Arctic Skuas, 1 Pomarine Skua, 1 Great Skua & 1 Puffin (seawatch 12:55-18:00).

Sat 23 Sep:
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: PADDYFIELD WARBLER.
HELVICK HEAD: Grey Phalarope & MONARCH butterfly.

Fri 22 Sep:
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: PADDYFIELD WARBLER.
GARRARUS: Yellow Wagtail on beach.

Thurs 21 Sep:
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: PADDYFIELD WARBLER & Corncrake.
HELVICK HEAD: Pied Flycatcher.

Weds 20 Sep:
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: BLACK-HEADED BUNTING.
ARDMORE: 1 Arctic Skua & 1 Puffin W past Ardmore Head, Spotted Flycatcher near St Decklan's Well.

Tues 19 Sep:
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: PADDYFIELD WARBLER.
DUNGARVAN/CLONEA: Turtle Dove
at Ballinacourty golf-course.
HELVICK HEAD: 2 CORY'S SHEARWATERS, 1 'large' shearwater, juvenile SABINE'S GULL, 2 juvenile LONG-TAILED SKUAS, 11+ Arctic Skuas, 29 Manx Shearwaters & a Puffin.

Mon 18 Sep:
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: PADDYFIELD WARBLER, BLACK-HEADED BUNTING, Corncrake, Garden Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler, Pied Flycatcher & Whinchat.

Sun 17 Sep:
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: PADDYFIELD WARBLER & BLACK-HEADED BUNTING (both 1st Co Waterford records), 1st-yr Pied Flycatcher retrapped (from 9 Sep), 500+ House Martins feeding in foggy conditions.

Thurs 14 Sep:
HELVICK HEAD: Garden Warbler.

Weds 13 Sep:
HELVICK HEAD: Garden Warbler & Reed Warbler.
DUNGARVAN: Juvenile Spotted Redshank & juvenile Ruff at Killongford pools.
CLONEA BAY: 5+ Curlew Sandpipers at Ballinclamper.
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 1 CORY'S SHEARWATER W, Pied Flycatcher.

Tues 12 Sep:
BLACKWATER VALLEY: HOOPOE along road at Newport East.
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Whinchat, White Wagtail & 2 Pied Flycatchers.

Mon 11 Sep:
DRUM HILLS / OLD PARISH: Juvenile MONTAGU'S or PALLID HARRIER flying E.

Sun 10 Sep:
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Pied Flycatcher.
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 73 Brent Geese, Lisselan/Kilmacleague.
CLONEA BAY: 25 Brent Geese flying offshore, juvenile Curlew Sandpiper at Ballinclamper, juvenile Ruff at Ballinard, & many White Wagtails at both locations.

Sat 9 Sep:
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Flyover DOTTEREL & 2 Grasshopper Warblers, Sedge Warbler, 4 Blackcaps, Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaffs & 2 White Wagtails at Coolum valley; 1st-yr Pied Flycatcher ringed & 2 Whinchats elsewhere on Head.
CLONEA STRAND: Juvenile Curlew Sandpiper & several White Wagtails at Ballinclamper.
DUNGARVAN: Curlew Sandpiper & Kingfisher at Killongford estuary,.
HELVICK HEAD: Whinchat by high-road carpark.
COMERAGH MOUNTAINS: GOLDEN EAGLE & Red Kite .

Fri 8 Sep:
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: WRYNECK, Great Spotted Woodpecker (Coolum valley), Pied Flycatcher, 2 Whinchats, 2+ Reed Warblers (1 chalet, 1+ Coolum valley), 2 Whitethroats, 1 Willow Warbler & 10+ Wheatears.
DUNGARVAN: Azorean-type Yellow-legged Gull & adult Yellow-legged Gull at Ballyneety.
S/SW of HELVICK HEAD: 6 GREAT SHEARWATERS, 4+ 'large' shearwaters, 5 Sooty Shearwaters & 4+ Storm Petrels on pelagic boat-trip.

Thurs 7 Sep:
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 3 Whinchats, Pied Flycatcher, Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Reed Warblers, 6-8 Wheatears, Sedge Warbler, Willow Warber, 2 Whitethroats & Swift.
Near DUNGARVAN: Barn Owl.

Weds 6 Sep:
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: MONTAGU'S HARRIER (3rd or 4th Co Waterford record), Whinchat, Pied Flycatcher, 2 Reed Warblers, Whitethroat, 5 Wheatears, 2+ White Wagtails, 2 Knot & Great Spotted Woodpecker (latter flew up main lane & continued inland).
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 11+ Gadwall at Lisselan.
CLONEA BAY: 35 White Wagtails at Ballinclamper.
HELVICK HEAD: Spotted Flycatcher.
CAPPAGH: Long-eared Owl calling.

Tues 5 Sep:
COMERAGH MOUNTAINS: GOLDEN EAGLE still present.
CLONEA BAY: 7 Mediterranean Gulls & a White Wagtail at Ballinclamper.
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Spotted Flycatcher.

Sat 2 Sep:
WHITING BAY: Whinchat near E end.
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Hen Harrier.

Fri 1 Sep:
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Juvenile BLACK-WINGED STILT still present at Lisselan (since 31 Aug), also 3 Green Sandpipers & a Kingfisher there.
DUNGARVAN: PECTORAL SANDPIPER still present on the Cunnigar (since 31 Aug), also 2 Curlew Sandpipers there; Swift over Dungarvan town centre.