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Bird records September-October 2005

 
Waterford bird records, September-October 2005
 

October 2005
 
Mon 31 Oct:
BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  *Western Bonelli's Warbler in the main gardens (2nd county & Brownstown record), also 2 Chiffchaffs & 170 Oystercatchers.
Near LISMORE:  Crossbills again visiting a garden here.
 
Sun 30 Oct:
DUNGARVAN:  1st-winter Grey Phalarope at Ballyneety bridge.
BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  3 Great Northern Divers & 6 Wigeon flew E during a 1-hr seawatch (0905-1005 hrs); on land, a Merlin & Chiffchaff.
 
Sat 29 Oct:
HELVICK HEAD:  6 Manx Shearwaters, a Grey Phalarope, 3 juvenile Long-tailed Skuas, 7 Arctic Skuas, 2 Pomarine Skuas, a Great Skua, 2 juv Sabine's Gulls, 2nd-winter Mediterranean Gull, 1st-w Little Gull & a Little Auk passed during c.4 hrs of seawatching (1000-1430 hrs).
 
Fri 28 Oct:
HELVICK HEAD:  Sabine's Gull, and a Glaucous or Iceland Gull.
CLONEAD:  Curlew Sandpiper at Ballinclamper.
Near LISMORE (Vee road):  Crossbills present in a garden today.
 
Weds 26 Oct:
EAST WATERFORD:  Barn Owl seen near western outskirts of Waterford city.
 
Sun 23 Oct:
BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  Merlin, Black Redstart, 2 female Blackcaps, 2 Chiffchaffs & 60 Redpolls.
 
Sat 22 Oct:
DUNGARVAN:  Barnacle Goose, adult Yellow-legged Gull & 2nd-winter Mediterranean Gull at the Cunnigar;  Great Northern Diver in the bay.
BALLINARD (BALLYNACOURTY POINT):  Purple Sandpiper, 6 Black Redstarts & a Wheatear.
BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  Female Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaffs & 8 Goldcrests.
 
Fri 21 Oct:
HELVICK HEAD:  2 Merlins & a Ring Ouzel.
 
Thurs 20 Oct:
BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  40 Siskins, 5 Chiffchaffs & lots of tits in the valley.
HELVICK HEAD:  Merlin; also a Fin Whale.
Near LISMORE:  2 Red-legged Partridges, presumably birds bred & released for hunting. (The species has also been released in east Waterford.)
 
Tues 18 Oct:
HELVICK HEAD:  Merlin, Black Redstart, & good numbers of Blackcaps, Robins, tits & Siskins.
 
Sun 16 Oct:
BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  Yellow-browed Warbler, unstreaked Acrocephalus (probably Reed Warbler), Merlin, Wheatear, 17 Redwings, 6 Blackcaps (4 males + 2 females), 11 Chiffchaffs, 13+ Redpolls & small numbers of Siskins.
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  278 Brent Geese.
 
Sat 15 Oct:
BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  Hawfinch in the "valley" (2nd county record - part of an influx to Irish south coast today), Redwing, 3 female Blackcaps, 6 Chiffchaffs, Siskin & 2 Redpolls.
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  4 Sandwich Terns off Saleen.
WATERFORD CITY:  51 Collared Doves at the Folly.
DUNGARVAN:  Ruff & 1st-winter Mediterranean Gull at Ballyneety.
HELVICK HEAD:  Small numbers of Blackcaps & Siskins.
 
Fri 14 Oct:
BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  Merlin, 5 Chiffchaffs, 9 Goldcrests, 30+ Redpolls, 150+ Linnets; also a Jay found dead (1st record for Brownstown).
DUNGARVAN:  Barnacle Goose (present since a week earlier) & 167 Brent Geese.
BALLYMACARBRY:  Red Squirrel.
 
Thurs 13 Oct:
BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  Long-eared Owl, 2 Merlins, Wheatear, male Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaffs, 8 Goldcrests, 23 Redpolls, & an obvious arrival of Great Tits (22 including 19 ringed) & Coal Tits (12).  Also a Porpoise offshore.
ARDOGINNA, nr Ardmore:  Merlin.
 
Weds 12 Oct:
ARDMORE HEAD:  Female Blackcap & 3 Chiffchaffs.
HACKETTSTOWN, ne Mine Head:.  Migrant Hawker.
BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  250+ Skylarks, 7 Chiffchaffs, Willow Warbler, 7 Goldcrests & a Redpoll.
 
Tues 11 Oct:
BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  Female Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaffs & 2 Redpolls.
 
Mon 10 Oct:
HELVICK HEAD:  2 Grey Phalaropes & single Sooty Shearwater, Storm Petrel, Great Skua, Pomarine Skua & Arctic Skua passed during a 1.5-hr seawatch (1030-1200 hrs).
BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  Lapland Bunting, male + female Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaffs; a Great Northern Diver flew E during a 1-hr seawatch (0945-1045 hrs).
 
Sun 9 Oct:
Near LISMORE (Vee road):  c.20 Crossbills visiting a garden over the last week.
CHEEKPOINT:  4 Jays in a garden here (where up to 2 more usual).
 
Sat 8 Oct:
BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  1st-year Red-breasted Flycatcher in the main gardens(2nd or 3rd county record & 1st for Brownstown), 2 Crossbills, Wheatear, female Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaffs, Willow Warbler, 6 Goldcrests, 18 Redpolls, 4 Siskins; also a Hummingbird Hawk-moth.
BALLYMACAW:  Clouded Yellow butterfly & Migrant Hawker dragonfly.
HELVICK HEAD:  Redstart, Garden Warbler & 4 Blackcaps.
DUNGARVAN:  Ruff at Ballyneety.
 
Thurs 7 Oct:
BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  Long-eared Owl, female/imm Hen Harrier, 70+ Skylarks, Wheatear, female Blackcap, Willow Warbler, 8 Chiffchaffs, 12 Goldcrests, 12 Choughs & 20+ Redpolls.
 
Weds 6 Oct:
TRAMORE BAY:  Adult Yellow-legged Gull in NE corner of bay, also 22 Sanderling & 47 Sandwich Terns.
BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  Wheatear, 6 Chiffchaffs, 6 Goldcrests, Spotted Flycatcher, 20+ Redpolls & a Migrant Hawker.
RATHMOYLAN:  Female Blackcap.
Nr PORTALLY:  15 Collared Doves.
 
Tues 4 Oct:
BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  15+ Redpolls & 47 Goldfinches.
DUNGARVAN:  Curlew Sandpiper, 10 Greenshank & 275 Redshank at Ballyneety, 2 Common Sandpipers at Barnawee.
 
Mon 3 Oct:
BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  180+ Swallows & 170+ House Martins, mainly flying W, also male Blackcap, 22 Redpolls & 2 Siskins.
BALLYMACAW:  200+ Swallows flew E.
 
Sun 2 Oct:
DUNGARVAN:  1st-winter Lesser Yellowlegs still at Ballyneety (Colligan estuary), also a Curlew Sandpiper & a Blackcap there.
BALLINCLAMPER/BALLINARD (BALLYNACOURTY POINT):  Whimbrel & Arctic Skua.
BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  Crossbill, 10 Redpolls & a Siskin.
 
Sat 1 Oct:
DUNGARVAN:  Ruff, 1200 Black-tailed Godwit & 52 Knot at Ballyneety.
ARDMORE/CALISO BAY area:  Merlin, 2 Wheatears & 3 Blackcaps.
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  155 Black-tailed Godwit & 300 Redshank (including a leucistic or partially albinistic individual) at Ballinattin.
BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  145 Skylarks.

September 2005
 
Last updated 1 Nov 2005
 
Thurs 29 Sept:
DUNGARVAN:  Lesser Yellowlegs still present at Ballyneety, also a Curlew Sandpiper.
 
Weds 28 Sept:
DUNGARVAN:  1st-winter Lesser Yellowlegs at Ballyneety, opposite the Mart (2nd county record), just north of the Park Hotel.
KILMEADEN POOLS:  Female or immature Hen Harrier.
 
Mon 26 Sept:
HELVICK HEAD:  2 Spotted Flycatchers.
 
Sun 25 Sept:
HELVICK HEAD:  2 Spotted Flycatchers.
 
Sat 24 Sept:
HELVICK HEAD:  Whinchat, 2 Spotted Flycatchers & 11 Siskin.
DUNGARVAN:  Ruff, Spotted Redshank, 1st-winter Mediteranean Gull & Kingfisher at Ballyneety.
 
Fri 23 Sept:
DUNGARVAN:  Curlew Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank, Green Sandpiper, 3 Common Sandpipers, 2nd-winter Mediterranean Gull, Kingfisher & 2 White Wagtails at Ballyneety.
 
Thurs 22 Sept:
HELVICK HEAD:  Balearic Shearwater, Pomarine Skua & 7 Puffins past during a 1.5-hr seawatch.
RIVER NIRE, BALLYMACARBRY:  1 Kingfisher.
BALLYSHUNNOCK RESERVOIR:  3 Little Egrets & a Kingfisher.
 
Weds 21 Sept:
DUNGARVAN:  2 Curlew Sandpipers, a Ruff, Spotted Redshank, 2 Common Sandpipers, 2 Kingfishers & a  Guillemot at Ballyneety.
 
Tues 20 Sept:
DUNGARVAN:  3 Curlew Sandpipers & 4 Common Sandpipers at Ballyneety.
 
Mon 19 Sept:
HELVICK HEAD:  2 Storm Petrels W & an Arctic Skua E (seawatch 1500-1600 & 1750-1920 hrs).
 
Sun 18 Sept:
BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  c.10 Common Scoters flew W.
TRAMORE: Merlin at sandhills, 60 Sanderling & 2 dead Common Porpoises on the beach, & 2 Whimbrel at Clohernagh.
CLONEA:  23 Wigeon, Ruff & c.30 White Wagtails at Ballinclamper.
DUNGARVAN:  At Ballyneety, Merlin, 3 Curlew Sandpipers, Ruff, 4 Common Sandpipers & 2 Kingfishers.
 
Sat 17 Sept:
BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  150 Meadow Pipits, single Sedge Warbler & Whitethroat, 10 Chiffchaffs, 24 Choughs, 2 Siskins, Redpoll & 52 Goldfinches; also 3 Migrant Hawkers & a Hummingbird Hawk-moth.
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  28 Brent Geese off Saleen.
DUNGARVAN:  At Ballyneety,  single Spotted Redshank, RuffCurlew Sandpiper, 3 Common Sandpipers & 2 Kingfishers.
HACKETSTOWN, nr Mine Head:  Blackcap.
BALLYMACART:  Blackcap.
CALISO BAY:  Reed Warbler & Whitethroat.
 
Thurs 15 Sept:
DUNGARVAN:  2 Curlew Sandpipers at Western Bay.
 
Weds 14 Sept:
BALLYCANVAN (nr Jack Meade's pub):  A flock of 4 or 5 Hen Harriers was seen being mobbed by Rooks.
 
Tues 13 Sept:
HELVICK HEAD:  Balearic Shearwater & 2 Sooty Shearwaters W during an evening seawatch (1810-1945 hrs); also 430+ Herring Gulls at trawlers.
CLONEA STRAND:  Juvenile Ruff at Ballinclamper.
 
Sun 11 Sept:
BELLE LAKE:  Juvenile Reed Warbler & 13 Sedge Warblers ringed, Water Rail heard.
BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  Wryneck still present, 250+ Swallows, 30+ House Martins, 10 Wheatears, 9 Willow Warblers, & single Whinchat, Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, Pied Flycatcher & Tree Sparrow; also 2 Migrant Hawkers.
DUNGARVAN:  An owl species, probably Short-eared Owl, at the Cunnigar.
 
Sat 10 Sept:
HELVICK HEAD:  1 Red-throated Diver flew past.
DUNGARVAN:  3 Curlew Sandpipers, 2 White Wagtails & 30+ Wheatears at the Cunnigar; Spotted Redshank, Common Sandpiper & 1000+ Black-tailed Godwits at Ballyneety.
CLONEA STRAND:  2 Curlew Sandpipers & a White Wagtail.
BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  Wryneck still present (since 3 Sept), also a late Swift, 70+ House Martins, 70+ Meadow Pipits, 8 Wheatears & a  Pied Flycatcher.
 
Weds 7 Sept:
HELVICK HEAD:  Storm Petrel.
 
Tues 6 Sept:
DUNGARVAN:  50+ Wheatears along the Cunnigar.
 
Mon 5 Sept:
HELVICK HEAD:  Sooty Shearwater, c.300 Manx Shearwaters, 2 Arctic Skuas and a juvenile Little Gull passed during during a brief seawatch (2000-2030 hrs).
CLONEA STRAND:  Curlew Sandpiper.
 
Sun 4 Sept:
BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  On land, single Wryneck, Whinchat, Pied Flycatcher & Willow Warbler; at sea, 2 Balearic Shearwaters, a Sooty Shearwater, 283 Manx Shearwaters and a late Swift flew E during a 1-hr seawatch (1025-1125 hrs).
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  61 Little Egrets.
HELVICK HEAD:  2000+ Manx Shearwaters, 3 Sooty Shearwaters, 2 Arctic Skuas, a Great Skua & a juvenile Little Gull passed W during a 2.5-hr seawatch (0830-1100 hrs).
 
Sat 3 Sept:
HELVICK HEAD:  1500+ Manx Shearwaters, Common Scoter, Great Skua, juvenile Black Tern & 2 Puffins passed during a 2-hr morning seawatch.
WHITING BAY:  Curlew Sandpiper & 2 Mediterranean Gulls (adult + juvenile).
BROWNSTOWN HEAD:  3 Mute Swans flew E (few if any previous sightings here), 1 Collared Dove, 35+ Meadow Pipits, 15 Stonechats & a Willow Warbler; also a Migrant Hawker.
 
Fri 2 Sept:
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND:  An Osprey was watched fishing off Saleen.
.click below for larger images

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Western Bonelli's Warbler, Brownstown Head, 31 Oct 2005 © P. Archer

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Grey Phalarope, 1st-winter, Dungarvan, 30 Oct 2005 © C. Flynn

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Curlew Sandpiper with Turnstones, Ballinclamper, 28 Oct 2005 © D. Clarke

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Crossbill, male, nr Lismore, 28 Oct 2005 © A. Malcolm

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Redpolls, Brownstown Head, 23 Oct 2005 - note greyer-headed bird on right © P.M. Walsh

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Barnacle Goose, Dungarvan, 22 Oct 2005 © C. Flynn

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Yellow-legged Gull, adult, Dungarvan, 22 Oct 2005 © C. Flynn

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Mediterranean Gull, 2nd-winter, Dungarvan, 22 Oct 2005 © C. Flynn

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Jay, adult, found dead Brownstown Head, 14 Oct 2005 © P.M. Walsh

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Redpoll, adult male, Brownstown Head, 13 Oct 2005 © P.M. Walsh

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Crossbill, nr Lismore, Oct 2005 © A. Malcolm

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Red-breasted Flycatcher, Brownstown Head, 8 Oct 2005 © P.M. Walsh

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Hummingbird Hawk-moth, Brownstown Head, 8 Oct 2005 © P.M. Walsh

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Sparrowhawk, imm female, Brownstown Head, 2 Oct 2005 © P.M. Walsh

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Siskin, male, Brownstown Head, 2 Oct 2005 © P.M. Walsh

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Lesser Yellowlegs, 1st-winter, Dungarvan, 28 Sept-2 Oct © C. Flynn

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Lesser Yellowlegs, Dungarvan, 28 Sept 2005 © D. Clarke

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Migrant Hawker dragonfly, male, Brownstown Head, 17 Sept 2005 © P.M. Walsh

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Wryneck, Brownstown Head, 4 Sept 2005 © C. Flynn

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Note:  Sightings listed here are reports, not necessarily authenticated records.  * = species for which the Irish Rare Birds Committee currently requires 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; to report sightings of rarities to the national  Birds of Ireland News Service (BINS), phone 01-8307364.

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