Bird reports April-May 2006

Waterford bird records, April-May 2006

record archives

See migrant lepidoptera page also (highlights below)

May 2006

Weds 31 May:

Nr KNOCKMAON BRIDGE (River Brickey): 2 singing Blackcaps.

Tues 30 May:

RAM HEAD: 9 Common Scoters flew past.

BOHADOON (nr Crohaun): 2 Spotted Flycatchers (in mature conifers), high densities of Whitethroats in young conifers (at least 7 singing males), and small numbers of Siskins.

KNOCKACAHARNA WOOD (south of Tooraneena): Hummingbird Hawk-moth.

Mon 29 May:

DUNGARVAN: A late (summering?) Brent Goose on the Cunnigar.

Sun 28 May:

WATERFORD CITY: Blackcap at St John's College.

RATHGORMUCK/CLONEA POWER area: 2 Blackcaps.

Sat 27 May:

HELVICK HEAD: 15 Storm Petrels & 2-3 Puffins.

Nr LISMORE: Male Hen Harrier between Lismore & the Vee, Jay at Ballyrafter Woods.

COMERAGH MOUNTAINS: At least 2 Woodcock roding & 2 Grasshopper Warblers singing in young forestry.

ANNESTOWN BOG: Blackcap.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Migrant moths included a Delicate.

Fri 26 May:

CORBALLY: Yellowhammer.

Thurs 25 May:

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: An Arctic Skua flew east; also migrant moths including a Delicate.

BALLSCANLAN WOODS: Long-eared Owl.

TALLOWBRIDGE/LISMORE area: Stock Dove pair, Spotted Flycatcher, total 18 adult Yellowhammers (singles & pairs).

KILLAHALY WOOD: 2 Blackcaps (also 1 near Cappoquin).

Weds 24 May:

Nr KILMACTHOMAS: Yellowhammer & 2 Dippers.

GORTNALAGHT WOOD (Lemybrien): 4 Blackcaps.

BOOLATIN (nr Farbreaga): Cuckoo.

TRAMORE TOWN: Striped Hawk-moth.

Tues 23 May:

MONAVULLAGH MOUNTAINS: Hen Harrier.

CROHAUN: Cuckoo, 7 Crossbills.

HELVICK HEAD: Porpoise.

Nr BUNMAHON: Little Egret along River Mahon.

Sun 21 May:

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 4 Pomarine Skuas flew east (1415-1455 hrs), Great Skua offshore.

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 23 Little Egrets.

Sat 20 May:

RAM HEAD: A Pomarine Skua flew west, also good numbers of Manx Shearwaters.

AGLISH area: Stock Dove, Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Blackcaps, & 3 Yellowhammers; also a Hummingbird Hawk-moth.

VILLIERSTOWN/DROMANA area: 2 Blackcaps.

OWENASHAD RIVER, N of Lismore: 2 Dippers (1 recently fledged) & a Blackcap.

CLONEA STRAND: 9 Whimbrel.

STRADBALLY: Dipper fledgling.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Migrant moths included 3 Striped Hawk-moths & 1 Delicate.

Sun 14 May:

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Spotted Flycatcher.

LOWRY BRIDGE/WHITESTOWN, nr Mothel: 7 Stock Doves, Jay, Spotted Flycatcher pair, 6 singing Blackcaps & a Yellowhammer.

Sat 13 May:

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 2 Turtle Doves & a Spotted Flycatcher.

GARRARUS: 100s of Manx Shearwaters circling & feeding offshore in evening, also 2 Great Northern Divers.

RAM HEAD: Also 100s of Manx Shearwaters offshore in evening, along with 2 Great Northern Divers, c.40 Common Dolphins & a Minke Whale.

BALLINVELLA, nr Lismore: 2 Spotted Flycatchers and numbers of Yellowhammers.

Fri 12 May 2005:

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 2nd-summer Glaucous Gull (1st known record for here), 2 Whimbrel, Sedge Warbler, Blackcap.

Nr TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Yellowhammer.

CURRAGHMORE area: Cuckoo, Jay, 12 Blackcaps (10 singing), Red Squirrel & Holly Blue butterfly.

Thurs 11 May 2006:

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Whimbrel, Turtle Dove, Sedge Warbler; also 2 Common Lizards.

MAHON BRIDGE to KILCLOONEY: Cuckoo, 2 Spotted Flycatchers & 6 singing Blackcaps.

COMERAGH MOUNTAINS: Hen Harrier.

Weds 10 May:

BALLYSHUNNOCK RESERVOIR: A late (summering?) adult Whooper Swan, 2 Great Crested Grebes & 2 Blackcaps.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 2+ Whimbrel.

Tues 9 May:

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Spotted Flycatcher, otherwise only single Whitethroat & Chiffchaff.

KILMACTHOMAS area: Spotted Flycatcher (nr Flahavan's Mill), Stock Dove, 5 singing Blackcaps, 3 Dippers & 4 Yellowhammers.

Sun 7 May:

Nr KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: Stock Dove, Yellowhammer.

POWERSKNOCK: Cuckoo, 2 Stock Doves, Blackcap

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 5 Whimbrel.

Sat 6 May:

TINNABINNA (nr Youghal Bridge): 13 Whimbrel, 2 Blackcaps (Tinnabinna Wood).

KILMALOO: Blackcap, 2 Yellowhammers.

DUNGARVAN: 31 Brent Geese at Kilminnin.

CLONEA STRAND/BALLINARD: 3 Great Northern Divers, 61 Brent Geese, including a dark-bellied Brent, 68 Whimbrel, 15 Knot & 60 Sandwich Terns.

Weds 3 May:

FERRY POINT: 5 Whimbrel.

Tues 2 May:

HELVICK HEAD: Spotted Flycatcher (first of year), small nos of Blackcaps & phylloscs; lots of Sandwich Terns and small nos of Common/Arctic Terns.

Mon 1 May:

CALISO BAY: 6 Whimbrel.

HELVICK HEAD to ARDMORE: Whitethroats at most locations along coast.

CLONEA STRAND: 74 Brent Geese, including a dark-bellied Brent, 14 Whimbrel & 66 Bar-tailed Godwit.

DUNGARVAN: 65 Brent Geese at Kilminnin.

RATHMOYLAN: Single Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, Blackcap & Yellowhammer.

April 2006

Sun 30 Apr:

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Swift.

Nr MOUNT CONGREVE: Jay & Swift.

BALLYGARRAN/LISSAHANE (W of Knockaderry): 2 Sedge Warblers, 2 Whitethroats (first of year), Blackcap & 3 Yellowhammers.

ANNESTOWN BOG: Whitethroat, 2 Blackcaps & 2 Sedge Warblers.

Sat 29 Apr:

RAM HEAD: Great Northern Diver, 12 Choughs.

BALLYQUIN STRAND: Shelduck nesting.

Nr KILMACTHOMAS: 4 singing Blackcaps just E & Nof town, Dipper just N of town, pair of Stock Doves & 2 Yellowhammers in Newtown area.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 3 Whimbrel, 5 Wheatears, Sedge Warbler, female Blackcap & 8 Willow Warblers.

Fri 28 Apr:

LITTLE ISLAND: Blackcap.

25-28 Apr:

MONAVULLAGH MOUNTAINS: Male & female Hen Harrier, 26-27 Apr. At Cruachan, Long-eared Owl, 26, 27 & 28 Apr; Grasshopper Warbler, 25 & 26 Apr; & 2 Cuckoos.

Fri 28 Apr:

LISMORE: Swifts seen.

Thurs 27 Apr:

CARRIGNAGOUR, nr LISMORE: Flock of 15-20 Crossbills.

Nr THE VEE: Female Hen Harrier.

BALLYDUFF: Yellowhammer.

DUNGARVAN: 2 Swifts (first of year) at Abbeyside.

STONEHOUSE (R. Suir): Common Sandpiper.

19-26 Apr:

EAST WATERFORD: Up to 2 Buzzards south of Waterford city - 1 on 19 & 25 Apr, 2 on 22 & 26 Apr.

Weds 26 Apr:

PAULSWORTH/BALLYQUIN: 2 Blackcaps singing.

Mon 24 Apr:

CARRIGNANOUR, nr LISMORE: Cuckoo.

Sun 23 Apr:

Nr LISMORE: Pair of Jays.

RAM HEAD: Otter.

BALLINARD: 2 Grasshopper Warblers. several Wheatears.

CLONEA STRAND: 22 Whimbrel.

BALLYSHUNNOCK RESERVOIR: 4 Great Crested Grebes, singing Blackcap; also an Otter.

SLIEVNAMONA (nr Ballinlough): Cuckoo.

BALLINLOUGH: Grasshopper Warbler & 2 Sedge Warblers.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Wheatear, 3 Willow Warblers & 2 Chiffchaffs.

Sat 22 Apr:

VARIOUS: Lots of Whimbrel & Willow Warblers, & small numbers of Red-throated Divers, along coast.

RAM HEAD: Minke Whale.

HELVICK HEAD: Yellow-legged Gull, 3 or 4 Grasshopper Warblers.

DUNGARVAN: Cuckoo at Ballynacourty, Shoveler in bay, Common Sandpiper at Ballyneety.

CLONEA: 2 Sedge Warblers.

BALLYVOYLE: Black Redstart.

CRUACHAN: 2 Cuckoos.

BALLINLOUGH/SLIEVENAMONA: Cuckoo.

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: 8 Common Sandpipers.

KILMEADEN POOLS: Green Sandpiper & 5 Wheatears.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Sedge Warbler, male Blackcap, 12 Willow Warblers, 3 Chiffchaffs & a Tree Sparrow.

Fri 20 Apr:

THE VEE: Crossbill pair on road, also heard at nearby Killballyboy Wood (Co Tipperary).

CARRONADAVDERG (Drum Hills): 2 Crossbills.

BALLYMACART: 2 singing Blackcaps.

Weds 18 Apr:

WHITING BAY: 1 Whimbrel.

Mon 17 Apr:

SUGAR LOAF ROCK: Blackcap singing.

BALLYHOO, nr Tramore Road: Dipper.

Sun 16 Apr:

WHITING BAY: 2 White Wagtails, 4 Wheatears.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 9 Willow Warblers, 1 Chiffchaff.

KILMURRIN/KNOCKANE area: 4 Yellowhammers

Sat 15 Apr:

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Merlin, Black Redstart, male Redstart, 3 Wheatears, 2 Grasshopper Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, 8 Goldcrests & good numbers of phylloscs (including 5 Chiffchaffs & 5 Willow Warblers ringed).

HELVICK HEAD: Male Pied Flycatcher.

Nr CLASHMORE: Blackcap singing along R. Lickey.

Nr YOUGHAL BRIDGE: 9 Crossbills flew over D'Loughtane Crossroads.

Fri 14 Apr:

GRALLAGH, R. LICKEY: Jay.

Thurs 13 Apr:

BALLINAMULT/TOORANEENA: Female Hen Harrier.

Mon 10 April:

ARDMORE: Tree Sparrow at a garden feeder.

Sun 9 April:

WHITING BAY: Jack Snipe, Red-throated Diver, 6 Sandwich Terns, 6 Sand Martins & a Wheatear.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 2 Willow Warblers.

BALLYSCANLAN HILLS: 4 Willow Warblers & 4 Chiffchaffs singing; also 4 Sand Martins & 50 Siskins.

VARIOUS LOCATIONS: Swallows at several sites, including Ram Head.

Sat 8 April:

CORRANASKEHA, nr TALLOW: Willow Warbler & 2 Chiffchaffs singing.

CASTLETOWN FEN: Snipe drumming, 2 Water Rails calling.

WATERFORD CITY: Chiffchaff singing, Ardkeen.

VARIOUS LOCATIONS: Swallows at several sites in west Waterford.

Tues 4 April:

BALLYDUFF: House Martin (1st reported), Barnawee; also Swallows in town.

BALLYDUFF: 2 Swallows.

Mon 3 April:

DUNGARVAN: ALPINE SWIFT over the town, early evening, also Swallows.

RAM HEAD: 4 Sandwich Terns, 16 Choughs.

Sat 1 April:

HELVICK HEAD: 3rd-winter Iceland Gull, Great Skua, lots of Manx Shearwaters, & 2 male Wheatears.

DUNGARVAN: 3 Sand Martins, also small numbers of Red-throated Divers & Sandwich Terns in bay.

CLONEA STRAND: 19 Great Northern Divers, 7 Sand Martins.

BUNMAHON: 2 Iceland Gulls (adult & 1st-winter).

BOATSTRAND: 3rd-winter Iceland Gull.

KILMEADEN: Green Sandpiper, 1 or 2 Water Pipits, 5-6 Sand Martins.

KILMACTHOMAS: Merlin.

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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; to report sightings of rarities to the national Birds of Ireland News Service (BINS), phone 01-8307364.

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