March 2005
Mon 28 March:
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 2 Willow Warblers, 3 Chiffchaffs, 4 Goldcrests.
DUNMORE EAST: 1 Purple Sandpiper at the pier.
Sun 27 March:
KILMEADEN POOLS: 1 Water Pipit,
1 Green Sandpiper.
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Female Blackcap, 7 Willow Warblers, 4 Chiffchaffs, 1 Goldcrest.
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 2 Sandwich Terns off Saleen.
Sat 26 March:
West of KILMEADEN: 24 Waxwings roughly
a half mile west of the Long Haul pub, on main Cork-Waterford road, several miles west of Kilmeaden.
WHITING BAY: 1 Little Egret, 1 Wheatear.
ARDMORE HEAD: 1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Chiffchaff.
HELVICK HEAD: Single Sandwich Tern, Swallow, Black
Redstart & Chiffchaff.
BALLINARD/BALLYNACOURTY POINT: 16 Sandwich Terns, c.25 Rock Pipits.
TRAMORE BAY: 2+ Sandwich Terns.
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 1 Willow Warbler.
Thurs 24 March:
KILMEADEN POOLS: Adult-winter Little Gull.
Weds 23 March:
DUNGARVAN: 1 Swallow over the town centre - first county sighting
this spring.
Tues 22 March:
HELVICK HEAD: 1 Black Redstart,
1 Wheatear.
BALLINARD/BALLYNACOURTY POINT: 11 Purple Sandpipers, 1 Whimbrel.
Sun 20 March:
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 7 Chiffchaffs, 4 Goldcrests.
TRAMORE BOATING LAKE: 85 Brent Geese, 1 Little Egret.
CLONEA STRAND: Adult dark-bellied Brent Goose +
260 light-bellied Brent.
Sat 19 March:
HELVICK HEAD: 1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Black Redstart,
1 Wheatear, 2 Chiffchaffs.
BALLINARD/BALLYNACOURTY POINT 1 Chiffchaff.
CLONEA STRAND: 2 Whimbrels.
CLONEA to ANNESTOWN: 16 Wheatears.
Nr BUNMAHON: 13+ Sand Martins about 1 mile inland.
BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 1 Chiffchaff.
Fri 18 March:
KILMEADEN POOLS: Both Water Pipits still present,
now moulting to summer plumage.
WATERFORD CITY: 4 or 5 Waxwings at Collins Avenue,
Dunmore Road.
Thurs 17 March:
WHITING BAY: 1 Black Redstart.
BALLYMACART: 1 Chiffchaff.
HELVICK HEAD: 1 Black Redstart, female Blackcap.
Sun 13 March:
CLONEA STRAND: Adult dark-bellied Brent
Goose.
DUNGARVAN: 165 Grey Plover, 210 Knot & an early Sandwich Tern, at the
Cunnigar.
WATERFORD CITY: Chiffchaff singing at Ballinakill, nr King's Channel.
Sat 12 March:
BALLYVOONEY COVE: 3 Great Northern Divers & 4 Red-throated
Divers, 1 Chiffchaff.
BALLYQUINN: 2 Red-throated Divers.
ANNESTOWN: 1 Chiffchaff.
BALLYSHUNNOCK RESERVOIR: 47 Whooper Swans.
Fri 11 March:
HELVICK HEAD: 1st-/2nd-winter Glaucous
Gull.
Sun 6 March:
DUNGARVAN: Male Goosander, adult
Ring-billed Gull & 1 Common Sandpiper at Ballyneety; 1 Black Redstart
at Barnawee.
CLONEA/BALLINARD: 3 Red-throated Divers, 176 Brent Geese; 1 Chiffchaff at Ballinard.
WATERFORD CITY: An early Chiffchaff singing near King's Channel
/ Ballinakill.
Sat 5 March:
TRAMORE BOATING LAKE: 116 Brent Geese (highest count ever here?).
Thurs 3 March:
COOLFIN/DERRIGAL: 1 Pink-footed Goose &
c.130 Greylag Geese at Derrigal marshes.
BALLYSHUNNOCK RESERVOIR: 2 Great Crested Grebes, 51 Whooper Swans, 35 Tufted
Duck.
February 2005
Updated 24 March 2005
Sun 27 Feb:
DUNGARVAN: 1 Black Redstart &
1 Chiffchaff at Barnawee; 11 Choughs at Ballynacourty pier.
CLONEA STRAND: 1 Purple Sandpiper & 1 Chiffchaff at Ballinclamper.
BALLYDWAN / BUNMAHON / BOATSTRAND-ANNESTOWN: 6 Red-throated Divers, 1 Great Northern
Diver.
ANNESTOWN BOG: 1 Little Egret.
KILMEADEN POOLS: 1 Water Pipit, 1 Green
Sandpiper, 42 Moorhens, 1Water Rail, 2 Choughs.
KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: 11 Tufted Duck, 3 Goldeneye.
BALLYSHUNNOCK RESERVOIR: 26 Whooper Swans, 25 Tufted Duck.
COOLFIN/DERRIGAL: 230 Greylag Geese & 1 Pink-footed
Goose at Derrigal Cross-roads; 87 Cormorants at Coolfin (dusk tree-roost); 1 Green Sandpiper above
Clodiagh bride.
TIBBEROUGHNEY (Co Kilkenny): 5 Little Egrets, 45 Whooper & 27 Mute
Swans.
Sat 26 Feb:
HELVICK/BALLYNAGAUL: 2 Red-throated Divers, 1 Common Scoter,
1 Glaucous Gull.
DUNGARVAN: 1 Common Sandpiper at Ballyneety.
WHITING BAY: 2 Red-throated Divers, 1 Little Egret, 16 Brent
Geese, 18 Sanderling.
CAMPHIRE (R. BRIDE): 77 Whooper
Swans.
Weds 23 Feb:
DUNGARVAN: Male Black Redstart at Barnawee railway-bridge.
Tues 22 Feb:
KILMEADEN POOLS: 2 Water Pipits
still present.
Sun 20 Feb:
WATERFORD CITY: 12 Waxwings at Abbey
Park, Ferrybank.
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND (I-WeBS count): Totals included 14 Little
Egrets, 34 Mute Swans, 751 light-bellied Brent Geese, 1 adult dark-bellied Brent (at boating lake),
44 Shelduck, 99 Wigeon, 492 Oystercatcher, 127 Grey Plover, 4-5000 Golden Plover, 774 Curlew, 85 Black-tailed Godwit,
157 Bar-tailed Godwit, 70 Knot, 20 Sanderling, 206 Redshank (full details). Also, 1 Merlin.
Sat 19 Feb:
WHITING BAY: 1 Snow Bunting.
WATERFORD CITY: Female Blackcap.
Thurs 17 Feb:
DUNGARVAN (I-WeBS count): Totals included 60 Great Crested
Grebes, 9 Little Egrets, 632 Brent Geese, 257 Shelduck, 253 Wigeon, 343 Teal, 1 Common Scoter, 17 Goldeneye, 80 Ringed
Plover, 2900 Golden Plover, 284 Grey Plover, 241 Knot, 101 Sanderling, 2214 Dunlin, 32 Black-tailed Godwit, 1038 Bar-tailed
Godwit, 1 Whimbrel (nr Ballynagaul), 860 Redshank, 23 Greenshank, 1 Common Sandpiper (Ballyneety), 149 Turnstone (full details).
CLONEA STRAND: 4 Great Northern & 6 Red-throated Divers,
157 Brent Geese (additional to Dungarvan birds), 4 Black Guillemots.
Weds 16 Feb:
WATERFORD CITY: Male Blackcap.
Sun 6 Feb:
DUNGARVAN: Adult Black Brant at
the Sports Centre, 1 Merlin at Barnawee, 2 'north-eastern' Chiffchaffs among
a total of 5+ Chiffchaffs at Knockanpower Lower.
HELVICK HEAD: Adult Yellow-legged Gull, 1st-winter
Iceland Gull.
Sat 5 Feb:
DUNGARVAN: 3 Goosanders at Ballyneety, 1 'north-eastern' Chiffchaff at Knockanpower Lower, nr Ballynagaul.
Thurs 3 Feb:
GRANNAGH, nr Waterford city: 7 Waxwings at Dawn
Meats.
Weds 2 Feb:
DUNGARVAN: 1st-winter Glaucous Gull.
January 2005
Updated 20 March 2005.
Mon 24 Jan:
BALLYMACARBRY: 1 Hen Harrier.
Sun 23 Jan:
DUNMORE EAST: At least 3 Glaucous Gulls, and 2 Mute Swans still present.
KILMEADEN POOLS: 1 Water Pipit.
DUNGARVAN: Male + female Goosander
at Ballyneety.
Sat 22 Jan:
HELVICK HEAD: Adult Yellow-legged Gull,
1st-winter Glaucous & 1st-w Iceland Gull.
DUNGARVAN: Adult Black Brant at
Sports Centre; male Goosander & 1 Common Sandpiper at Ballyneety; female Common
Scoter & 1 Chiffchaff at Ballynagaul.
BALLINARD (BALLYNACOURTY POINT): 1 Purple Sandpiper, 1 Chiffchaff.
BALLYVOONEY COVE: 1 Common Porpoise.
Near CAPPAGH: 2 Little Egrets.
BLACKWATER CALLOWS: 2 Otters - singly at Lismore
and Ballyduff.
WATERFORD HARBOUR (PASSAGE EAST TO CREADAN HEAD) (I-WeBS count): Totals
included 39 Great Crested Grebes, 133 Brent Geese, 1 Little Egret, 1195 Oystercatcher, 94 Bar-tailed Godwit, 10 Knot, 11
Sanderling, 1150 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 2 Glaucous Gulls (1st-w & 2nd-w at Fornaght Strand).
Fri 21 Jan:
DUNGARVAN (I-WeBS count): Totals included 6 Great Northern
Divers, 42 Great Crested Grebes, 948 light-bellied Brent Geese (possibly a record count for here), an adult dark-bellied Brent, 330 Shelduck, 182 Wigeon, 289 Teal, 30 Red-breasted Mergansers, 789 Oystercatcher,
4750 Golden Plover, 326 Grey Plover, 403 Knot, 98 Sanderling, 5050 Dunlin, 137 Snipe, 259 Black-tailed Godwit, 868 Bar-tailed
Godwit, 951 Redshank, 23 Greenshank, 151 Turnstone (full details).
Thurs 20 Jan:
DUNGARVAN: 2 Goosanders (male +
female) at Ballyneety.
WATERFORD CITY: 9 Waxwings at
Collin's Avenue.
[NEW ROSS, CO WEXFORD: 6 Waxwings in grounds
of the Brandon House Hotel - not Co Waterford but not too far from Waterford city...]
Sun 16 Jan:
DUNGARVAN: 1 Merlin at Ballyneety.
ANNESTOWN: 2 Chiffchaffs.
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND (I-WeBS count): Totals included 1 Great
Northern Diver, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 12 Little Egrets, c.525 Brent Geese, 31 Shelduck, 2 male Pintail, 267 Oystercatcher,
140 Grey Plover, c.650 Dunlin, 35 Knot, 35 Sanderling, 530 Black-tailed Godwits, 300 Bar-tailed Godwits, 261 Redshank (full details).
DUNMORE EAST: At least 2 Glaucous Gulls, also 2 Mute Swans on the sea.
14-15 Jan:
CO. WATERFORD: Total of 231 Whooper Swans at four locations,
plus at least a further 271 at adjacent locations in Cos Cork and Kilkenny (details below).
Sat 15 Jan:
HELVICK HEAD: 2 Common Porpoises.
DUNGARVAN: Adult 'dark-bellied' Brent Goose
off the Sports Centre.
COOLFIN/DERRIGAL: 1 Green Sandpiper &
2 Little Egrets above Clodiagh Bridge; 6 Whooper Swans, only 7 Greylag Geese.
FIDDOWN/TIBBEROUGHNEY: 37 Whooper Swans [on Kilkenny
side].
BALLINLOUGH: 5 Whooper Swans, 1 Water Rail.
KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: 1 Great Crested Grebe, 11 Tufted Duck, 89 Mallard.
Fri 14 Jan:
CAMPHIRE (R. BRIDE): 71 Whooper Swans.
BLACKWATER CALLOWS: Whooper Swans counts - 22 at Towers (nr
Lismore), 198 at Ballyneroon (west of Ballyduff) [plus a further 234 at Kilmurry, along Co Cork section of Blackwater].
Wed 12 Jan:
KILMEADEN POOLS: 2 Water Pipits,
1 Rock Pipit (rare inland).
Sun 9 Jan:
TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 2 Great Northern Divers at Saleen.
Sat 8 Jan:
CLONEA / BALLYNACOURTY POINT: 6 Purple Sandpipers at Ballinard
/ Ballinclamper.
CLONEA to DUNGARVAN HARBOUR: 30+ Great Northern Divers.
DUNGARVAN: Black Brant (nigricans
subspecies of Brent Goose) & dark-bellied Brent (bernicla subspecies) with 600+
pale-bellied Brent at the Sports Centre near the town; 1 Black Guillemot off Ballynagaul pier; 7 Chiffchaffs at
Knockanpower Lower, nr Ballynagaul; 1 Green Sandpiper along the Brickey River; 1 Curlew
Sandpiper in Western Bay; 2 Goosanders (male + female) &
1 Common Sandpiper at Ballyneety.
HELVICK HEAD: 1 Common Scoter, 1 Black Guillemot.
Thurs 6 Jan:
WATERFORD CITY: Male Blackcap at another garden site.
Tues 4 Jan:
DUNGARVAN: Adult 'dark-bellied' Brent Goose
(subspecies bernicla) at the Cunnigar.
Sun 2 Jan:
KILMEADEN POOLS: 2 Water Pipits still present.
HELVICK HEAD: 1 Black-throated Diver, 2 Great
Northern & 1 Red-throated Diver (also 2 Red-throats in Dungarvan Bay).
DUNGARVAN TOWN: 2 Waxwings at Rushden Close.
CLONEA STRAND: 2 Great Northern Divers, c.300 Brent Geese, 47 Ringed Plover,
34 Sanderling; 2 Chiffchaffs nr Ballinclamper car-park.
WATERFORD CITY: Male Blackcap ringed in a garden.
Sat 1 Jan:
DUNGARVAN: 2 Curlew Sandpipers off Industrial
Estate/Stafford Miller area; 1st-winter Glaucous Gull off the Sports Centre near the town; at least 10 Chiffchaffs at the oyster factory, Knockanpower Lower (nr Ballynagaul).
HELVICK HEAD: Common Scoter, 2 Black Redstarts.
