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Bird records January-March 2005

 
Waterford bird records, January-March 2005
 

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.
 

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Glaucous Gull, 1st(?)-winter, Helvick Head, 11 March 2005 © S. Nugent

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Ring-billed Gull, adult, Dungarvan, 6 March 2005 © C. Flynn

rbgull_ad_ballineety_mar05_10.jpg

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Black Brant, adult with pale-bellied Brent Geese, Dungarvan, 9 Feb 2005 © S. Bearhop

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Water Pipit, Kilmeaden pools, 23 Jan 2005 © C. Flynn

waterpipit_kilmeaden_17a_23jan2005.jpg

blackbrant_ad_dungarvan_22jan2005.jpg
Black Brant, adult, with light-bellied Brent, Dungarvan, 22 Jan 2005 © C. Flynn

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Iceland Gull, 1st-winter. Helvick pier, 22 Jan 2005 © C. Flynn

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Water Pipit, Kilmeaden pools, 12 Jan 2005 © C. Flynn

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Water Pipit, 12 Jan 2005 © C. Flynn

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Green Sandpiper, Brickey River (Dungarvan), 8 Jan 2005 © C. Flynn

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Curlew Sandpiper, Dungarvan, 8 Jan 2005 © C. Flynn

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Goosander, male, Ballyneety (Dungarvan), 8 Jan 2005 © C. Flynn

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Goosander, female, Ballyneety, 8 Jan 2005 © C. Flynn

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Brent Geese, including 'dark-bellied' ad (2nd from left), the Cunnigar, 4 Jan 2005 © M. Cowming

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Water Pipit, Kilmeaden Pools, 2 Jan 2005 © C. Flynn

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Note: Sightings listed here are reports, not necessarily authenticated records.  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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