Co Waterford bird records Nov-Dec 2007

Waterford bird records November-December 2007

(details subject to verification or correction)

older records - archive

See migrant Lepidoptera page also (highlights below)

December 2007

Mon 31 Dec:

DUNGARVAN: 2 CATTLE EGRETS still present, but south of Killongford Estuary, at Ballyharrahan (X247895) left of the road to Helvick; Dark-bellied Brent Goose again at CBS school field.

Sun 30 Dec:

RAM HEAD: Great Skua, 4 Red-throated Divers & 2 Fin Whales.

Nr THE VEE: 4 Crossbills just south (on Waterford side).

DUNGARVAN: At least 1 CATTLE EGRET still present near Killongford.

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND (I-WeBS count): Totals included 906 Brent Geese, 22 Little Grebes, 355 Black-tailed Godwits, 346 Knot, a Long-tailed Duck, &, at boating lake, an adult Ring-billed Gull & 1st-winter Mediterranean Gull; also a Merlin.

TRAMORE BAY: 3 Red-throated Divers.

Sat 29 Dec:

DUNGARVAN: *2 CATTLE EGRETS in fields north of Killongford Estuary; female Eider off Ballynacourty Pier; Merlin at Ballyneety; Dark-bellied Brent Goose at CBS school field.

CLONEA STRAND: Whimbrel, 2 Purple Sandpipers & 7 Great Northern Divers.

Fri 28 Dec:

VILLIERSTOWN QUAY (lower Blackwater): Otter.

Thurs 27 Dec:

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: Green Sandpiper at Clohernagh, opposite Murphy's Bar; 53 Knot near the dump.

DUNMORE EAST: 4 Red-throated Divers & 5 Purple Sandpipers.

Tues 25 Dec:

GARRARUS: *CATTLE EGRET (potentially 1st county record), present up to 2 January 2008.

RAM HEAD: 10 Red-throated Divers, a Fin Whale & 60+ Common Dolphins.

Mon 24 Dec:

BALLYLEMON: Male Blackcap in garden; also Jays in Ballylemon Wood recently.

Sun 23 Dec:

BALLINVELLA (R. Bride): Water Rail & 2 Jays.

Sat 22 Dec:

BALLINVELLA (R. Bride): 2 Jays, a Blackcap & a Chiffchaff.

Weds 19 Dec:

DUNGARVAN (I-WeBS count): Totals included 1000+ Brent Geese, 31 Great Crested Grebes, 7 Red-throated & 3 Great Northern Divers; 7 Shoveler off the sports centre; Common Sandpiper at Barnawee.

CLONEA STRAND: 11 Red-throated & 5 Great Northern Divers, 230 light-bellied Brent Geese & an adult dark-bellied Brent.

Sat 15 Dec:

TRAMORE BOATING LAKE: Adult Ring-billed Gull.

DERRIGAL, nr Coolfin: Adult White-fronted Goose.

DUNGARVAN: Adult Mediterranean Gull at Barnawee.

BRICKEY RIVER, nr Dungarvan: Kingfisher, Dipper & Water Rail between Twomile & Knockmaon bridges.

LOWER BLACKWATER area: 2 Otters fishing below Dromana House; 2 Hen Harriers, and a Common Seal resting on sandbank, at Newport; 200+ Whooper Swans at Camphire; large flock of Siskins at Ballyphilip East; several hundred Fieldfares & Redwings in an orchard at Bawnlaur.

BLACKWATER CALLOWS: Male Shoveler & 20 Whooper Swans near the Towers, with large numbers of Wigeon, Teal & Black-tailed Godwit; Common Sandpiper at Ballyduff & 40-50 Whooper Swans west of Ballyduff.

Mon 10 Dec:

RAM HEAD: At least 2 Fin Whales, also 2 Porpoises and c150 Common Dolphins - see IWDG website article.

Sat 8 Dec:

DUNGARVAN: Kingfisher at Devonshire Bridge.

Weds 5 Dec:

BALLYRAFTER WOOD, LISMORE: Several Jays & an unseasonal Red Admiral.

Sun 2 Dec:

LISNAKILL CROSS (nr Kilmeaden): Brambling with large flock of Chaffinches.

TOURIG ESTUARY (nr Youghal): Whimbrel on Waterford side.

Sat 1 Dec:

BALLYNACOURTY POINT: Merlin at lighthouse.

DUNGARVAN: Common Sandpiper at Barnawee, 6 Shoveler off pitch & putt course.

HELVICK HEAD: Merlin, Black Redstart & a Porpoise.

RINCREW (Tourig/Blackwater estuary): 2nd-winter (& probable 1st-winter) Yellow-legged Gull & an intermedius-type Lesser Black-backed Gull on or near Waterford side. [Also 2 argentatus-type Herring Gulls on Cork side.]

November 2007

Nov:

COMERAGH/MONAVULLAGH MOUNTAINS: Red Grouse recorded at two locations in 10-km square S20 (tetrads S20X & S20Z) this month.

WEST WATERFORD: Buzzard recorded at at least three locations.

Thurs 29 Nov:

WHITING BAY: 2 adult Ring-billed Gulls, 4 Red-throated Divers & a Hen Harrier.

Sun 25 Nov:

POULDREW, nr Coolfin: 200 Greylag Geese & a White-fronted Goose.

RINCREW, nr Youghal: Chiffchaff [also adult & 2nd-winter Yellow-legged Gulls on Cork side].

Thurs 22 Nov:

TOURIG ESTUARY, nr Youghal: Juvenile *SPOTTED SANDPIPER still present near the new Youghal bypass bridge; mainly on Waterford bank. Also a Common Sandpiper in the same general area recently.

DARRIGAL, nr Coolfin: 200 Greylag Geese.

Tues 20 Nov:

TOURIG ESTUARY, nr Youghal: Juvenile *SPOTTED SANDPIPER still present.

DUNGARVAN (I-WeBS count): Totals included 1350+ (possibly 1580) Brent Geese, 230+ Shelduck, 4+ Shoveler, 24 Great Crested Grebes, 160+ Knot, 33 Greenshank, 4, a Common Sandpiper (at Ballyneety) & 2 Water Rails (at the Brickey estuary / Killongford).

Sun 18 Nov:

KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS: 2 Red Grouse at Glentaunemon.

DUNGARVAN: 7 adult Whooper Swans at Ballyneety (first site record?), 2 Curlew Sandpipers opposite Park Hotel, 2 Common Sandpipers at Barnawee, & 11 Shoveler (3 ad males & a 1st-w male) off the pitch & putt course.

CAMPHIRE (Bride/Blackwater confluence): 249 Whooper Swans & a single Greylag Goose.

DEERPARK/KILLAHALY (nr Lismore): Flock of 95 Siskin feeding in alders.

RAM HEAD: 3 Red-throated Divers, 4 Porpoises and a Rissos' Dolphin (see IWDG website).

Sat 17 Nov:

DUNGARVAN: 7 Shoveler (3 males) off pitch & putt course.

BLACKWATER CALLOWS: 2 Shoveler (m + f).

BALLYDUFF UPPER: Dipper.

TEMPLEMICHAEL (lower Blackwater): Kingfisher & Common Sandpiper.

RINCREW (Tourig/Blackwater estuary): Yellow-legged Gull at Waterford side.

Fri 16 Nov:

COLLIGAN, nr Dungarvan: Hen Harrier flew over road.

Weds 14 Nov:

TOURIG ESTUARY, nr Youghal: Juvenile *SPOTTED SANDPIPER (2nd county record) near the new Youghal bypass bridge; mainly on Waterford bank.

Sun 11 Nov:

ARDMORE: Adult Mediterranean Gull.

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: 19 Whooper Swans.

FIDDOWN/TIBBERAGHNY: 2 Water Rails.

DERRIGAL/COOLFIN: 84 Greylag Geese.

TRAMORE BAY: 405 Brent Geese at Rinneshark.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Merlin & adult Mediterranean Gull.

Sat 10 Nov:

DUNGARVAN: Adult Yellow-legged Gull & juvenile/1st-winter Curlew Sandpiper at Ballyneety, Black Redstart at pitch & putt club, & a BLACK BRANT (present since October).

CLONEA STRAND: Merlin.

BALLYVOONEY COVE: 2 Great Northern Divers.

Nr BUNMAHON: Chiffchaff.

DUNABRATTIN BAY (Annestown/Boatstrand): 307 Herring & 163 Lesser Black-backed Gulls at night-roost.

Fri 9 Nov:

CAMPHIRE (nr Blackwater/Bride confluence): 202 Whooper Swans.

BLACKWATER CALLOWS: Jay by the Towers near Lismore, & 26 Whooper Swans.

Early Nov:

DUNGARVAN: Barnacle Goose.

Weds 7 Nov:
DUNGARVAN: A harrier species flew north over the town.

Sun 4 Nov:

RINCREW (Tourig/Blackwater estuary): 560 Lesser Black-backed Gulls on the Co Waterford side.

WHITING BAY: 4 Red-throated Divers.

ARDOGINNA, nr Ardmore: 2 or 3 Tree Sparrows & a late Swallow.

RAM HEAD: Great Northern Diver, 100+ Common Dolphins & 5 Porpoises.

DUNGARVAN: 595 Brent Geese at the Cunnigar.

Sat 3 Nov:

WHITING BAY: A late (or wintering?) Whimbrel.

RAM HEAD: Single Humpback, Fin & Minke Whales, c.100 Common Dolphins & 2 Porpoises - see article on IWDG website; also a Red-throated Diver and late Red Admiral.

ARDMORE BAY: 5 Mediterranean Gulls (3 adults + 2 1st-winters), and an Otter c.1 km from the shore.

Nr ARDMORE: 2 further Red Admirals.

BEALLOUGH, PORTLAW: Snow Bunting.

Fri 2 Nov:

ARDMORE: Two Mediterranean Gulls (adult + 1st-winter) & a late Sandwich Tern.

Thurs 1 Nov:

BALLINAMULT: Male Hen Harrier.

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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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