Bird reports Co Waterford November

Waterford bird records November-December 2008 (details subject to verification or correction)

older records - archive

See migrant Lepidoptera page also (highlights below)

December 2008

Weds 31 Dec:

ANNESTOWN BOG: CATTLE EGRET between Annestown & Dunhill Castle.

Nr STRADBALLY: 3 CATTLE EGRETS still present at Drumlohan / Carrickbarrahane Cross Roads.

DUNGARVAN: 2 Crossbills (male + female) at Gold Coast gold-course, Black Guillemot off Ballynacourty Pier.

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

BLACKWATER/BRIDE VALLEY: Hen Harrier east of Tallow, 147 Whooper Swans at Camphire, Woodcock nr Newport Bridge.

BLACKWATER CALLOWS: 85 Whooper Swans 2 km east of Ballyduff.

Nr ARAGLIN: Dipper at Araglin village, Jay & Woodcock at Cahergal Wood, another Jay at Knockleama East.

Tues 30 Dec:

Nr STRADBALLY: 3 CATTLE EGRETS at Drumlohan / Carrickbarrahane Cross Roads.

CLONEA STRAND: Merlin at Ballinclamper.

Mon 29 Dec:

Nr STRADBALLY: 3 CATTLE EGRETS at Drumlohan / Carrickbarrahane Cross Roads, where up to 10 were seen last winter; with cattle in beet fields.

Sun 28 Dec:

DUNGARVAN: 3 Long-tailed Ducks, a Slavonian Grebe & 2 Great Northern Divers off Ballynacourty pier.

Sat 27 Dec:

Nr WHITING BAY: 5 Tree Sparrows near west side of bay.

ARDMORE: Adult Mediterranean Gull.

HELVICK HEAD: 2 Common Scoters.

DUNGARVAN: Whimbrel at Ballynacourty.

CLONEA STRAND/BALLINARD: Adult dark-bellied Brent Goose at Ballinclamper & Ballinard.

TIBBERAGHNY (south Co Kilkenny): 182 Greylag Geese & 27 Whooper Swans.

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 580 Brent Geese & 15 Greenshank, Saleen/Clohernagh.

Fri 26 Dec:

DUNGARVAN: 3 Slavonian Grebes between Ballynacourty & the Cunnigar.

CARRICKBEG (Tipperary/Waterford border): Kingfisher.

Thurs 25 Dec:

TRAMORE: Black Redstart on rocks at west side of beach.

Tues 23 Dec:

FINISK RIVER: Dipper & 18 Stock Doves near Kilmolash Bridge.

Mon 22 Dec:

DUNGARVAN (I-WeBS count): Totals included 1360 Brent Geese, an adult BLACK BRANT, 31 Great Crested Grebes & 4 Great Northern Divers.

CLONEA STRAND: Adult Mediterranean Gull at Ballyvoyle Cove, 186 Brent Geese.

WATERFORD CITY: Otter in St John's River at William Street bridge, c10.30 pm.

Sun 21 Dec:

TRAMORE BOATING LAKE: Adult Mediterranean Gull and pair of Scaup.

STRADBALLY: 2 Dippers.

Sat 20 Dec:

TRAMORE BOATING LAKE: Adult Ring-billed Gull and pair of Scaup.

Thurs 18 Dec:

DUNGARVAN: BLACK BRANT at pitch & putt course, 3 Shoveler nearby.

Sun 14 Dec:

TRAMORE BOATING LAKE: Adult Ring-billed Gull.

DUNGARVAN: Adult dark-bellied Brent Goose off the Sports Centre, Blackcap in town.

Sat 13 Dec:

DUNGARVAN TOWN: Male Blackcap.

Mon 8 Dec:

DUNGARVAN: Female Merlin, Kilmurray.

Sun 7 Dec:

DUNGARVAN: BLACK BRANT at pitch & putt course.

BALLYVOONEY COVE: Red-throated Diver.

BRISKA WOOD (nr Lemybrien): Jay.

Sat 6 Dec:

WATERFORD CITY: Whooper Swan with Mute Swans at mouth of the St John's River.

TRAMORE BOATING LAKE: 2 Gadwall & 2 Scaup still present.

BALLYSHUNNOCK RESERVOIR: 2 Whooper Swans & 7 Gadwall.

Thurs 4 Dec:

TIBBERAGHNY (south Co Kilkenny): Greylag Goose numbers now up to c150, possibly including some movement from Coolfin/Derrigal further downriver.

Tues 2 Dec:

DUNGARVAN: BLACK BRANT at sports complex / pitch & putt course.

WEST WATERFORD: A high total of 7 Hen Harriers at a nocturnal roost.

November 2008

Last updated 6 March 2009

Sun 30 Nov:

RIVER FINISK: Kingfisher at Dromana Bridge.

GLENSHELANE: Jay.

Sat 29 Nov:

KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS: 6 Red Grouse & 6 Woodcock near Ballysaggart.

BLACKWATER CALLOWS: 34 Whooper Swans & 9 Shoveler near Ballyduff, 2 Dippers below Lismore Castle.

BLACKWATER VALLEY: Otter below Dromana House, 423 Whooper Swans at Camphire, Water Rail at Newport East.

WHITING BAY: 2 Tree Sparrows at west side.

BRICKEY RIVER: Dipper below Twomile Bridge.

Tues 25 Nov:

CAMPHIRE: 412 Whooper Swans & a Barnacle Goose.

RAM HEAD: Merlin & 30+ Common Dolphins.

TIBBERAGHNY (south Kilkenny): c70 Greylag Geese (first of the winter here).

TRAMORE PIER: 55 Choughs.

Sun 23 Nov:

DUNGARVAN: Dark-bellied Brent Goose at the Christian Brothers School field.

Fri 21 Nov:

DUNGARVAN (I-WeBS count): Adult BLACK BRANT near pitch & putt course, Spotted Redshank at Killongford, 3 Great Northern Divers, 21+ Great Crested Grebes & updated total of 1767 Brent Geese (a record count here?).

CLONEA STRAND: 2 Purple Sandpipers at Ballinclamper, 2 Great Northern Divers & 163 Brent Geese.

Sun 16 Nov:

FIDDOWN/TIBBERAGHNY (Co Kilkenny): CATTLE EGRET (1st Kilkenny record?) with 16 Whooper Swans at Tibberaghny, 7 Little Egrets along river.

COOLFIN/DERRIGAL: 53 Greylag Geese (one with a grey neck-collar) & 13 Whooper Swans near Derrigal Cross, Water Rail along Clodiagh River, & 4 Little Egrets.

PORTLAW: Jay.

CAMPHIRE (Bride/Blackwater): 390 Whooper Swans.

TRAMORE BOATING LAKE: 2 Scaup & 2 Gadwall still present.

WOODSTOWN: 120-140 Brent Geese.

Sat 15 Nov:

DUNMORE EAST: 3 Purple Sandpipers at the pier.

TRAMORE BOATING LAKE: 2 Scaup (male + female) & 2 female Gadwall.

DUNGARVAN: 2 Crossbills & a Black Guillemot at Ballynacourty, female/imm Eider off Ballynagaul pier.

ARDMORE BAY: 3 Mediterranean Gulls (2 adults & a 2nd-winter) in gull roost with 900 Black-headed, 650 Common, 220 Lesser Black-backed & 20 Herring Gulls; also a Merlin west.

Fri 14 Nov:

VILLIERSTOWN: Male Brambling near the school.

Weds 12 Nov:

RAM HEAD: Female/immature Hen Harrier & 2 Fin Whales.

Tues 11 Nov:

DUNGARVAN: White Wagtail at the Lookout.

BALLYSHUNNOCK RESERVOIR: 7 Gadwall, 22 Tufted Duck & 2 Whooper Swans.

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: Otter.

Mon 10 Nov:

CLONEA STRAND: Adult Mediterranean Gull at Ballinclamper.

DUNGARVAN: 2 late Swallows at Abbeyside.

Sun 9 Nov:

CAMPHIRE (Bride/Blackwater): 334 Whoooper Swans.

TRAMORE BOATING LAKE: Otter.

Sat 8 Nov:

DUNGARVAN: Juvenile AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER on sandbank at east side of the Cunnigar (2nd county record); also the RUDDY SHELDUCK x SHELDUCK hybrid again.

BALLINARD: Adult Mediterranean Gull.

HELVICK HEAD: Merlin, 2 late Manx Shearwaters & 2 Great Skuas.

BLACKWATER VALLEY: WHITE-TAILED EAGLE.

Nr CAMPHIRE BRIDGE: 2 Buzzards (adult & juvenile) & c300 Whooper Swans.

Weds 8 Nov:

WHITING BAY: Juvenile Eider & a Common Sandpiper.

Tues 4 Nov:

TIBBERAGHNY / PILTOWN: c20 Whooper Swans newly arrived.

Sun 2 Nov:

RAM HEAD: Fin Whale, 30-40 Common Dolphins, Porpoise & Red-throated Diver.

GARRARUS TO KILFARRASY: Buzzard, 2 Wheatears & a late Red Admiral; also a Sunfish (still alive) on beach; a late HOBBY at Kilfarrasy beach.

Nr WATERFORD CITY: Another Buzzard south of the city.

KNOCKADERRY RESERVOIR: 15+ Little Grebes & 2 Goldneye.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Merlin.

BALLYMACAW: Red Admiral.

RATHMOYLAN: Female or immature Hen Harrier & 50 Skylarks.

Sat 1 Nov:

DUNGARVAN: RUDDY SHELDUCK x SHELDUCK hybrid at the Cunnigar.

CAMPHIRE (R. Bride/Blackwater): 260 Whooper Swans (a big increase from 88 on 25 Oct) & 2 Greylag Geese.

CLASHMORE BROADS: Common Sandpiper.

.click below for larger images

oystercatcher_albinistic_whitingbay_27dec2008_p1150922_.jpg

Partial albinistic Oystercatcher, Whiting Bay, 7 Dec 2008

ruddyshelduck_hybridquery_cunnigar_08112008_p1150635_copy.jpg

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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