Recent reports

Waterford bird records, September-October 2005

October 2005

Mon 31 Oct:

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: *Western Bonelli's Warbler in the main gardens (2nd county & Brownstown record), also 2 Chiffchaffs & 170 Oystercatchers.

Near LISMORE: Crossbills again visiting a garden here.

Sun 30 Oct:

DUNGARVAN: 1st-winter Grey Phalarope at Ballyneety bridge.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 3 Great Northern Divers & 6 Wigeon flew E during a 1-hr seawatch (0905-1005 hrs); on land, a Merlin & Chiffchaff.

Sat 29 Oct:

HELVICK HEAD: 6 Manx Shearwaters, a Grey Phalarope, 3 juvenile Long-tailed Skuas, 7 Arctic Skuas, 2 Pomarine Skuas, a Great Skua, 2 juv Sabine's Gulls, 2nd-winter Mediterranean Gull, 1st-w Little Gull & a Little Auk passed during c.4 hrs of seawatching (1000-1430 hrs).

Fri 28 Oct:

HELVICK HEAD: Sabine's Gull, and a Glaucous or Iceland Gull.

CLONEAD: Curlew Sandpiper at Ballinclamper.

Near LISMORE (Vee road): Crossbills present in a garden today.

Weds 26 Oct:

EAST WATERFORD: Barn Owl seen near western outskirts of Waterford city.

Sun 23 Oct:

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Merlin, Black Redstart, 2 female Blackcaps, 2 Chiffchaffs & 60 Redpolls.

Sat 22 Oct:

DUNGARVAN: Barnacle Goose, adult Yellow-legged Gull & 2nd-winter Mediterranean Gull at the Cunnigar; Great Northern Diver in the bay.

BALLINARD (BALLYNACOURTY POINT): Purple Sandpiper, 6 Black Redstarts & a Wheatear.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Female Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaffs & 8 Goldcrests.

Fri 21 Oct:

HELVICK HEAD: 2 Merlins & a Ring Ouzel.

Thurs 20 Oct:

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 40 Siskins, 5 Chiffchaffs & lots of tits in the valley.

HELVICK HEAD: Merlin; also a Fin Whale.

Near LISMORE: 2 Red-legged Partridges, presumably birds bred & released for hunting. (The species has also been released in east Waterford.)

Tues 18 Oct:

HELVICK HEAD: Merlin, Black Redstart, & good numbers of Blackcaps, Robins, tits & Siskins.

Sun 16 Oct:

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Yellow-browed Warbler, unstreaked Acrocephalus (probably Reed Warbler), Merlin, Wheatear, 17 Redwings, 6 Blackcaps (4 males + 2 females), 11 Chiffchaffs, 13+ Redpolls & small numbers of Siskins.

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 278 Brent Geese.

Sat 15 Oct:

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Hawfinch in the "valley" (2nd county record - part of an influx to Irish south coast today), Redwing, 3 female Blackcaps, 6 Chiffchaffs, Siskin & 2 Redpolls.

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 4 Sandwich Terns off Saleen.

WATERFORD CITY: 51 Collared Doves at the Folly.

DUNGARVAN: Ruff & 1st-winter Mediterranean Gull at Ballyneety.

HELVICK HEAD: Small numbers of Blackcaps & Siskins.

Fri 14 Oct:

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Merlin, 5 Chiffchaffs, 9 Goldcrests, 30+ Redpolls, 150+ Linnets; also a Jay found dead (1st record for Brownstown).

DUNGARVAN: Barnacle Goose (present since a week earlier) & 167 Brent Geese.

BALLYMACARBRY: Red Squirrel.

Thurs 13 Oct:

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Long-eared Owl, 2 Merlins, Wheatear, male Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaffs, 8 Goldcrests, 23 Redpolls, & an obvious arrival of Great Tits (22 including 19 ringed) & Coal Tits (12). Also a Porpoise offshore.

ARDOGINNA, nr Ardmore: Merlin.

Weds 12 Oct:

ARDMORE HEAD: Female Blackcap & 3 Chiffchaffs.

HACKETTSTOWN, ne Mine Head:. Migrant Hawker.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 250+ Skylarks, 7 Chiffchaffs, Willow Warbler, 7 Goldcrests & a Redpoll.

Tues 11 Oct:

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Female Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaffs & 2 Redpolls.

Mon 10 Oct:

HELVICK HEAD: 2 Grey Phalaropes & single Sooty Shearwater, Storm Petrel, Great Skua, Pomarine Skua & Arctic Skua passed during a 1.5-hr seawatch (1030-1200 hrs).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Lapland Bunting, male + female Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaffs; a Great Northern Diver flew E during a 1-hr seawatch (0945-1045 hrs).

Sun 9 Oct:

Near LISMORE (Vee road): c.20 Crossbills visiting a garden over the last week.

CHEEKPOINT: 4 Jays in a garden here (where up to 2 more usual).

Sat 8 Oct:

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 1st-year Red-breasted Flycatcher in the main gardens(2nd or 3rd county record & 1st for Brownstown), 2 Crossbills, Wheatear, female Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaffs, Willow Warbler, 6 Goldcrests, 18 Redpolls, 4 Siskins; also a Hummingbird Hawk-moth.

BALLYMACAW: Clouded Yellow butterfly & Migrant Hawker dragonfly.

HELVICK HEAD: Redstart, Garden Warbler & 4 Blackcaps.

DUNGARVAN: Ruff at Ballyneety.

Thurs 7 Oct:

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Long-eared Owl, female/imm Hen Harrier, 70+ Skylarks, Wheatear, female Blackcap, Willow Warbler, 8 Chiffchaffs, 12 Goldcrests, 12 Choughs & 20+ Redpolls.

Weds 6 Oct:

TRAMORE BAY: Adult Yellow-legged Gull in NE corner of bay, also 22 Sanderling & 47 Sandwich Terns.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Wheatear, 6 Chiffchaffs, 6 Goldcrests, Spotted Flycatcher, 20+ Redpolls & a Migrant Hawker.

RATHMOYLAN: Female Blackcap.

Nr PORTALLY: 15 Collared Doves.

Tues 4 Oct:

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 15+ Redpolls & 47 Goldfinches.

DUNGARVAN: Curlew Sandpiper, 10 Greenshank & 275 Redshank at Ballyneety, 2 Common Sandpipers at Barnawee.

Mon 3 Oct:

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 180+ Swallows & 170+ House Martins, mainly flying W, also male Blackcap, 22 Redpolls & 2 Siskins.

BALLYMACAW: 200+ Swallows flew E.

Sun 2 Oct:

DUNGARVAN: 1st-winter Lesser Yellowlegs still at Ballyneety (Colligan estuary), also a Curlew Sandpiper & a Blackcap there.

BALLINCLAMPER/BALLINARD (BALLYNACOURTY POINT): Whimbrel & Arctic Skua.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Crossbill, 10 Redpolls & a Siskin.

Sat 1 Oct:

DUNGARVAN: Ruff, 1200 Black-tailed Godwit & 52 Knot at Ballyneety.

ARDMORE/CALISO BAY area: Merlin, 2 Wheatears & 3 Blackcaps.

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 155 Black-tailed Godwit & 300 Redshank (including a leucistic or partially albinistic individual) at Ballinattin.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 145 Skylarks.

September 2005

Last updated 1 Nov 2005

Thurs 29 Sept:

DUNGARVAN: Lesser Yellowlegs still present at Ballyneety, also a Curlew Sandpiper.

Weds 28 Sept:

DUNGARVAN: 1st-winter Lesser Yellowlegs at Ballyneety, opposite the Mart (2nd county record), just north of the Park Hotel.

KILMEADEN POOLS: Female or immature Hen Harrier.

Mon 26 Sept:

HELVICK HEAD: 2 Spotted Flycatchers.

Sun 25 Sept:

HELVICK HEAD: 2 Spotted Flycatchers.

Sat 24 Sept:

HELVICK HEAD: Whinchat, 2 Spotted Flycatchers & 11 Siskin.

DUNGARVAN: Ruff, Spotted Redshank, 1st-winter Mediteranean Gull & Kingfisher at Ballyneety.

Fri 23 Sept:

DUNGARVAN: Curlew Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank, Green Sandpiper, 3 Common Sandpipers, 2nd-winter Mediterranean Gull, Kingfisher & 2 White Wagtails at Ballyneety.

Thurs 22 Sept:

HELVICK HEAD: Balearic Shearwater, Pomarine Skua & 7 Puffins past during a 1.5-hr seawatch.

RIVER NIRE, BALLYMACARBRY: 1 Kingfisher.

BALLYSHUNNOCK RESERVOIR: 3 Little Egrets & a Kingfisher.

Weds 21 Sept:

DUNGARVAN: 2 Curlew Sandpipers, a Ruff, Spotted Redshank, 2 Common Sandpipers, 2 Kingfishers & a Guillemot at Ballyneety.

Tues 20 Sept:

DUNGARVAN: 3 Curlew Sandpipers & 4 Common Sandpipers at Ballyneety.

Mon 19 Sept:

HELVICK HEAD: 2 Storm Petrels W & an Arctic Skua E (seawatch 1500-1600 & 1750-1920 hrs).

Sun 18 Sept:

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: c.10 Common Scoters flew W.

TRAMORE: Merlin at sandhills, 60 Sanderling & 2 dead Common Porpoises on the beach, & 2 Whimbrel at Clohernagh.

CLONEA: 23 Wigeon, Ruff & c.30 White Wagtails at Ballinclamper.

DUNGARVAN: At Ballyneety, Merlin, 3 Curlew Sandpipers, Ruff, 4 Common Sandpipers & 2 Kingfishers.

Sat 17 Sept:

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 150 Meadow Pipits, single Sedge Warbler & Whitethroat, 10 Chiffchaffs, 24 Choughs, 2 Siskins, Redpoll & 52 Goldfinches; also 3 Migrant Hawkers & a Hummingbird Hawk-moth.

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 28 Brent Geese off Saleen.

DUNGARVAN: At Ballyneety, single Spotted Redshank, Ruff & Curlew Sandpiper, 3 Common Sandpipers & 2 Kingfishers.

HACKETSTOWN, nr Mine Head: Blackcap.

BALLYMACART: Blackcap.

CALISO BAY: Reed Warbler & Whitethroat.

Thurs 15 Sept:

DUNGARVAN: 2 Curlew Sandpipers at Western Bay.

Weds 14 Sept:

BALLYCANVAN (nr Jack Meade's pub): A flock of 4 or 5 Hen Harriers was seen being mobbed by Rooks.

Tues 13 Sept:

HELVICK HEAD: Balearic Shearwater & 2 Sooty Shearwaters W during an evening seawatch (1810-1945 hrs); also 430+ Herring Gulls at trawlers.

CLONEA STRAND: Juvenile Ruff at Ballinclamper.

Sun 11 Sept:

BELLE LAKE: Juvenile Reed Warbler & 13 Sedge Warblers ringed, Water Rail heard.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Wryneck still present, 250+ Swallows, 30+ House Martins, 10 Wheatears, 9 Willow Warblers, & single Whinchat, Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, Pied Flycatcher & Tree Sparrow; also 2 Migrant Hawkers.

DUNGARVAN: An owl species, probably Short-eared Owl, at the Cunnigar.

Sat 10 Sept:

HELVICK HEAD: 1 Red-throated Diver flew past.

DUNGARVAN: 3 Curlew Sandpipers, 2 White Wagtails & 30+ Wheatears at the Cunnigar; Spotted Redshank, Common Sandpiper & 1000+ Black-tailed Godwits at Ballyneety.

CLONEA STRAND: 2 Curlew Sandpipers & a White Wagtail.

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: Wryneck still present (since 3 Sept), also a late Swift, 70+ House Martins, 70+ Meadow Pipits, 8 Wheatears & a Pied Flycatcher.

Weds 7 Sept:

HELVICK HEAD: Storm Petrel.

Tues 6 Sept:

DUNGARVAN: 50+ Wheatears along the Cunnigar.

Mon 5 Sept:

HELVICK HEAD: Sooty Shearwater, c.300 Manx Shearwaters, 2 Arctic Skuas and a juvenile Little Gull passed during during a brief seawatch (2000-2030 hrs).

CLONEA STRAND: Curlew Sandpiper.

Sun 4 Sept:

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: On land, single Wryneck, Whinchat, Pied Flycatcher & Willow Warbler; at sea, 2 Balearic Shearwaters, a Sooty Shearwater, 283 Manx Shearwaters and a late Swift flew E during a 1-hr seawatch (1025-1125 hrs).

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: 61 Little Egrets.

HELVICK HEAD: 2000+ Manx Shearwaters, 3 Sooty Shearwaters, 2 Arctic Skuas, a Great Skua & a juvenile Little Gull passed W during a 2.5-hr seawatch (0830-1100 hrs).

Sat 3 Sept:

HELVICK HEAD: 1500+ Manx Shearwaters, Common Scoter, Great Skua, juvenile Black Tern & 2 Puffins passed during a 2-hr morning seawatch.

WHITING BAY: Curlew Sandpiper & 2 Mediterranean Gulls (adult + juvenile).

BROWNSTOWN HEAD: 3 Mute Swans flew E (few if any previous sightings here), 1 Collared Dove, 35+ Meadow Pipits, 15 Stonechats & a Willow Warbler; also a Migrant Hawker.

Fri 2 Sept:

TRAMORE BACKSTRAND: An Osprey was watched fishing off Saleen.

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Note: Sightings listed here are reports, not necessarily authenticated records. * = species for which the Irish Rare Birds Committee currently requires 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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