Wildlife Reports – Co. Wexford August 2010

Young House Martin

WILDBIRD RECORDS AUGUST 2010: Shearwater: There were 2 Sooty Shearwaters at Hook Head on 7th with 1 noted at Carnsore Point on 8th. There were 3 Sooty Shearwaters noted on Cetacean Survey – Irish Sea – on 28th. 100 Manx Shearwaters were noted at Hook Head on 7th and 22nd. 100 Manx Shearwaters were also noted at Carnsore Point on 8th. There were 100 Manx Shearwaters recorded at Carne Beach on 13th. A Balearic Shearwater was seen at Hook Head on 8th. There were 41 Balearic Shearwaters noted at Carnsore Point on 8th. 4 Balearic Shearwaters were seen at Carne Beach on 14th.  A single Balearic Shearwater was at Hook Head on 21st. 2 Balearic Shearwaters were seen on the Cetacean Survey – Irish Sea - on 28th. Storm Petrel: There were 15 Storm Petrels at Carnsore Point on 7th with 10 noted at same location on 8th.  Ibis/Herons: The single Glossy Ibis remained at Tacumshin Lake through the month. There were 30 Little Egrets counted at Bannow Bay on 2nd. 40 Little Egrets counted between Killurin Bridge and Wexford Harbour on 12th. 41 Little Egrets were counted at Our Lady's Island Lake on 29th. A Great Egret was at Ring Marsh on 11th with 1 noted at Our Lady's Island Lake from 12th to the end of the month.  Geese: Greenland White-fronted Geese were heard on North Slob Channel on 23rd. Ducks: There were 19 Common Scoter seen at Carnsore Point on 8th with 9 noted at Hook Head on 22nd.  A Garganey was at Tacumshin Lake on 21st with 2 present on 27th.   Quail: A Quail was noted at Tacumshin Lake on 16th. Birds of Prey: An Osprey was seen flying south at Culleton's Gap on 23rd. 1 was noted in Wexford Harbour on 28th and 31st. An Osprey was at Tacumshin Lake on 29th, 30th and 31st. A Buzzard was at Camolin on 10th. There were 5 Buzzards at Gorey on 24th. A  Buzzard was at Tacumshin Lake on 31st. A Peregrine was noted at Our Lady's Island Lake on 2nd with 1 also noted at Tacumshin Lake on 21st.  A Montague's Harrier was at Tacumshin Lake on 1st, 7th, 14th and 15th. There were 2 Marsh Harriers at Tacumshin Lake on 1st and 7th with 1 noted on 8th, 11th and 12th and there were 2 present on 31st.  There was 1 Marsh Harrier on South Slob on 11th. A single Hen Harrier was at Tacumshin Lake on 1st, 7th, 8th, 11th, 21st, 28th and 31st.   A Hen Harrier was on the South Slob on 11th. A Red Kite was at Tacumshin Lake on 3rd and 4th. A Merlin was at Tacumshin Lake on 13th and 21st. There were 12 Kestrels at Tacumshin Lake on 19th.  Waders: There were 3 Whimbrel at Bannow Bay on 2nd. A Ruff was at Tacumshin Lake on 1st, 2nd and 8th with 6 present at Tacumshin Lake on 12th increasing to 10 on 14th with 4 present on 17th, 12 present on 28th and 15 on 29th and 31st.  A Spotted Redshank was at Tacumshin Lake on 1st with 2 present at same location on 11th and a single was at Tacumshin Lake on 14th and 16th.   A Greenshank was seen at Ballinamorragh on 18th and 20th. A Little Stint was at Tacumshin Lake on 8th, 11th and 27th with 2 present on 28th, 1 on 29th and 2 on 31st.    There were 2 Wood Sandpipers at Tacumshin Lake on 1st with 1 present on 2nd. A Wood Sandpiper was at Our Lady's Island Lake on 2nd and 3rd. A Green Sandpiper was at Tacumshin Lake on 1st with 2 at that location on 3rd.  There were 5 Green Sandpipers at the Wexford Wildfowl Reserve on 7th. 2 Curlew Sandpipers were at Tacumshin Lake on 27th with 13 present on 29th increasing to 15 on 30th and reducing to 9 on 31st.  A Little Ringed Plover was at Tacumshin Lake on 1st and 2nd. There was a White-rumped Sandpiper at Tacumshin Lake on 1st, 2nd and 8th. There was a Pectoral Sandpiper at Tacumshin Lake from 27th to the end of the month.  Auks: 3 Puffins were noted at Carnsore Point on 8th. Gulls: There were 2 Mediterranean Gulls at Bannow Bay on 2nd. There was 1 Mediterranean Gull at Rosslare on 12th. Terns: A Black Tern was at Our Lady's Island Lake from 18th to 23rd. Skuas: There was a Great Skua at Hook Head on 7th with 1 also recorded at Carnsore Point on the same date. There were 2 Great Skuas at Carnsore Point on 8th and 2 Great Skuas were also noted on the Cetacean Survey – Irish Sea – on 28th. A Pomarine Skua was seen on the Cetacean Survey – Irish Sea – on 28th.  An Arctic Skua was at Tacumshin Lake on 1st. There were 3 Arctic Skuas at Carnsore Point on 7th and 8th with 2 at Hook Head on 8th. There was an Arctic Skua at Hook Head on 21st.  Pigeons: A Stock Dove was noted at Tintern Abbey on 17th.  Rails: A Water Rail was at Our Lady's Island Lake on 2nd with 2 at Tacumshin Lake on the same date and 1 at Tacumshin Lake on 8th. Flycatcher: A Spotted Flycatcher took refuge on the Isle of Inishmore – on the Irish Sea - on 28th. A Pied Flycatcher was seen from the Stena Europe on 31st. Wagtail: There were 16 White Wagtails at Tacumshin Lake on 29th with 40 present at Nethertown on the same date. There were 20 White Wagtails at Tacumshin Lake on 31st. Thrushes: There were 2 Wheatears on North Slob on 5th with numerous sightings of single birds at the same location through the month. Warblers: A Reed Warbler was at Our Lady's Island Lake on 3rd with 1 noted at Tacumshin Lake on 11th. Crows: The Leucistic Magpie was present at Ballinamorragh through the month. Buntings: A Lapland Bunting was at Tacumshin Lake on 29th.

MAMMAL RECORDS: Risso's Dolphin: There were 5 noted at Carnsore Point on 3rd. There were 12 present at Fethard on 11th. 5 were noted off Tuskar Rock on 28th. A number – 3+ - were seen from the Stena Europe on 31st. Common Dolphin: There were 86 counted on cetacean survey – Rosslare to Pembroke on 28th. Grey Seal: 210 were counted in Wexford Harbour on 31st.  Pipistrelle Bat: Individuals were noted on a number of dates through the month on the North Slob. Leisler's Bat: Individuals were noted on a number of occasions on North Slob on the night of 24th. Daubenton's Bat: The Daubenton's Bat Survey on the North Slob Channel had 41 passes on 2nd and 109 passes on 23rd. Daubenton's Bat was recorded on other dates on the North Slob through the month. Otter: There was one at Slade Harbour on or about the 8th. Badger: 2 were seen on North Slob on 27th.

BUTTERFLY RECORDS: Only the highest count for each species is shown. Where the highest count is equalled by another both are shown. Where an unusual species is noted, all records are shown:  Essex Skipper: Maximum count was 75+ Killinick on 7th. 1 was seen on the accretion at Raven Nature Reserve on 6th (a new 10km square record).  Purple Hairstreak: 2 were noted at Killoughrum Wood on 17th. Large White: Maximum count was 4 Raven Nature Reserve 30th. Small White: Maximum count was 24 at Raven Nature Reserve on 7th. Green-veined White: Maximum count was 26 at Raven Nature Reserve on 7th.   Common Blue: Maximum count was 500+ at Raven Nature Reserve on 17th. Holly Blue: There were 5 at Raven Nature Reserve on 8th. Small Copper: Maximum Count was 7 at Raven Nature Reserve on 7th. Small Heath: Maximum count was 2 noted at Raven Nature Reserve on 7th and 14th. Meadow Brown: Maximum count was 19 at Raven Nature Reserve on 7th. Ringlet: Maximum count was 9 at Raven Nature Reserve on 7th. Speckled Wood: Maximum count was 34 seen at Raven Nature Reserve on 30th. Silver-washed Fritillary: Maximum Count was 8 at Raven Nature Reserve on 7th.  Small Tortoiseshell: Maximum Count was 120+ at Came on 20th. Painted Lady: Maximum Count was 3 at Crossabeg on 17th. Red Admiral: Maximum Count was 40+ at Crossabeg on 17th. Peacock: 6 were seen at Crossabeg on 17th. Gatekeeper: Maximum Count was 29 at Raven Nature Reserve on 7th.  Comma: 1 was seen in Wexford Town on 1st. 1+ were present in Crossabeg to at least 14th.

MOTH: The following species were recorded in the County during the month: Chinese Character; Six-spot Burnet; Common Footman; Cinnabar lava; Silver Y;  Smoky Wainscot; Scalloped Oak; Silver Y; Poplar Hawk-moth; Drinker; Chinese Character; Pebble Prominent; Large Yellow Underwing; Burnished Brass; Common Rustic agg; Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing; Flame Shoulder; Grass Emerald; Ruby Tiger; Dark Arches; Six-spot Burnet; Smoky Wainscot; Scalloped Oak; Poplar Hawk-moth; Drinker; Pebble Prominent; Large Yellow Underwing; Burnished Brass; Common Rustic agg.; Lesser Broad-bordered yellow Underwing; Flame Shoulder; Grass Emerald; Ruby Tiger; Gold Spot; Dark Arches; Emperor Moth caterpillars were noted at Nethertown beach on15th.

DRAGONFLIES & DAMSELFLIES: The following species were noted during the month: Emperor; Brown Hawker; Common Hawker, Migrant Hawker (24 on 30th in Raven Nature Reserve); Common Darter; Four-spotted Chaser. Emerald Damselfly; Azure Damselfly; Blue-tailed Damselfly. A Beautiful Demoiselle was seen at Eden Vale on 7th.

AMPHIBIAN/REPTILE: Common Lizards: were noted in singles on a number of dates through the month at Raven Nature Reserve. There were 5+ at Raven Nature Reserve on 21st. 1 was also seen in Ballinamorragh on 4th. Natterjack Toad: 1 was calling at Raven Nature Reserve on 30th. There were 3 seen at Raven Nature Reserve on 31st. Common Newt: A number of young were noted in Raven Nature Reserve on 31st. Frog: There were singles seen in Ballinamorragh and Raven Nature Reserve through the month.

PLANTS: Autumn Ladies Tresses out at Ballyteige from 7th. Strawberry-headed Clover; Wild Asparagus; Rubus caesius (that unusual looking prostrate Bramble); Sea Holly are also all in flower/fruit in Ballyteige.

Emerald Damselfly

Autumn Ladies Tresses

Wild Asparagus