Wildlife Reports - Co. Wexford December 2009

Greenland White-fronted Geese

 WILDBIRD RECORDS. Grebes: A Red-necked Grebe was at Rosslare Backstrand through the month. A Slavonian Grebe was in Wexford Harbour on 27^th. Divers:  21 Red-throated Divers were off Ballinesker on 15^th. There were 16 Great Northern Divers at Kilmore Quay Harbour on 3^rd. 1 Great Northern Diver was noted on the River Slaney on 18^th (an unusual inland sighting). Swans: There were 100 Whooper Swans at Our Lady's Island Lake on 16^th. There were 34 Bewick's Swans noted on the North Slob from 21^st. There were also 2 Bewick's Swans at Our Lady's Island Lake on 28^th. Geese: The Greenland White-fronted Geese numbers on the North Slob remained constant with 7500 present through the first half of the month (the scientific catching programme was also successful during this month. An additional bonus was the fitting of satellite transmitters to 4 geese – this particular part of the programme being in association with the Livingston Ripley Waterfowl Conservancy, based in USA http://www.lrwc.net/greenland.html ). There was a Black Brant on North Slob through the month and a Black Brant was also noted at Rosslare Backstrand on 15^th. The Dark-bellied Brent Goose on North Slob remained through the month. Ducks: There were 1600 Common Scoter at Ballinesker on 15^th. A Long-tailed Duck was at Our Lady's Island Lake from 6^th to 13^th. There were 2 Ruddy Shelduck on the South Slob on 31^st. Rails: Good numbers of Water Rail were calling on North Slob on 2^nd. There were also good numbers calling at Jamestown through the month.1 was seen flying at Rosslare Backstrand on 9th. Birds of Prey: A Buzzard was seen over Sinnotstown Lane on 6^th. There were 2 at Ring Marsh on 6^th. 1 was seen at Holdmanhill on 13^th and 1 was also noted at Woodgraigue on same date. There was 1 at Scarawalsh on 27^th and 1 was seen at Ambrosetown on 28^th. 1 was also noted at Killurin on 31^st. A Marsh Harrier was at Tacumshin Lake on 27^th. A Hen Harrier was noted on the North Slob on a number of dates through the month. There were up to 2 Hen Harriers seen at Tacumshin Lake on 27^th with singles noted on a number of other dates through the month. A Merlin was noted on the North Slob on both the 8^th and the 27^th. Owls:  2 Short-eared Owls were noted at Fethard-on-Sea on 2^nd with 1 still present up to the 9^th, A Short-eared Owl was seen on the South Slob on 14^th. Waders: There was 1 Green Sandpiper at Artramon on 20^th. Lapwing were noted at Coolcotts through the month with a maximum count of 15 on 27^th. There were 21 Golden Plover at Coolcotts on 25^th. A Spotted Redshank was at Lacken on 16^th with 1 also noted at Raven Point on 15^th and there was 1 at Wexford Wildfowl Reserve on 28^th. A colour ringed Sanderling, present at Nethertown since September of this year, was found to have been ringed in Mauritania, West Africa on 1^st December 2005. Gulls: A colour ringed Mediterranean Gull was seen at Our Lady's Island Lake on 9^th. This bird had been ringed on 12^th July 2002 in Antwerp, Belgium. From there it had spent 2004 near Manchester, was seen at Dungeness, Kent in 2005 and then no sign until this interesting sighting here in County Wexford. Woodpecker: A Great Spotted Woodpecker was at Courtown Woods from 16^th to at least 20^th. Kingfishers: A Kingfisher was seen at Our Lady's Island Lake on 28^th. Thrushes: A Ring Ouzel was at Wexford Wildfowl Reserve on 20^th. There were particularly high numbers of Song Thrush seen in the County through the month – probably an influx of this species from a cold Europe. A Black Redstart was noted at Our Lady's Island Lake from 13^th to the end of the month. There were at least 4 Black Redstarts at Rosslare Harbour through the month. A single Black Redstart was at Carne Harbour on 15^th. A Black Redstart was seen at Clonard on 16^th. There was a Black Redstart at Hook Head on 26^th and 1 was at Arthurstown, also on 26^th. There were 2 Black Redstarts at Nethertown on 28^th. Warblers: There was a Chiffchaff at Our Lady's Island on 13^th and 14^th with 2 present at the same location on 28^th.  A Blackcap was noted at Hook Head on 26^th.  There were up to 5 Goldcrests at Killurin on 31^st. Treecreeper: A Treecreeper was noted at Redmond Park on 27^th and 1 was seen at Johnstown on 31^st. Crows: A Carrion Crow was noted at Rosslare Backstrand on 12^th and 1 was also noted on North Slob on 21^st. Finches: There were 25 Greenfinches at Ballyteige on 30^th Nov (not previously reported). Excellent counts of Goldfinch were noted at Woodgraigue through the month with 100 noted on 13^th and a count of 161 recorded on 28^th. Buntings: There were 19 Yellowhammers in Gorey on 3^rd and a 1 Lapland Bunting was heard on North Slob on 21^st.

Lapwing are under pressure

MAMMAL RECORDS:  An Otter was noted on North Slob on 2^nd and 1 was seen at Jamestown on 18^th. A Common Dolphin was washed up near Tacumshin Lake on 12^th. There were 21 noted on the Irish Sea cetacean survey, also on the 12^th. A Harbour Porpoise was noted on the Irish Sea cetacean survey on the 12^th and 1 was seen in Wexford Harbour (near the Quay) on the 21^st – on 2 occasions. There were 126 Grey Seals in Wexford Harbour on 15^th and 15 were also noted off Ballinesker on the same date. There were 3 Common Seals in Wexford Harbour on 15^th. A Fox was heard calling on the North Slob on 27^th. A Red Squirrel was seen in Johnstown Castle on 31^st. A Hedgehog was noted at The Grove, Clonard on 21^st.

Male Black Redstart

MOTH RECORDS: A Winter Moth was seen in Curracloe on12^th with 2 noted at same location on 27^th.