Wildlife Reports - Co. Wexford January 2010

Greenland White-fronts in snow

WILDBIRD RECORDS. Grebes: There were 14 Slavonian Grebes in Wexford Harbour on 20th. with 5 noted at Ballinesker 21st. 12 Little Grebes Jamestown 16th. Ibis/Herons: There were 5 Little Egret at Tacumshin Lake on 17th with 2 noted at Our Lady's Island Lake on 17th.  A Great White Egret was at Tacumshin Lake on 3rd. A Bittern was at Tacumshin Lake on 4th. A Glossy Ibis was at Tacumshin Lake on 5th. Divers:  There were 3 Great Northern Divers in Wexford Harbour on 17th. Swans: 100 Whooper Swans were present at Tacumshin Lake on 2nd. There were over 40 Bewick's Swans on North Slob through the month. 21 Bewick's Swans at Tacumshin Lake on 17th.  Geese:  8000 Greenland White-fronted Geese on North Slob through the month. There were 14 at Tacumshin Lake on 18th. Up to 9 Pink-footed Geese on North Slob through the month. A single Pink-footed Goose was at Barrystown on 20th. The Black Brant was present on North Slob through the month. Ducks: There were 100+ Teal at Jamestown in the 1st and 2nd week, 100 Teal were noted on South Slob on 11th. 100 Tufted Duck were counted at Tacumshin Lake on 17th. 100 Pochard were noted at Our Lady's Island Lake on 17th. There were 3 Scaup at Tacumshin Lake on 17th. There were 273 Common Scoter off Ballinesker on 21st. A Baikal Teal was at Tacumshin Lake on 5th, Ring-necked Duck at Tacumshin Lake on 5th, a Green-winged Teal was seen at Tacumshin Lake on 3rd and 17th with 1 also was noted on North Slob on 10th. A Ruddy Shelduck was seen on South Slob on 11th. A Male Goosander was at Barrystown from 23rd to at least the 27th. Coots and Rails: There were 257 Coots at Lady's Island Lake on 17th. 40 Moorhen were noted around the Wildfowl Reserve buildings on 9th. Birds of Prey: A Peregrine was noted at Tacumshin Lake on 17th with 2 seen on North Slob on the same date. Merlin was noted on North Slob on 1st and 15th. A Hen Harrier was noted on South Slob on 1st. 1 was also seen on North Slob on 1st with 1 (a male) seen on 7th, 2 on 9th, 1 on 15th,  2 on 27th and 1 on 31st. There were 3 present at Tacumshin Lake on 17th and 1 at Our Lady's Island Lake on the same date.  A Buzzard was noted at Fethard-on-Sea on 3rd. 1 was noted at Gorey on 10th and on 30th. There was 1 on North Slob on 18th and 25th. 1 was seen at Wellington Bridge on 28th. 1 was noted at Woodgraigue on 30th and on the same date 1 was seen at Holdmanhill. There were 2 at Barrystown on 31st. Owls:  A Short-eared Owl was on South Slob on 1st. Waders: Lapwing were noted at Coolcotts through the month with 46 (on the wing) being the highest count on 7th. c.200 were noted at Clonhenritt, Camolin on 29th and there were c.200 at Scurlogue, Duncormick on 30th. There were 2 Ruff seen on South Slob on 1st. Green Sandpiper at Jamestown 16th.  There were at least 3 Spotted Redshank on North Slob through the month with 3 at Raven Point on 21st. 1 was also noted at Laken on a number of dates through the month. There were 517 Curlew at Raven Point on 21st with 292 Bar-tailed Godwit at the same location on the same date. Gulls:  A Mediterranean Gull was at Tacumshin Lake on 17th. 143 Common Gulls were counted at Ballinesker on 21st. Woodpecker: A Great Spotted Woodpecker was at Courtown Woods on 19th and 26th – could we get a breeding pair for the County this year? Kingfishers: present Jamestown 1st 3 weeks of the month. Larks: Big movement of Skylarks over North Slob, travelling west on 1st. Pipits: A Rock Pipit was noted at Courtown on 26th. Wren: Heard singing in Coolcotts during the month. Dunnock: Heard singing in Coolcotts during the month. Thrushes: Huge numbers of Redwing, Fieldfare and Song Thrush on North Slob on 1st and 2nd with large numbers also recorded moving over Coolcotts on the same dates. 21 Fieldfare flew over a garden in Coolcotts on 1st and 569 thrushes were counted flying over Coolcotts on 2nd – part of these huge movements…. There were large numbers of thrush species on North Slob up to third week of the month. A Black Redstart was noted taking insects on a window at Brandon House, New Ross on 1st and there was 1 at Hook Head on 26th. (Significantly – there were 'No' Stonechats on North Slob after cold spell – they have obviously taken a serious hit – or, less likely, moved out - in the cold snap). Robin, Blackbird and Song Thrush were all noted singing in a number of localities around the County through the month. Warblers: A male Blackcap was in a garden in Coolcotts on 2nd and 16th. A female was present on 3rd and 4th and was also present with the male on 16th. Tits: Great Tit heard in a number of localities in the County in song – spring is only just round the corner. Crows: The Leucistic Magpie was noted on North Slob on 10th. A Hooded Crow seen trying to eat a Rook on 10th. Jays were noticed on a number of dates at Jamestown. Starling: A large flock of Starlings were noticed near Ambrosetown, Duncormick at 5pm on 30th – low thousands, possibly up to 5,000 – seen heading north-east. Almost certainly part of a large roost in that part of Co. Wexford. Finches: A Brambling was seen on North Slob on 1st. A male and 2 female Siskins were in Coolcotts on 12th with just the male present on 16th. A Greenfinch heard singing in Coolcotts in the latter part of the month. Buntings: A Lapland Bunting was noted at Lady's Island Lake on 7th and 13th. There was a Snow Bunting at Rosslare Backstrand on 13th.

Skylark

MAMMAL RECORDS:  Fin Whale: 4 were noted at Baginbun Head on 4th. From that date to the end of the month numbers, in the vicinity of Baginbun Head , Slade Head and Hook Head varied with maximum of 5 noted on 24th. Humpback Whale: 1 was noted at Hook Head on 17th with sightings noted almost daily to the end of the month and the spectacular displays shown on RTE News and various Newspapers, of this animal breaching on 11 occasions on 23rd. The Humpback was also noted breaching on 29th and 31st. Common Dolphin: 7 seen off Hook on 9th with 25 seen on 22nd, 40 on 23rd and 25 on 25th, Harbour Porpoise: Up to 5 seen off Hook Head on 23rd. Grey Seal: 136 Wexford Harbour 21st. There were up to 5 noted at Hook Head on a number of dates through the month. Common Seal: 1 was seen at Hook Head on 31st. Otter: An individual was noted on a number of dates at Jamestown Environmental Reserve during the 1st and 2nd week. Irish Hare: 2 leverets (very young) were found at the Rugby Club, Wexford on 30th.   Hedgehog: 1 was seen in Rosslare Backstrand on 29th (A species that should be hibernating through the winter). Pipistrelle Bat: 1 was seen flying Lady's Island Lake on 28th (Another species that should be hibernating at this time of the year).

Song Thrushes

MOTH RECORDS:  Winter Moth: 14 noted at Jamestown on 16th with 4 seen in Ballinamorragh on 16th and 1 also at that location on 30th.

Fieldfare

INVERTEBRATES: Hawthorn Shield Bug: 1 was recorded at Coolcotts on 22nd. (This species also hibernates, as an adult, through the winter, being seen in the autumn and spring). The third species noted this month, that should have been hibernating through the winter – I wonder what woke them all up?

AMPHIBIAN: Frog: 1 was seen in Ardcavan on 21st and 1 also noted in Ballinamorragh on the same date. Frogspawn: The first 2010 record noted was of a 'blob' in Foulksmills on 28th with a further 6 'blobs' added by 30th.

PLANTS: Elderberry buds beginning to 'open' on 3rd in Coolcotts. Snowflake in flower on 19th in Coolcotts. Snowdrop in flower in Coolcotts and at Begerin House on North Slob on 19th.