March 2009 Wexford Natural History Diary

Tree Sparrows are pairing

Female Pied Wagtail

SPONSOR A SPECIES FOR COUNTY WEXFORD'S LEPIDOPTERA GUIDE: Twenty-two species have been taken - Yes we can still provide 'Species Sponsors' - there are plenty of pages should anyone wish to help contribute. We hope to go to print in the VERY NEAR FUTURE - time is running out so if interested do please contact Chris Wilson - A.S.A.P. (cjwilson AT eircom DOT net).

Greenland White-fronted Geese on the North Slob

WILDLIFE RECORDS: Do please continue to submit those wildlife sightings of interest - This months wildlife summary are your records. They have either been communicated to Wexford Wildfowl Reserve on 053-9123129 or received 'On Line' on this our club website. Again, many thanks for all of you who have passed on those sightings. Records can also be sent to the New Records Officer: Simon Collins, Records Officer W.N.F.C., c/o Wexford Wildfowl Reserve, North Slob, Wexford. So 'do please keep them coming'.

Gorse is in flower

NEST BOXES: Do remember if you need any Nest Boxes you can arrange with Nicky Walsh (based at Wexford Wildfowl Reserve) by phoning him on mobile 087-2538577 and he will organise directly with you as to whatever boxes you might require.

General News and Views:

This months wildlife summary is relatively short due to the editor having been away for the past couple of months. However, rather than miss this edition of The Gaggle altogether, it was deemed better to have a brief report, rather than missing another month. We hope to be back in full swing during the first week of May.

And so to the known wildlife highlights of the month:

Recent Bird Reports in County Wexford:

There were 6 Red-throated Divers at Kilmichael Point on 29th. 1 Cattle Egret was noted at Fethard on 4th and 5th. A Glossy Ibis was at Tacumshin Lake on 13th. There were at least 100 Whooper Swans at Kilmore on 13th. 2 Barnacle Geese, 1 Snow Goose and 2 Canada Geese with up to 2 Black Brant were on the North Slob through the month. The Greenland White-fronted Goose numbers remained at 8000 in the first week of the month. There were 4 Pink-footed Goose at Lady's Island Lake on 1st with 5 counted at that location on 29th. A Green-winged Teal was at Tacumshin Lake on 8th, 15th and 29th. The Smew on the North Slob remained through the month. There were 2 Long-tailed Duck at Bannow Bay on 2nd and also 2 Long-tailed Duck at Our Lady's Island from 15th to at least 29th. There were 2 Ruddy Duck at Our Lady's Island Lake through the month. An unusual sighting of  3 Goosander were at Jamestown on 12th. Red Grouse were heard and seen on Mount Leinster on 17th and 18th.  Kestrels noted 'pairing' on the North Slob on 13th. There were 2 Ruff at Our Lady's Island Lake on 1st with 1 at Tacumshin on 15th. 2 Curlew Sandpiper were noted at Tacumshin on 1s and a 1 Green Sandpiper was recorded at Oylgate on 26th. There were 7 Black Guillemot at Rosslare Harbour on 14th. A Glaucous Gull was at Tacumshin Lake on 2nd and also on with one also noted at Nethertown on 8th and 1 was seen at Our Lady's Island Lake on 15th. An 1 Iceland Gull was present on North Slob on 8th. A Sandwich Tern was at Rosslare Harbour on 14th with 2 at Fethard Bay on 19th and 3 at Carnsore Point on 28th. A Short-eared Owl was on the South Slob on 2nd and again on 14th. There were 2 Short-eared Owl at Kilmichael Point on 14th with 1 at Tacumshin on 17th. A House Martin was seen on North Slob on 29th and there was a Sand Martin on North Slob on 12th with 70 noted passing through North Slob on 29th. 4 Swallow were seen at Our Lady's Island Lake on 30th. 2 Wheatear at Rosslare Harbour on 14th with 1 at Our Lady's Island Lake on 15th. There were good numbers of Wheatear reports all around the County from 15th. There was a Black Redstart at Nethertown on both 6th and 8th. A Black Redstart was noted at Rosslare Harbour on 14th with 2 present on 19th and another Black Redstart was at Fethard-on-Sea on 21s with 1 also recorded at Carnsore Point on 29th. A Chiffchaff was at Rosslare Harbour on 14th with another singing at Raven Point and on North Slob on 17th. Tree Sparrows were particularly active on North Slob from the middle of the month: 3 Crossbill at Raven Point on 16th. A Carrion Crow was seen both on the South Slob and at Tacumshin on 2nd. The 'White' Magpie remained present at the back of the North Slob through the month.

Other Wildlife News in County Wexford:

BUTTERFLIES
There was a Small Tortoiseshell at Coolcotts on 16th with 2 noted at Mount Leinster on 17th. There was 1 in Wexford on 22nd and a further 2 at Raven Nature Reserve on 21st. A Peacock was seen at Ballyteige on 17th with another at Raven Nature Reserve on 21st. A Small White was seen in Wexford on 22nd.

MOTHS
An early Humming-bird Hawk-moth was noted at Coolcotts on 22nd

OTHER GROUPS
There were a good number of reports of Frogspawn seen through the County during the month.