Brownstown Birds
@brownstownbirds.bsky.social
Migrant and other bird/wildlife news from Brownstown Head, a coastal watchpoint & bird-ringing site in Co Waterford (SE Ireland). Send reports/photos to reports(at)waterfordbirds(dot)com - admin: PM Walsh
Pinned
A hugely significant publication from the great RJ Ussher in the Irish Naturalist of 1897: Great Auk bones in kitchen middens at Tramore Sandhills - barely 2 km (as the auk can’t fly!) from the 1834 live capture of the species between Brownstown Head & Ballymacaw, Co Waterford
November 16, 2025 at 9:09 PM
A hugely significant publication from the great RJ Ussher in the Irish Naturalist of 1897: Great Auk bones in kitchen middens at Tramore Sandhills - barely 2 km (as the auk can’t fly!) from the 1834 live capture of the species between Brownstown Head & Ballymacaw, Co Waterford
8/11: Red-breasted Flycatcher & Firecrest ringed today along with 3 Blackcaps & 5 Chiffchaffs (AA)
November 8, 2025 at 3:52 PM
8/11: Red-breasted Flycatcher & Firecrest ringed today along with 3 Blackcaps & 5 Chiffchaffs (AA)
8/11 1124: YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER (new), Red-breasted Flycatcher, Firecrest, Black Redstart & Swallow on Brownstown this morning (DW MC PA AA)
November 8, 2025 at 11:30 AM
8/11 1124: YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER (new), Red-breasted Flycatcher, Firecrest, Black Redstart & Swallow on Brownstown this morning (DW MC PA AA)
8/11 0820: Red-breasted Flycatcher still present on Brownstown Head (MC)
November 8, 2025 at 9:51 AM
8/11 0820: Red-breasted Flycatcher still present on Brownstown Head (MC)
7/11: RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHER (6th site record) at the chalet garden before heading inland towards the willow garden, FIRECREST at ‘Paddyfield corner’, Black Redstart, Siberian Chiffchaff (in willow garden), 8 Common Chiffchaffs & a Blackcap (DW)
November 7, 2025 at 7:41 PM
7/11: RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHER (6th site record) at the chalet garden before heading inland towards the willow garden, FIRECREST at ‘Paddyfield corner’, Black Redstart, Siberian Chiffchaff (in willow garden), 8 Common Chiffchaffs & a Blackcap (DW)
2nd Radford’s Flame Shoulder of the week & 3rd ever for Brownstown Head last night (26/10) in a catch of just 5 moths, a Rusty-dot Pearl the only other migrant @migrantmothuk.bsky.social #mothsireland
October 27, 2025 at 7:11 PM
2nd Radford’s Flame Shoulder of the week & 3rd ever for Brownstown Head last night (26/10) in a catch of just 5 moths, a Rusty-dot Pearl the only other migrant @migrantmothuk.bsky.social #mothsireland
26/10: Ringing highlights today were 17 Long-tailed Tits, a Redwing & 6 Lesser Redpolls (incl 3 adult males) in a total catch of 35 new birds
October 26, 2025 at 9:45 PM
26/10: Ringing highlights today were 17 Long-tailed Tits, a Redwing & 6 Lesser Redpolls (incl 3 adult males) in a total catch of 35 new birds
Radford’s Flame Shoulder (2nd Brownstown Head record following one in 2024) was the migrant moth highlight Monday night (20/10/2025) plus a Delicate; residents included Feathered Brindle (rare/localised in SE Ireland) & a Dark Chestnut #migrantmothuk #mothsireland
October 21, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Radford’s Flame Shoulder (2nd Brownstown Head record following one in 2024) was the migrant moth highlight Monday night (20/10/2025) plus a Delicate; residents included Feathered Brindle (rare/localised in SE Ireland) & a Dark Chestnut #migrantmothuk #mothsireland
A White-point was the migrant-moth highlight Friday night (17/10) - 1st Brownstown Head record, but previously recorded at the opposite side of Tramore Bay, in July 2022 #MigrantMothUK #mothsireland
October 18, 2025 at 8:54 PM
A White-point was the migrant-moth highlight Friday night (17/10) - 1st Brownstown Head record, but previously recorded at the opposite side of Tramore Bay, in July 2022 #MigrantMothUK #mothsireland
A surprise, fresh Bordered Gothic in trap overnight 16/10 on Brownstown Head - latest-ever Irish record by 27 days? Near-identical to local individuals previously trapped here in June, evidently ruling out a blow-in… #mothsireland
October 18, 2025 at 3:56 PM
A surprise, fresh Bordered Gothic in trap overnight 16/10 on Brownstown Head - latest-ever Irish record by 27 days? Near-identical to local individuals previously trapped here in June, evidently ruling out a blow-in… #mothsireland
17/10: Another YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER ringed on Brownstown Head this morning (MAD PMW) - 3rd in 6 days !
October 17, 2025 at 1:24 PM
17/10: Another YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER ringed on Brownstown Head this morning (MAD PMW) - 3rd in 6 days !
Eight species of (likely/possible) migrant moth on Brownstown Tues night (14/10) included single Delicate, L-album Wainscot (4th site record), Scarce Bordered Straw & Palpita vitrealis, plus 14 Rush Veneer, 7 RdPearl, 2 Silver Y & a DSGrass #migrantmothuk #mothsireland
October 16, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Eight species of (likely/possible) migrant moth on Brownstown Tues night (14/10) included single Delicate, L-album Wainscot (4th site record), Scarce Bordered Straw & Palpita vitrealis, plus 14 Rush Veneer, 7 RdPearl, 2 Silver Y & a DSGrass #migrantmothuk #mothsireland
15/10: another YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER ringed this morning (PMW), 2nd in 4 days
October 15, 2025 at 9:28 AM
15/10: another YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER ringed this morning (PMW), 2nd in 4 days
A few more of today’s Radde’s Warbler - part of a good catch of 66 new birds including 14 Chiffs, 3 Blackcaps, 7 Goldcrests, 16 Goldfinches & 2 Meadow Pipits
October 14, 2025 at 5:05 PM
A few more of today’s Radde’s Warbler - part of a good catch of 66 new birds including 14 Chiffs, 3 Blackcaps, 7 Goldcrests, 16 Goldfinches & 2 Meadow Pipits
14/10: RADDE’S WARBLER ringed in the willow garden, Brownstown Head this morning (PMW) - the 3rd ringed in same garden in the last 10 Octobers (2016-2025), 6th Co Waterford (& 3rd Brownstown) record
October 14, 2025 at 1:33 PM
14/10: RADDE’S WARBLER ringed in the willow garden, Brownstown Head this morning (PMW) - the 3rd ringed in same garden in the last 10 Octobers (2016-2025), 6th Co Waterford (& 3rd Brownstown) record
1st-year male European Stonechat from last week - the wait continues for one of its eastern relatives (still missing from the Brownstown & Co Waterford lists)
October 13, 2025 at 2:35 PM
1st-year male European Stonechat from last week - the wait continues for one of its eastern relatives (still missing from the Brownstown & Co Waterford lists)
Migrant & other autumn highlights among small moth catches on Brownstown Head this week included (clockwise from top left): L-album Wainscot (11/10/2025), Green-brindled Crescent (11/10), Vestal (7/10) & Feathered Ranunculus (9/10) #mothsireland #migrantmothuk
October 12, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Migrant & other autumn highlights among small moth catches on Brownstown Head this week included (clockwise from top left): L-album Wainscot (11/10/2025), Green-brindled Crescent (11/10), Vestal (7/10) & Feathered Ranunculus (9/10) #mothsireland #migrantmothuk
12/10: YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER ringed in the willow garden, Brownstown Head this morning (PMW)
October 12, 2025 at 11:25 AM
12/10: YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER ringed in the willow garden, Brownstown Head this morning (PMW)
27/9: juvenile Cuckoo, 2 Reed Warblers & a Whinchat on Brownstown today (DW)
September 27, 2025 at 6:06 PM
27/9: juvenile Cuckoo, 2 Reed Warblers & a Whinchat on Brownstown today (DW)
20/9: Whinchat, Pied Flycatcher, 2 Spotted Flys, Grasshopper Warbler, 3 Reed Warblers, 7 Blackcaps, a Willow Warbler, c.10 Chiffchaffs & 10 Wheatears on Brownstown (incl Coolum glen) (DW MC)
September 20, 2025 at 6:07 PM
20/9: Whinchat, Pied Flycatcher, 2 Spotted Flys, Grasshopper Warbler, 3 Reed Warblers, 7 Blackcaps, a Willow Warbler, c.10 Chiffchaffs & 10 Wheatears on Brownstown (incl Coolum glen) (DW MC)
19/9: Whinchat, Wheatear, Pied & 2 Spotted Flycatchers, Garden Warbler, Reed W, Whitethroat, Blackcap, 2 Willow Ws & 3 Chiffs on Brownstown today (AA MC)
September 19, 2025 at 7:54 PM
19/9: Whinchat, Wheatear, Pied & 2 Spotted Flycatchers, Garden Warbler, Reed W, Whitethroat, Blackcap, 2 Willow Ws & 3 Chiffs on Brownstown today (AA MC)
Reposted by Brownstown Birds
Given the season, some potential/target autumn-to-early-winter additions still needed for the Co Waterford list, based on national / adjacent-county status, local habitat / coverage, optimism & personal bias! Suggested best bets underlined - some hopefully just days/weeks away…
September 18, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Given the season, some potential/target autumn-to-early-winter additions still needed for the Co Waterford list, based on national / adjacent-county status, local habitat / coverage, optimism & personal bias! Suggested best bets underlined - some hopefully just days/weeks away…
Migrant moths in garden traps on Brownstown Head last night (13/9): 1 White-speck, 2 Palpita vitrealis, 1 Pearly Underwing, 6 Dark Sword-grass, 34 Rush Veneer & 4 Rusty-dot Pearl (PMW)
September 14, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Migrant moths in garden traps on Brownstown Head last night (13/9): 1 White-speck, 2 Palpita vitrealis, 1 Pearly Underwing, 6 Dark Sword-grass, 34 Rush Veneer & 4 Rusty-dot Pearl (PMW)
14/9: Pied Flycatcher, Spotted Flycatcher & Wheatear (MAD PMW). 13/9 (Sat): 2 Pied & 2 Spotted Flycatchers, Reed Warbler & 2 Wheatears (MC JR PMW)
September 14, 2025 at 6:09 PM
14/9: Pied Flycatcher, Spotted Flycatcher & Wheatear (MAD PMW). 13/9 (Sat): 2 Pied & 2 Spotted Flycatchers, Reed Warbler & 2 Wheatears (MC JR PMW)
Reposted by Brownstown Birds
A busy enough start to the autumn season - latest updates on waterfordbirds(dot)com - with expectations high for the coming weeks…
September 11, 2025 at 6:31 PM
A busy enough start to the autumn season - latest updates on waterfordbirds(dot)com - with expectations high for the coming weeks…