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
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)
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)
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)
26/8: first autumn ringing session today produced a Reed Warbler (AA)
August 26, 2025 at 4:17 PM
26/8: first autumn ringing session today produced a Reed Warbler (AA)
Palpita vitrealis & 3 Small Mottled Willow the best of the migrants in 3 moth-traps on Brownstown last night 23/8 (otherwise just 1 Silver Y, 6 Rusty-dot Pearl & 3 Rush Veneer); 2nd site-record of Marbled Green probably the highlight overall (PMW)
August 24, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Palpita vitrealis & 3 Small Mottled Willow the best of the migrants in 3 moth-traps on Brownstown last night 23/8 (otherwise just 1 Silver Y, 6 Rusty-dot Pearl & 3 Rush Veneer); 2nd site-record of Marbled Green probably the highlight overall (PMW)
28-29/6: STRIPED HAWK-MOTH & 2 Palpita vitrealis so far in garden traps on Brownstown Head last night, in foggy conditions with moderate SWlies - haven’t checked traps fully yet so hopefully a few more migrants to add #mothsireland @migrantmothuk.bsky.social
June 29, 2025 at 7:50 AM
28-29/6: STRIPED HAWK-MOTH & 2 Palpita vitrealis so far in garden traps on Brownstown Head last night, in foggy conditions with moderate SWlies - haven’t checked traps fully yet so hopefully a few more migrants to add #mothsireland @migrantmothuk.bsky.social
5/4: first decent catch of the spring, with total 41 new birds ringed including 30 warblers: 23 Willow Warbler, 4 Chiffchaff & 3 Blackcap (PMW) #birdringing #birdbanding
April 5, 2025 at 3:45 PM
5/4: first decent catch of the spring, with total 41 new birds ringed including 30 warblers: 23 Willow Warbler, 4 Chiffchaff & 3 Blackcap (PMW) #birdringing #birdbanding
1/4: 2 HOOPOES (likely new arrivals) on Brownstown Head this evening - first seen at path across stream nearer tip, one quickly disappeared but presumed same refound on way back (near car-parking area at top of main lane) (PMW MAD)
April 1, 2025 at 7:22 PM
1/4: 2 HOOPOES (likely new arrivals) on Brownstown Head this evening - first seen at path across stream nearer tip, one quickly disappeared but presumed same refound on way back (near car-parking area at top of main lane) (PMW MAD)
28/10: Black Redstart, Robin, Song Thrush & Goldfinch enjoying the calm sunny afternoon today - Yellow-browed Warbler (ringed bird) showed briefly earlier in day (PMW), with Merlin & especially Yellowhammer (along main lane) also notable (MC) 🪶
October 28, 2024 at 4:20 PM
28/10: Black Redstart, Robin, Song Thrush & Goldfinch enjoying the calm sunny afternoon today - Yellow-browed Warbler (ringed bird) showed briefly earlier in day (PMW), with Merlin & especially Yellowhammer (along main lane) also notable (MC) 🪶
27/10 (Sun): other news from Brownstown - CATTLE EGRET in flight over the gardens (at 0915) & Black Redstart (PA), also a Reed Warbler (later ringed) in the willow garden #birdringing #birdbanding #irishrarebirds 🪶
October 28, 2024 at 7:50 AM
27/10 (Sun): other news from Brownstown - CATTLE EGRET in flight over the gardens (at 0915) & Black Redstart (PA), also a Reed Warbler (later ringed) in the willow garden #birdringing #birdbanding #irishrarebirds 🪶
Irish south-coast warbler graph updated yet again(!) to include Hume’s on Dursey 27/10 + Dusky Hook & Mizen 26/10 & corrections: Current Old World warblers Cape #1 (32 spp), Mizen #2 (26), Galley #3 (25) - phylloscs Cape #1 (12 spp), Mizen #2 (11), Brownstown / Hook =#3 (10) 🪶
October 27, 2024 at 9:23 PM
Irish south-coast warbler graph updated yet again(!) to include Hume’s on Dursey 27/10 + Dusky Hook & Mizen 26/10 & corrections: Current Old World warblers Cape #1 (32 spp), Mizen #2 (26), Galley #3 (25) - phylloscs Cape #1 (12 spp), Mizen #2 (11), Brownstown / Hook =#3 (10) 🪶
27/10: YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER ringed in the willow garden today (PMW) #birdringing #birdbanding 🪶
October 27, 2024 at 9:16 PM
27/10: YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER ringed in the willow garden today (PMW) #birdringing #birdbanding 🪶