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Brownstown Birds

@brownstownbirds.bsky.social
232 followers 160 following 166 posts

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

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Brownstown Birds @brownstownbirds.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
11/10 1001: BARRED WARBLER along main track, Brownstown Head - east ditch immediately below chalet, elusive (MC)
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Brownstown Birds @brownstownbirds.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
10/10: highlights around the Head today (including Coolum) were a Long-eared Owl, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Hen Harriers & 8 Jays (MC DW)
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Brownstown Birds @brownstownbirds.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
6/10: Yellow-browed Warbler still present (from 4/10) & a Great Spotted Woodpecker ringed (AA) - GSW new to the Brownstown Hd ringing list
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Brownstown Birds @brownstownbirds.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
4/10 1335: Yellow-browed Warbler ringed on Brownstown Head (PMW)
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Brownstown Birds @brownstownbirds.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
3/10: Yellow Wagtail flyover on Brownstown Hd this morning (DW), also Great Spotted Woodpecker, Pied Flycatcher, Reed Warbler & good nos of Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs & Willow Warblers at Coolum (MC)
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Brownstown Birds @brownstownbirds.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
30/9 1104: Pied Flycatcher in the willow garden (AA)
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Brownstown Birds @brownstownbirds.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
27/9 (Sun): LESSER WHITETHROAT & Garden Warbler (MC), also Spotted Flycatcher (KA)
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Brownstown Birds @brownstownbirds.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
27/9 1129: LESSER WHITETHROAT on Brownstown Head, just before gate at south end of main track (MC)
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Brownstown Birds @brownstownbirds.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
21/9 0925: QUAIL on Brownstown Head (DS)
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Brownstown Birds @brownstownbirds.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
29/8 (Sat): video from the initial sighting of the Western Bonelli’s Warbler on Brownstown (AA) - 3rd record for Co Waterford & Brownstown Head
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Brownstown Birds @brownstownbirds.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
29/8 1532: TREE PIPIT flushed from car park/ruins and flew over main willow garden, Brownstown (DW)
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Brownstown Birds @brownstownbirds.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
29/8 1324: BONELLI’S WARBLER sp briefly seen (no call heard) in main willow garden. Brownstown Head (AA) - relocated behind garden (1438)
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Brownstown Birds @brownstownbirds.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
28/8 1331: WRYNECK near main lane on Brownstown Head (AJ JR DF) but no sign of yesterday’s Ortolan Bunting so far today
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Brownstown Birds @brownstownbirds.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
27/8: Tallies from Brownstown this evening: ORTOLAN BUNTING (DW), flyover TREE PIPIT (MC), Short-eared Owl, Reed Warbler, 2 Grasshopper Warblers, 3 Sedgies, 2 Wheatears & a Spotted Flycatcher
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Brownstown Birds @brownstownbirds.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
27/8 1924: ORTOLAN BUNTING on Brownstown Head, on the main lane outside the chalet garden (DW) - 1st Co Waterford record!
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Brownstown Birds @brownstownbirds.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
24/8: 2 Reed Warblers, Grasshopper Warbler, 3 Whitethroats, Blackcap & 10+ Willow Warblers (JR AJ PMW)
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Brownstown Birds @brownstownbirds.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Migrant / likely migrants highlights from moth trapping night of 22/8 were Ni Moth (site 1st), 2 Nutmeg (site 3rd & 4th) & Palpita vitrealis - also a Vestal, 6 Small Mottled Willow, 4 Silver Y, 1 Dark Sword-grass, 4 Rush Veneer & 2 Rusty-dot Pearl @migrantmothuk.bsky.social #mothsireland
Ni Moth Nutmeg #1Nutmeg #2Palpita vitrealis
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Brownstown Birds @brownstownbirds.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
23/8: juv Whinchat, Spotted Flycatcher & small nos of Willow Warblers & Whitethroats around the Head this morning (MC) plus juv Reed Warbler & Goldcrest ringed (PMW)
Reed Warbler juvenile captured for ringingReed Warbler juvenile captured for ringingWillow Warblers juvenile captured for ringingGoldcrest juvenile captured for ringing (with ‘crest’ colouration not yet evident)
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Brownstown Birds @brownstownbirds.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
16/8: 2 flyover TREE PIPITS, Brownstown Head - also 2 Grasshopper Warblers, 1 Wheatear, 1 Willow Warbler , 2 Whitethroats & 2 flyover Ringed Plover (MC, 05:30-08:35)
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Brownstown Birds @brownstownbirds.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
11/8: 2 Spotted Flycatchers in the chalet garden & 20+ Clouded Yellow butterflies on the head this morning (DS)
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Brownstown Birds @brownstownbirds.bsky.social · 02/08/2026
1/8: moth-trapping highlights on Brownstown included a Striped Hawk-moth, 2 Hoary Footman & 2 Marbled Green (MAD PMW) #MigrantMothUK #mothsireland
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Brownstown Birds @brownstownbirds.bsky.social · 31/05/2026
30/5: a late start to this year’s moth-trapping on Brownstown Head produced 6 Small Mottled Willow (highest ever catch here), with 3 Diamond-back Moth, a Rusty-dot Pearl & a Dark Sword-grass the only other migrants #mothsireland #migrantmoths
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Brownstown Birds @brownstownbirds.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
Whitethroat, 30+ Willow Warblers, 6 Chiffchaffs & a Merlin best on Brownstown this morning (DW AA) [2 Willow Warblers, 2 male Blackcaps, Chiffchaff & a Swallow yesterday afternoon (DS)]
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Brownstown Birds @brownstownbirds.bsky.social · 18/03/2026
18/3: 15+ Chiffchaffs on Brownstown today (PA)
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Reposted by Brownstown Birds
Waterford Birds @watbirds.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
4/12 1009: DUSKY WARBLER at Anne Valley, feeding & calling frequently along stream 1.2 km upstream from Dunhill Castle (DS) - 2nd ever Co Waterford record (same finder as the Brownstown Head October 2024 bird!)
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Brownstown Birds @brownstownbirds.bsky.social · 16/11/2025
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
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Brownstown Birds @brownstownbirds.bsky.social · 08/11/2025
8/11: Red-breasted Flycatcher & Firecrest ringed today along with 3 Blackcaps & 5 Chiffchaffs (AA)
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Brownstown Birds @brownstownbirds.bsky.social · 08/11/2025
8/11 1124: YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER (new), Red-breasted Flycatcher, Firecrest, Black Redstart & Swallow on Brownstown this morning (DW MC PA AA)
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Brownstown Birds @brownstownbirds.bsky.social · 08/11/2025
8/11 0820: Red-breasted Flycatcher still present on Brownstown Head (MC)
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Brownstown Birds @brownstownbirds.bsky.social · 07/11/2025
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)
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Brownstown Birds @brownstownbirds.bsky.social · 27/10/2025
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
Radford’s Flame Shoulder moth
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Brownstown Birds @brownstownbirds.bsky.social · 26/10/2025
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
Long-tailed Tit in mist-netRedwingLesser Redpoll (adult male)Lesser Redpoll (adult male)
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Brownstown Birds @brownstownbirds.bsky.social · 21/10/2025
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
Radford’s Flame ShoulderDelicateFeathered BrindleDark Chestnut
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Brownstown Birds @brownstownbirds.bsky.social · 18/10/2025
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
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Brownstown Birds @brownstownbirds.bsky.social · 18/10/2025
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
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Brownstown Birds @brownstownbirds.bsky.social · 17/10/2025
17/10: Another YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER ringed on Brownstown Head this morning (MAD PMW) - 3rd in 6 days !
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Brownstown Birds @brownstownbirds.bsky.social · 16/10/2025
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
DelicateL-album WainscotScarce Bordered StrawPalpita vitrealis
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Brownstown Birds @brownstownbirds.bsky.social · 15/10/2025
15/10: another YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER ringed this morning (PMW), 2nd in 4 days
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Brownstown Birds @brownstownbirds.bsky.social · 14/10/2025
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
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Brownstown Birds @brownstownbirds.bsky.social · 14/10/2025
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
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Brownstown Birds @brownstownbirds.bsky.social · 13/10/2025
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)
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Brownstown Birds @brownstownbirds.bsky.social · 12/10/2025
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
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Brownstown Birds @brownstownbirds.bsky.social · 12/10/2025
12/10: YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER ringed in the willow garden, Brownstown Head this morning (PMW)
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Brownstown Birds @brownstownbirds.bsky.social · 27/09/2025
27/9: juvenile Cuckoo, 2 Reed Warblers & a Whinchat on Brownstown today (DW)
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Brownstown Birds @brownstownbirds.bsky.social · 20/09/2025
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)
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Brownstown Birds @brownstownbirds.bsky.social · 19/09/2025
19/9: Whinchat, Wheatear, Pied & 2 Spotted Flycatchers, Garden Warbler, Reed W, Whitethroat, Blackcap, 2 Willow Ws & 3 Chiffs on Brownstown today (AA MC)
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Reposted by Brownstown Birds
Waterford Birds @watbirds.bsky.social · 18/09/2025
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…
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Brownstown Birds @brownstownbirds.bsky.social · 14/09/2025
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)
White-speckPalpita vitrealisPearly UnderwingDark Sword-grass
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Brownstown Birds @brownstownbirds.bsky.social · 14/09/2025
14/9: Pied Flycatcher, Spotted Flycatcher & Wheatear (MAD PMW). 13/9 (Sat): 2 Pied & 2 Spotted Flycatchers, Reed Warbler & 2 Wheatears (MC JR PMW)
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Waterford Birds @watbirds.bsky.social · 11/09/2025
A busy enough start to the autumn season - latest updates on waterfordbirds(dot)com - with expectations high for the coming weeks…
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