Irish itinerary for "birders" visiting from USA

Chisler2

What would you consider an interesting itinerary for "birder" friends visiting from the USA for two weeks? They are "hard-core" with global experience and photograph their expeditions.

What combination of locations (anywhere in the Republic) would offer the widest range of species and habitats, at which time of year? Given the time-limitation would that "dream itinerary" have space for visits to off-shore bird-sanctuaries off the west coast, factoring-in weather and tide conditions?............and charitably giving a day or two after arrival for 'jet-lag' and getting settled.

V_Moth

It would really depend on what species they are targeting. The Eric Dempsey guide to finding birds in Ireland is a good starting point.

vandriver

Saltee Islands ,Or Rathlin Island?

vandriver

Fulmars by carl cotter, on Flickr

Puffins Razorbills by carl cotter, on Flickr

Rathlin Island Bird Colony by carl cotter, on Flickr

jmkennedyie

Best birds in spring or autumn to catch rarietes on passage or off course. Sites that come to mind: Cape Clear ... wonderful place with bird observatory and sea watching in Sept for glimpse of rare seabirds out at sea.. Wexford slobs, Bull island, both in autumn. Glendalough in late spring.

Chisler2

jmkennedyie wrote: »

Best birds in spring or autumn to catch rarietes on passage or off course. Sites that come to mind: Cape Clear ... wonderful place with bird observatory and sea watching in Sept for glimpse of rare seabirds out at sea.. Wexford slobs, Bull island, both in autumn. Glendalough in late spring.

That's an attractive prospect JMK.........and if they come for the first weekend of September there is the added interest of the Cape Clear Island International Storytelling Festival..........and in a Gaeltacht area.

baaba maal

Clear Island for a weekend would be brilliant, but you'd really want to get accommodation in Clear sorted asap if they go that weekend- the place nearly fills up from the storytellers alone- never mind the listeners!
If they get the right weather, the seabird-watching from the south of the island is unreal (in terms of numbers and species). A spotting scope would be essential but they sound "tooled up" so I imagine that is already in the bag.

Chisler2

baaba maal wrote: »

Clear Island for a weekend would be brilliant, but you'd really want to get accommodation in Clear sorted asap if they go that weekend- the place nearly fills up from the storytellers alone- never mind the listeners!
If they get the right weather, the seabird-watching from the south of the island is unreal (in terms of numbers and species). A spotting scope would be essential but they sound "tooled up" so I imagine that is already in the bag.

Evidently "tooled up" https://www.flickr.com/photos/42641165@N03/sets/72157655233547785 and afaik Ireland is the sole remaining country in which they have not "birded". Thank you for the advice on Clear (it sounds like the perfect place) so the trip should probably be deferred until next autumn.

Any suggestions for a contrasting or complimentary/unique habitat for a further 3-4 days to put with the week in Clear? Forgive my ignorance but would the boglands (Mayo, Clare) yield much interest over a few days of watching, given the depletion of corncrake etc? I do not want to frustrate my friends through with long days of mainly empty land and sky.

baaba maal

Others here would be more knowledgeable, but l think the Mullet peninsula would be worthwhile, along with Kilcummin head also nw Mayo, for sea watching. It might be worth sending them a copy of the previously-mentioned "Finding Birds in Ireland" by Dempsey and O'Clery. It has a list of great sites, with directions, notable species and they are grouped into the time of year they will be seen at the site. It would allow your visitors to plan out the trip and also other sites in case they have to change the plan- for example many sea watching sites are dependent on the wind coming from a particular direction to drive the birds near land

Chisler2

V_Moth wrote: »

It would really depend on what species they are targeting. The Eric Dempsey guide to finding birds in Ireland is a good starting point.

Ordered from Birdwatch Ireland. Thank you VMoth

Chisler2

baaba maal wrote: »

Others here would be more knowledgeable, but l think the Mullet peninsula would be worthwhile, along with Kilcummin head also nw Mayo, for sea watching. It might be worth sending them a copy of the previously-mentioned "Finding Birds in Ireland" by Dempsey and O'Clery. It has a list of great sites, with directions, notable species and they are grouped into the time of year they will be seen at the site. It would allow your visitors to plan out the trip and also other sites in case they have to change the plan- for example many sea watching sites are dependent on the wind coming from a particular direction to drive the birds near land

Cape Clear plus two locations in spectacular N.W. Mayo sounds like a winning combination - both to fit into their fortnight and for myself as I shall be driving and offering myself as "general factotum" to allow them to focus on the birds and manage their extensive equipment. Very grateful for you all for taking the time and interest to respond and I shall post again with news after the trip....... and there will be photos (theirs of course.........I am not near that league!)

Capercaillie

On Mullet you will get Corncrake calling now but usually finish up shortly. Chough present. Twite at erris head. Plenty of skylarks, a declining bird in the east of the Country due to unsympathetic intensive agriculture. The holy trinity all on one peninsula!! Coastal machair grassland which is a rare habitat. Gaeltacht region near the tip of peninsula, unfortunately if you speak Irish in Belmullet town they generally don't know what you are saying.

Chisler2

Capercaillie wrote: »

On Mullet you will get Corncrake calling now but usually finish up shortly. Chough present. Twite at erris head. Plenty of skylarks, a declining bird in the east of the Country due to unsympathetic intensive agriculture. The holy trinity all on one peninsula!! Coastal machair grassland which is a rare habitat. Gaeltacht region near the tip of peninsula, unfortunately if you speak Irish in Belmullet town they generally don't know what you are saying.

Pity about loss of "an teanga beo" in Mayo. Significant dearth of it in West Donegal a couple of weeks ago so after a few initial efforts to "leabhar as Gaelge" I gave up! Thank you CC - Mullet and Cape Clear, combined with a couple of days on Annagh Bog looks make an attractive 'package', if the weather-gods be with us!