Visiting Ireland on holidays, or for just a short business trip?
To make the best of your birdwatching time, why not hire Eric Dempsey or
Esther Murphy as your guide?
Eric
Dempsey
is a professional bird guide, broadcaster, presenter, speaker and
writer.
He is the author of the best-selling "Complete
Guide to Ireland's Birds," published by Gill & Macmillan in 1993 with a
revised 2nd edition produced in 2002.
He is also the author of "Pocket
Guide to the Common Birds of Ireland."
Eric is a regular panelist on, and expert consultant to, the popular �Mooney
Goes Wild� show on Radio 1.
He has also made numerous TV appearances, including a documentary by RTE
(Ireland's national television station) on his birdwatching life as part of the
�Obsessions� series.
Esther Murphy
is a Co-founder of the Birds of Ireland
News Service and Ireland's leading female lister.
Esther has been birding in over thirty countries and her wildlife and landscape
photography has appeared in many journals and books.
 In
1990 she co-founded the Birds of Ireland News Service with Eric Dempsey and
Michael O'Clery and served on the editorial board of Ireland's first
independent birding magazine 'Irish Birding News'.
Actively birding since the mid 1980's, Esther has lead many guided bird tours
both in a professional and voluntary capacity.
In 1992, Esther became the first Irish female to see 300
species in Ireland, and is still Ireland's top female lister, ranked within the
top 20 in the country.
An active conservationist she co-founded Birdwatch Ireland's Tolka Branch and
has worked tirelessly for conservation and animal welfare issues for many
years.
About Birding in Ireland
Ireland is undoubtedly one of the most exciting birding destinations in
Europe.
Although it possesses fewer breeding species than neighbouring countries, it
has relatively healthy populations of some that are in serious decline
elsewhere in Europe, such as Roseate Tern and Corncrake.
It also has some of the largest breeding seabird colonies in the world, huge
flocks of wintering waders and wildfowl, dramatic seabird passage and a host of
rare and unusual migrants.
It is uncrowded,and combined with beautiful, unspoilt scenery, will make for
an exciting and unforgettable birdwatching experience.
Ireland also has three distinctive
subspecies of breeding birds, Coal Tit, Jay and Dipper.
Our American visitors
While Ireland's western geographical location is not ideal for many European
migrants, it is perfect for the occurrence of many North American species swept
across the Atlantic on their long migration from Northeast Canada.
Every year, waders, gulls and passerines are found in the southern and
south-western counties. In autumn in County Wexford it is not unusual to
encounter five species of Nearctic wader in one day. In the autumn of 1999, up
to nine Buff-breasted Sandpipers were seen together in Wexford.
In the same autumn, at least five Chimney Swifts, a Common Nighthawk and a
Swainson's Thrush were recorded in Ireland.
Seabird bonanza
Ireland's westerly location in Europe has also made it one of the best
seawatching spots in Europe.
Sites like Cape Clear Island in Cork records large movements of common
seabirds like Manx Shearwater, Storm Petrel, Fulmar and Kittiwake, while
scarcer species such as Skuas (Jaegers), Cory's, Sooty and Great Shearwaters
are regularly encountered.
In recent times Soft-plumaged (Fea's) Petrels has become annual. Other
hotspots for seawatching, including the Bridges-of-Ross and Kilcummin Head,
have become Mecca's for sea watchers.
Wintering wildfowl
Dominated by the warm Gulf Stream, Ireland enjoys relatively mild and wet
winters, making it ideal as a wintering ground for wildfowl and waders. The
Wexford Wildfowl Reserve holds over half the world's population of Greenland
White-fronted Geese, while Brent, Greylag and, on the west coast, Barnacle
Geese are a common sight.
Huge flocks of ducks and waders are to be seen in and around the loughs and
estuaries of Ireland, with sites such as Lough Neagh in the North, and the
Shannon Estuary holding tens of thousands of Lapwing, Knot, Golden Plover and a
host of others.
Gulls galore
Each winter large numbers of northern gulls arrive in northern and western
counties. Perhaps Killybegs in Donegal is the most famous, with Iceland and
Glaucous Gulls occurring in double figures every winter.
In recent years 'smithsonianus' Herring Gulls have been found, while
Killybegs also played host to a superb adult Thayer's Gull, which attracted a
very appreciative audience during its three-week stay.
Ireland holds one last superb attraction to the visiting birder - solitude.
Birding is still in its youth in Ireland and its not unusual to spend a
midweek day at one of Europe's hotspots in perfect weather conditions, at the
right time of the year, and not meet another birder.
Below are just a few suggested birding trips for you to take
with BirdsIreland.
But remember, this is your holiday and your birding tour. You
decide where you want to go and what birds you would like to see.
Midland Lakes
This journey takes us inland to visit the bird-rich habitats of the midland
lakes.
Our first stop will be at Lough Owel. This shallow lake attracts thousands of
waterbirds, including Pochard and Tufted Duck as well as large numbers of
Coots, and is suitable for the surface-feeding species such as Shoveler, Wigeon,
Teal and possibly Gadwall.
We should see Great Crested Grebes and Whooper Swans. As usual, we will always
be on the look-out for something special with Goosander and Smew being recorded
at this site in recent years.
From here we shall travel further inland towards Lough Derravaragh. This
excellent wildfowl habitat is perfect for a host of diving ducks and is also
known for Whooper Swans, grebes and Pintail.
Around the area we expect to encounter large numbers of Golden Plover and
Lapwing while the fields of the midlands usually abound with winter thrushes
like Redwings and Fieldfares.
Finch flocks in this area are always worth watching in winter with Bramblings
being regularly seen each year.
We can search for the wide variety of ducks, divers, waders and gulls which
can be found along this bird-rich coastline. Included in our itinerary is
Clogher Head where we expect to find divers and sea-ducks along with several
gull species.
Lying in the sunny south-east, Wexford is home to a wealth of breeding birds
including the superb tern colonies of Lady's Island Lake.
Here we shall stroll around the island and watch the busy activities of
Sandwich, Arctic and Common Terns. Lady's Island is also home to the rare and
exquisite Roseate Tern.
We should also encounter Great Crested and Little Grebes, resplendent in
their summer plumage.
Wexford is also the home of warblers, ducks and rails which can be found in
the extensive reed-beds of Tacumshin Lake. Reed Warblers can be frequently
heard here, and seen with a little patience, but by far the commonest warbler
here is the Sedge Warbler with its distinctive song.
Our leaders will also be watching for Cuckoos and the rare Marsh Harrier
which often frequents these areas in early summer.
The seabird colonies off the Wexford coast are also renowned, and we shall
be spending time watching the passing Razorbills, Guillemots, Gannets, and
hopefully, Puffins and Manx Shearwaters as they commute to and from the Saltee
Islands.
Our vantage point lies in the south-west area of Lady's Island with the
Saltee Islands just offshore.
Our 'wealth of knowledge and experience of the birds and habitats of Wexford
will make this a day to remember.
The remote vales of Glendalough and Glenmalure, set high in the Wicklow
Mountains provide an ideal setting for this informal birding experience.
The mature deciduous woodlands of Glendalough are our first stop. The highly
vocal warblers like Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler singing high in the dense
canopy, will probably be the first group we shall encounter.
Higher up in the valley, we shall listen for the loud and melodic notes of
the shy Blackcap.
While helping to identify these species by song, Eric will endeavour to
ensure that everyone obtains good views of all the warblers.
We may also see the elusive Irish race of Jay, while Spotted Flycatchers,
Treecreepers and Long-tailed Tits also breed in these bird-rich woodlands, and
we may possibly encounter the distant songs of the rare Wood Warbler.
On the lakes, Goosanders can often be found. After our sojourn in the
beautiful woods of Glendalough, we shall continue into the Glenmalure Valley
where we hope to hear, and with luck, see the shy and secretive Ring Ouzel
which inhabits the scree slopes above the Barrovore Ford.
Wheatears, Meadow Pipits and Grey Wagtails are also found in this valley
while overhead the spectacular flights of Peregrine Falcons are frequently
seen.
Ravens nest high on the cliffs above while in the coniferous forests we may
encounter the small, colourful Siskin or even a small flock of Crossbills
flying over.
The elusive Dipper, a white water river specialist may also be encountered. |