Robin Island - Inis Oir

Everywhere you wander on the isle of Inisheer you will encounter the Robin.

Perched on walls singing, chasing other birds , every paddock seems to be a territory.

Even at the pub they will perch on your bag

Birdwatching on Inisheer ,a small guide

Birdwatching on Inisheer.

My reason for going to Inisheer was to search in hope for some migratory birds on an island where there isnt much, if any information on birdswatching at all

Inishmore the more western of the three Aran Islands over the past years has been quite remarkable for migrants, so why not Inisheer, after all it is an island in the atlantic that has a lighthouse,a lough and a pub on it

All week a steady easterly weather flow has bought small passerine birds west.

Today a SE breeze,dry with high cloud cover , we caught the Doolin -Aran ferry at 10;00 with arrival on the island at 10:40

A short 30 minute walk brings you to the north end of the lough.

2 Mute Swans, 12 Wigeon,1 Moorhen we on the water ,a Jack Snipe was flushed.Song Thrush ,Blackbirds, Mipits and small finch flocks feed on wildflower seeds in the surounding paddocks

The Lough looking south

A the south end of the Lough a Willow gorge runs along a small valley that links the lighthouse all the way to the lough offering some if not the only cover on the island (apart from walls).

A Rabbit Warren starts the opening to the Gorge,Brambles run down into the gorge joined with Willows and dead wildflower patches, the walls of the gorge offer a thick ivy cover, the Willows thicken then blend into a reed bed on the lough shore

We made our way along the ridge looking down.

We were delighted to find 2 Yellow browed Warblers ,2 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap along with Blackbirds ,Wrens,Dunnock ,Stonechats and Robins.

The Willow Gorge looking north

At the lighthouse (an hours walk from harbour) a Wheatear showed , a few Gulls and a Turnstone flock and a few Cormorant and Curlew were on the reef, small flocks of Starlings were swirling around, a Kestrel was in the area, otherwise it was quiet

We were thinking maybe that this area with a westerly air flow may suit American migrants better

Evening Cliff Trek

A stunning evening at The Cliffs of Moher.

I took my two eldest daughters and their friend on a trek to the base of the cliffs to see the Puffins.

Its was an exiting time for them on the steep decent and climb back, and a moment to remember for all their days.

 You dont forget your first time at the bottom  of this majestic place

We returned to the top to Fulmars gliding in a view of Sunset over the Aran Isles

Arctic Terns - Inis Meáin

One of my main reasons to visit Inis mann was in hope of seeing a variety of Terns, and on my wish list was Little Tern, which I did not see today.

A few pairs of Arctic Terns were courting and investigating nest sites high on the beach , giving exceptional views. 

Approx 35-40 Arctics were roosting on boulders at the eastern end of the beach with a few Sandwich Terns ,It was a hot day and small flurries of fishing trips close to shore to gather sand-eel to present for their partners in courtship seemed to be the only activity.
A adult Med Gull was also present.

Inis Meáin -The unseen Aran Isle

On arrival at Inishmann (the middle Aran island) we(my wife &little boy) were alone, all tourists on the boat went to the 2 other more commercial islands. 

Walls & more walls like a maze . The weather was as hot as ive ever felt in Ireland , we started our trek

Western Marsh Orchid

 The season of wild flowers had started and fields were in bloom with Buttercups,Bloody Cranesbill,Oxe eye Daisys,Western Marsh Orchid the list goes on . Lapwings were nesting close to the path and trying there best to clear us from there area. Skylarks sang there song in theclear blue sky
We walked the length of the north-side beach without seeing another footprint, and  that is rare enough in modern times

Lapwing

Oxe-eyed Daisy

Skylark

After we made our way off the beach and through the maze of hidden roads among rocky walls we made our trek way uphill to the pub for some well earned Beers

My outcome of this island would be different from the other 2 . Its wilder ,quieter ,harder work and way less touristy which suits me just fine.

The rocks walls of Inisheer

The Aran island of Inisheer  is a barren rocky place . You walk the island in a maze of  old walls .Within the walls are small fields where wild flowers grow, the small meadows host the song of Skylarks,Blackbirds,Meadow Pipits and Wrens, the walls are used by Wheatear,Robin,Stonechat and the Hooded Crows.
Whimbrels whistle along the coasts on there May visit.... Walk On

The track to Inis Oirr Lighthouse

Skylarks

Hooded Crow

Whimbrel

The wreck

 There ain`t no better way than winding down the day than a pint of Stout  in an Aran island pub..just look at that photo of the pints and tell me you would`nt...... ahh go on.

Birds from the boat

guillemot

Great Skua

Inisheer

gannets

It was good to be at sea , I tend to function better. Off the Aran island , plenty of Guillemots, Shags ,Black guiellmots and Kittiwake, we saw 3 Great skua and 2 Pomarine skua which was a bonus  , Dusty the  Dolphin was in Doolin harbour

The road to Dun Aonghus

Off the ferry on the Isle of Inishmore , we have 3.5 hours till the return ferry, we collected our bikes and cycled over to Don Aonghus  , the cycle back was nice with a pub stop off at Joe Wattys , ..hense not much luck on the bird finding.

Hurry on Sundown

Sunset. View of Aran Islands overlooking Doonagore