Puffins from The Cliffs of Moher

 Its a belated post from the 5th April. I was the only person on the Cliffs of Moher due to the Pandemic. Very strange indeed. The Cliffs are close to home but I cant remember ever being here alone.

Good numbers of Puffins were on show along the banks on the cliffs , obviously photos here are taken at long distance but  every so often a Puffin would fly high and it was possible to chase a flight shot

Cliffs of Moher Cruise

I was entering Doolin Harbour to check the surf.

I seen a my old mate Donnie that runs the Ferry service here and went to say Hello as it had been a while. " Got your camera with you?, get on the boat for a Cliff cruise, shes leaving in 5 minutes"

"Ok thanks " ...lets head out to sea in the mist.

There wasnt much swell and the weather was heavy, wet with mist.

 With Covid restrictions on board the Cruise, it was a still a very nice hour with mainly Irish passengers.

An hour on the Cliffs ledge

Traveling around from Doolin to Lahinch with an hour to spare.

I took the short walk to Aile na Sharragh on the Cliffs of Moher.

Possibly my favorite place to spend an hour doing nothing....but watching wildlife through my scope and views through my camera.

Ravens of Moher

A family of Ravens were busying themselves at Aile na Sharragh / Cliffs of Moher, The parents were giving loud flying lessons.

 As usual at the cliffs, birdwatching can be at a good distance with poor light, so you try to wait for a flybye to get a chance of a photo.

The Cliffs of Moher - photography and light

Possibly one of the most aw- inspiring chill out areas in the world to spend a magical evening taking photos.

People come to see the ciffs from all over the world.

Being local I get to see it at its best.

The light changes as the sun drops towards too and below the horizon to the west,the light refracts and moves with different angles .
Your photo settings change with these natural movements, and sometimes it all comes together and a picture is produced of a moment known to one

Puffins of The Cliffs of Moher

The Puffin colony around Aile na` Sharrah side of The Cliffs of Moher seems very healthy , 5-10 metres up on the grass patches they bask in the evening sun,the sky full of auks bringing food into the nests and 100`s were sitting out on the water as Puffins do in the late evening

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

Fulmars and a Peregrine Falcon

Fulmars Glide.

To me,The  Fulmar installs a sense of freedom , they seem to live with ease ,gliding back and forth along the updrafts of the cliffs...Effortless behavior.

While watching the Fulmars a Peregrine Falcon  shot passed aggressively hunting the clifftops.

Hags Head- The wild part

With the construction of the Cliffs of Moher coastal path near complete , the south side of Hags Head still remains quiet and wild.The birds , the bees and coastal wildflowers were my only company along with the views.

Charlock

Birds foot Trefoil

Red-tailed Bumble Bee

Sea Campion

Strong evening at The Cliffs of Moher

Some evenings just have strong power in there making.
 No better place to feel that power of open space than The Cliffs of Moher on a evening walk.
Its nice to have this sort of aspect within 10 minutes from home.

Cliff Walk

Its been a short while since I last took a walk along the Cliffs of Moher. This evening was a warm evening so my father,my two eldest daughters and I decided to try the new path from the Doolin end.

At the start of the walk we saw Black Guillemots, Kestrel, Wheatears and the usual Gulls, a good view of Doonagore castle,Slieve Elva and the Burren gateway to the North East.

We sat at the start of the Cliffs and did some birdwatching , The Fulmars were gliding around the cliff faces and  we got to see some Puffins on the sea.

A Cracking evening, and the new walking path has got my thumbs up.