birding
Articles, features, blog posts and news items about birding and bird watching in Ireland.
Ireland is a great place for birders… and while we don’t have as many resident or breeding species as some of our near neighbours we do have some of the world’s most spectacular seabird colonies, great locations around the Atlantic coast for watching migrating seabirds, and huge flocks of overwintering waders and wildfowl.
Not to mention the fact that Ireland is often the first European port of call for rare American vagrants… and with birding as a pastime still in its relative infancy, you’re free to enjoy the birds without the crowds you sometimes get at birding hotspots in the UK and other countries.
Incredible wildlife, incredible offer: Ireland’s Wild South Coast
The south coast of Ireland is a magical place for wildlife enthusiasts. Breathtaking locations, some of the best marine and coastal wildlife Europe has to offer and that legendary hospitality for which the Irish are world-renowned. Put it all together and you have the perfect destination for a wildlife holiday to….
The wildlife of Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ar2HRSs5na0 Wild Atlantic wildlife Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way is about much more than wild scenery and windswept western coastlines. While the world’s longest defined touring route certainly boasts some jaw-dropping vistas, and quintessentially Irish hospitality, the route also offers some of the best coastal and marine wildlife watching opportunities you’ll encounter anywhere. The….
Book review: Don’t Die in Autumn
Autumn is a fantastic time for wildlife. Perhaps the best of times. It’s a time of transition, a time of activity and movement as residents prepare for the onset of harsher winter months, summer visitors depart and winter visitors begin to arrive. The cast of Irish wildlife characters is in a state….
And they’re back! First swallows arrive at IWHQ
Yesterday was a special day. A lone, almost insignificant silhouette transformed the usually hum-drum task of dropping the car in to the garage into a wholly noteworthy enterprise. Elegant, streamlined, forked tail streamers fluttering in the breeze… the profile perched on the telephone wire was unmistakable: my first swallow of 2016. Seeing your first swallow of spring….
Birdwatching for Beginners Revisited
With spring on its way, our resident birds getting ready for nesting season, and the prospect of spring migrants just around the corner, this is the perfect time to revisit our popular series of articles on birdwatching for beginners. This series of four articles is a great introduction to birding, spanning everything from getting started,….
Christmas gift ideas for wildlife and nature enthusiasts
What do you buy the wildlife enthusiast or nature lover for Christmas? It’s a conundrum faced by partners, families and friends every year. You’d think it would be easy… anything to do with wildlife would be perfect, right? But from long years of experience I know that we wildlife enthusiasts can be….