The south west coast was really scenic that offered staggering veiws of beaches, cliffs and mountains almost everywhere. Food is really good, mostly fresh fish, and there is plenty of drink! Based in Waterville (Kerry) for the Holiday I had views of Ballinskelligs bay from the house, exploring further a field was done by car.
19th
Cork to Kerry
The car journey started the trip with common species and 2 probable Cattle egrets, but not 100% due to being on the main road and not stopping to check. Although Hooded crow was seen everywhere throughout the trip it was a lifer for me.
20th
Ballinskelligs bay, Waterville
Gannets coming surprisingly close in in the bay, 100's of Common Scoter, a lone male Eider that stayed all holiday around Carrigeena rocks, Red Throated Divers, Gret Northern Divers, Shags and two distant Auks. A single Black Guillemot was a lifer and my target bird of the trip. Several seals around the rocks were fun to watch.
Bolus Head
2 Peregrine and several Choughs.
Portmagee
2 Iceland gulls (a 1cy and one on the bridge only seen from the car) also 2 Black Guillemots - Great!
Fogher cliffs, Valentia
Kittiwakes.
Fort point, Valentia
A single male Wheatear the main bird here.
Knights Town, Valentia
7+ Black Guillemot, Common Scoters and Common sandpiper.
Loads of Otter spraint on the rocks!
21st
Derrynane
14 Choughs and 2 Raven buzzing about.
Staigue fort
Raven over the hills.
Scarrif inn
A Peregrine spotted whilst having a drink and grub!
Ballinskelligs bay, Waterville links
c300 Common scoter, Great crest grebe (only one of trip), divers and c20 Golden plover over.
River Currane
5 Sand Martin, 2 Wheatear and a large number of wagtails and pipits.
22nd
Ballinskelligs bay, Waterville
Similar species with 4 Red Breasted mergansers and 10+ Manx shearwaters that must have by pushed in with the strong winds.
Ballycarbery, Whitestrand
Divers and Black gullemot.
Ballycarbery, Sampsons rock
Divers and 4 Razorbill. Some otter spraint here too.
Slievagh
A woodland near here produced the only Coal tit of the trip.
23rd
Killmakillage harbour, Beara peninsula
Divers and 3 Razorbill.
Dursey island
Raven and a pair of Wheatear.
24th
Ballinskelligs bay, Waterville
Divers, the Eider, Black Guillemot, 3/4 Razorbills and Turnstones.
River Currane
c12 Sand Martins over the river.
Capall River
The only Dipper of the holiday.
Inny River
3 Ringed plovers, a single Turnstone, 3 Ravens and a female Red Breasted Merganser.
Rossbiegh
100's of Common scoters, loads of divers, c20 Brent goose (pale), Shellducks, 2 Greenshank, Little egret, pair of Mergansers and a Black guillemot.
25th
Skellig islands
By far the highlight of the trip! The boat journey out was a bit rough but gave great views of Gannets and Fulmars. I also spied a few distant Puffins.
The boat went round close to Little Skellig and the Gannet colony is awesome, when in full swing there should be around 30000 pairs on the island.
Great Skellig provided excellent views of Seals, Fulmars, Kittiwakes, Gullimot, Shag, Razorbil, Choughs and Peregrine. The Puffins weren't on land yet but could be seen gathering on the sea all around.
The boat trip back was much smoother (and drier!) and gave good views of Puffins and a Manxie.
Potmagee
One Iceland gull (1cy) still present and several Black Guillemots in a range of plumages.
Beenakryraka head, Valentia
5 Ringed plovers, Fulmars and an Irish Hare.
26th
Ballinskelligs bay
A good search of the bay from several points in search of Surf scoter but it wasn't to be. Many of the usual species with Sanderlings from the abandoned hotel and from Ballinskelligs point along with a Ringed plover.
Some of the headlands and cliffs had more Choughs, Ravens an Fulmars.
27th
Killarney NP
A dull wet cold day produced very little but is one of the most wooded areas in the region.
Gap of Dunlow
A look for some of the new residents here produced a pair of Ravens courting but nothing bigger!
10 days and 78 species.
Its a bit brief but if anyone would like more info PM me and i'll see if i can help. The book 'Finding Birds in Ireland' by Eric Dempsey was extremely handy.
Gareth
Just a few