Northern Ireland makes one smile
Let's go to Rathlin Island!
So many people met during the last few days had asked whether I had been there yet, creating an excitement over what I would find there.
10th June 2010
The Island Dolores Keane
So the boat was taken over to Rathlin Island. Everyone was asking whether I was going there, saying that it was the best place for a birder to visit in the whole of Northern Ireland so I was rather excited. Eider Ducks in the harbour with Eider ducklings and over fifty Common Seals on the rocks nearby - Heaven.
I cycled down to the first RSPB area south of the harbour and walked around there for what seemed like an hour but was actually four.
Wonderful views from
the cliffs of Rathlin Sound and the Mull of Galloway. Wheatear, Peregrines, Auks,
Kittiwakes and gulls. In places there were hundreds of Heath-spotted orchids.
Beautiful.
Lunch was taken opposite the rocks near to where the seals basked and time
alternated with me either being alone or with a number of people according to
how many people the small local bus dropped off. Most people spent a short
while watching the seals before drifting away towards the tea rooms around the
harbour. Four members of the Cedars Walking Group [CWG], from County Armagh,
mostly Lurgan, stayed longer and chatted. So Hello to Liz, Marine [Emma], Lyn
and Francis - thanks for the hug’s girls. These four had 'cheated by catching
the bus back from the Rathlin Island RSPB Seabird Centre at the far
western end of the island. I met more of the CWG later as I cycled to the same
location.
I found a pair of Spotted Flycatchers [204] in some conifers along the newly gritted road. I had been getting worried about adding them to the year list and I had almost consigned them to the ' I won't see them now list'. That list included Garganey but maybe Leighton Moss would give me a reprieve.
I spent the evening exploring the cliff tops around the RSPB seabird centre. The centre, situated down below me in the lighthouse, was closed for the night and the only other person around was a person camping [not allowed!].
I can't describe the scene that greets one as the approach road from the harbour ends and the new stone visitors centre is reached. Huge rock stacks with stacks of auks gathered for the evening; thousands of them crammed onto every space available. Kittiwakes and gulls circling around too, calling and adding to the cacophony. Ravens, gannets, fulmars, pipits, thousands of fabulous birds and on this occasion weather to match despite a strong North wind.
Health and safety people would have fits but I love to lie down and peep over the edge of a high cliff and here I did so to look down on Razorbills and Guillemots by the thousand, Puffins in the tens and they were all busy doing what birds do at this time of year, pair up, mate and lay eggs.
A Red-billed Chough flew past and a Great Skua [205] flew along adjacent to the grass ridge at the top of the huge cliff.
I spent the sunny afternoon climbing the ridges, looking over the tall cliff edges and taking photographs. The views here are magnificently wonderful. The cliffs here at this incredible RSPB reserve, were immense and the surrounding fields were full of thousands of Heath Spotted Orchids.
To the north the islands of Arran and Islay could be seen and to the east, the headland that includes Cambeltown. Just visible was Ailsa Craig, where large groups of Gannets, all adults and sometimes flying in a v, skane formation, were either heading out to the feeding grounds or returning to the nests to feed hungry chicks.
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