The Wonders of Bird Migration

Course Leader: Dick Coombes
Course fee : €250.00
10th – 14th September 2012
Maximum of  12 participants per course

This course explores the wonders of bird migration in the setting of one of Ireland’s most famous birdwatching sites – Cape Clear Island. September is the prime month to experience migration in action and as the mass southward push of summer visitors gathers momentum, tired migrants make brief stopovers on islands and headlands en route to African wintering grounds. Cape, at the most southerly tip of Ireland, falls right in their path.

 Course Fees

 The tuition cost of this five day course is €250.00 per person. Cheques should be made payable to BirdWatch Ireland. Courses can also be paid for online. Places on the course are only confirmed on receipt of full payment. All courses must be paid for at least one month in advance. In the event of a cancellation, course fees may be refunded up to one month prior to the course commencement less a €50 administration charge. The course fee does not include meals, accommodation or travel costs to get to the island (details of accommodation and ferry services are provided). A minimum number of course participants is required for each course to run.

 General Information

 All courses will be field based so participants should expect a fair amount of walking (Cape is very steep).  A reasonable level of physical fitness is required to participate actively in the field courses.  Participants are required to bring their own binoculars (and a telescope and tripod if they have one) and a field notebook, and are also encouraged to bring any field guides, hand lenses, butterfly nets, cameras and other field equipment they have, which may be of use depending on the course chosen. Check out the selection of field guides, optical equipment, field guides and Cape Clear books available from Wings Shop or from BirdWatch Ireland HQ (Tel.: 01-2819878).

Aspects of migration covered will include: Which birds migrate, how do they navigate, where do they go, why do they move, what great journeys do they undertake, why do some species migrate and others don’t? Identification techniques, an introduction to bird ringing, counting methods, the work of the observatory and the effect of weather on birds and migration are just some of the other topics covered.

The time will be split roughly 50/50 between indoor lectures and field-based observation, when some of the theory can be put to practice. Willow Warbler, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff and Sedge Warbler are just some of the common migrants likely to be present, but a sharp eye will kept out for scarcer passage species, such as Wryneck, Pied Flycatcher, Redstart, Wood Warbler and Reed Warbler, which could drop in any time.

There will also be the opportunity to witness the migratory movements of seabirds which pass by Cape and gather offshore at this time of year. Amongst the regular Manx Shearwaters, Fulmars, Kittiwakes, Gannets and auks, there is a good chance of seeing Storm Petrels and one or two skua species and in the right weather conditions, maybe some Southern Ocean visitors too, such as Sooty Shearwater.

This course is delivered in a humorous and enthusiastic manner and will suit all levels.