CapeClear Bird Observatory
Wildlife Courses 2012
The field courses hosted by BirdWatch Ireland's Cape Clear Bird Observatory on Cape Clear Island, of the west Cork coast, have been expanded and developed to offer something for everyone. The observatory has been an island feature for over 50 years now, and is a key destination for bird watchers and naturalists throughout Ireland and Europe. The courses are designed to aid the beginner and those with some experience in the craft of bird watching and natural history subjects, depending on the course chosen. Courses vary from two to five days duration and each course will combine both practical indoor and outdoor sessions in some of the finest scenery in the country. Visitors will soon learn to adjust to the relaxed pace of island life!
Weekend courses commence at 9.30am on the Saturday morning, meeting in the Bird Observatory in the North Harbour and finish on the Sunday afternoon allowing time for participants to travel home on the evening ferry.
Five-day courses commence at 9.30am on the Monday morning, meeting in the Bird Observatory in the North Harbour and finish on the Friday afternoon, also allowing time for participants to travel on the evening ferry.
Participants will need to arrive on the island the evening before the course starts as there is no ferry to the island before 9.00am in the morning. The course / tuition fee does not include accommodation costs. Self-catering accommodation in the Bird Observatory itself can be booked together with your course; alternative accommodation is also available on the island in Bed and Breakfasts and self catering holiday homes. See www.capeclearisland.com and www.oilean-chleire.ie
Courses are run on the basis of a minimum of 5 participants and maximum of 12 per course and we reserve the right to vary or cancel course dates.
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).
Seawatching can involve many hours of patient (but rewarding!) watching on a rocky cliff top, so a flask and a small foam type pad for sitting on could be useful. Suntan lotion is also recommended for protection from sun and windburn. An alarm clock is recommended for early morning starts, whilst a torch would prove useful for night time activities such as ringing storm petrels.
Whilst the programme for the courses is essentially field based, log call at the observatory or in the pub is a traditional nightly ritual after dinner, and there will be illustrated slide shows to support and enhance field skills. Visitors can expect to sample the unique Cape atmosphere: birdwatchers have been coming here for over 50 years and are very much part of island life.This years dates have been confirmed and can be found below each course heading.
Click on a course title for full details.
Course Leader: Cape Clear Bird Observatory Warden, Steve Wing
Course fee: €95.00
Maximum of 7 participants per course
5th - 6th May 2012
2nd – 3rd June 2012
14th – 15th July 2012
11th – 12th August 2012
1st – 2nd September 2012
Course Leader: John Murphy
Course fee: €250.00
Maximum of 10 participants per course
14th -18th May and 20th – 24th August 2012
Course Leaders: Ecologist Geoff Oliver with Steve Wing
Course fee: €250.00
Maximum of 12 participants per course
11th – 15th June 2012
Course Leader: Dick Coombes, BirdWatch Ireland
Course fee : €250.00
10th – 14th September 2012
Maximum of 12 participants per course
