BirdWatch Ireland

West Cork Branch

Protecting birds and biodiversity in West Cork

The Branch

Welcome

Here you will find information about the branch, our events and birding in West Cork.

If you have any comments or suggestions please feel free to contact the webmaster.

The Branch holds twenty to twenty-five outdoor and indoor events each year and these are open to the Public. The only exception to this is when a boat trip is involved, in which case the outing is limited to BirdWatch Ireland members only because of insurance. With exception of special trips, entry to our events is free.

On our outings you can learn to recognise birds and discover all about their habits and the habitats they live in. You can discover the amazing spectacle of migration and see birds from America, Europe and Asia which turn up on West Cork headlands each autumn and spring. We always ensure great leaders and each outing is well organised. We provide information on the walking difficulty of the outing: easy, moderate or severe. Recently we have also invested in optical equipment for loan to beginners at our outings.

Please come along and enjoy the nature of West Cork.

Starling Murmuration - 2018

Check out our Facebook page to see footage of the amazing starling murmuration near Timoleague. See one of the most spectacular shows here with a peregrine falcon attacking https://youtu.be/vHOAXvwvnIc

Peter Wolstenholme: This video, I took with my Iphone on 13th January 2018, shows the moment a Peregrine Falcon attacked the Starling Murmuration, at Timoleague, Co. Cork. After the Peregrine arrives you can clearly see it above the tight ball and twisting tube of birds. It makes a few dives and even appears to go into the birds at one point: but doesn't catch one. This shows how the murmuration is a fantastic strategy for the starlings to deploy to avoid being singled out and caught.

"Birds of a feather flock together at the West Cork Bird Race" - read Damien Enright's article in the Examiner, 06th February 2017.

"Bird Race is a sure way to kick start the feel good factor" - read Damien Enright's article in the Examiner, 16th January 2017.

"Something to Crow About!" - read the fantastic article about the branch, which appeared in the Southern Star, 26th January 2015.

Our next event is:

Sunday 2^nd September 2018

Old Head of Kinsale – sea-watching and autumn migrants

8:45am Meet at car park before entrance to Old Head Golf Club (OSI ref W 624 407; GPS 51.61821, -8.54191).

This event is limited to 20 places so booking is essential.

Leader: Ciaran Cronin Toilets: Yes Booking: Nicholas Mitchell

Hoopoe, Spring 2015, Timoleague.

Please e-mail to submit a photo for the front page.