BIRD-Watching in Ireland’s county MAYO

County Mayo, located on Ireland’s west coast, is a premier birdwatching destination due to its diverse habitats, including coastal cliffs, islands, estuaries, lakes, bogs, and uplands. With internationally significant sites like Clew Bay, Achill Island, and the Mullet Peninsula, Mayo attracts a wide range of resident, migratory, and rare bird species, particularly seabirds, waterfowl, and waders..

Clew Bay and Islands (e.g., Clare Island, Inishturk, Westport)

Manx Shearwater: Large breeding colonies on Clare Island, visible April–September.
Storm Petrel: Breeds on islands, active at night, best seen April–September.
Puffin: Small breeding populations on Clare Island, visible April–August.
Guillemot, Razorbill: Breeding on island cliffs, common spring/summer.
Kittiwake: Nests on cliff faces, seen April–August.
Chough: Common on coastal grasslands, especially Clare Island.
Gannet: Seen offshore, often during ferry crossings. Clew Bay’s islands, particularly Clare Island, are key seabird breeding sites and part of a Special Protection Area (SPA). Ferries from Roonagh Quay (near Westport) provide access to Clare Island, where cliffs and grasslands host seabirds and Chough. Seawatching from the mainland (e.g., Old Head near Louisburgh) is productive in autumn (August–October). Spring and summer are best for breeding species.

Achill Island (e.g., Keem Bay, Dooega Head, Croaghaun)

Chough: Abundant along cliffs and coastal grasslands, year-round.
Peregrine Falcon: Breeds on cliffs, often seen hunting seabirds.
Raven: Common, soaring over cliffs and uplands.
Wheatear, Stonechat: Summer migrants in coastal scrub and hills.
Fulmar: Resident, gliding along cliffs.
Manx Shearwater, Storm Petrel: Seen offshore, especially during migration (August–September). Achill Island’s dramatic cliffs, including Croaghaun (Ireland’s highest sea cliffs), are ideal for seabirds and coastal species. Keem Bay and Dooega Head offer accessible viewing points. Spring and summer (April–August) are best for breeding birds, with autumn good for seawatching from headlands.

Mullet Peninsula (e.g., Annagh Head, Blacksod Bay, Belmullet)

Corncrake: Rare summer visitor, breeding in coastal grasslands, heard April–August.
Brent Goose: Winter flocks, especially October–March, in Blacksod Bay.
Wigeon, Teal, Pintail: Wintering ducks on estuarine mudflats.
Lapwing, Golden Plover, Dunlin, Redshank: Waders common in winter.
Little Egret, Grey Heron: Frequent along shores and marshes.
Short-eared Owl: Rare winter visitor, seen over marshes. The Mullet Peninsula, part of the Blacksod Bay SPA, is a hotspot for wintering waterfowl and waders. Annagh Head and Blacksod Bay offer mudflats and grasslands for viewing. Winter (November–March) is peak season, with summer notable for Corncrake sightings. Report Corncrake records to BirdWatch Ireland due to its rarity.

Inishkea Islands (Off the Mullet Peninsula)

Barnacle Goose: Large winter flocks, October–March, a key site in Ireland.
Storm Petrel, Manx Shearwater: Breeding colonies, visible April–September.
Arctic Tern, Common Tern: Breeding on islands, seen spring/summer.
Great Skua: Breeds in small numbers, a rare Irish breeding species.
Chough: Common on coastal grasslands. The Inishkea Islands, an SPA, are critical for wintering geese and breeding seabirds. Boat trips from Belmullet (weather-dependent) provide access. Winter is best for Barnacle Geese, while spring/summer (April–August) is ideal for seabirds. The islands’ remoteness ensures pristine habitats.

Lough Carra and Lough Mask (Near Ballinrobe)

Whooper Swan: Winter visitor, seen on lakes, November–March.
Tufted Duck, Pochard, Goldeneye: Wintering ducks in open waters.
Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe: Resident, breeding on lakes.
Kingfisher: Resident, spotted along lake shores and feeder streams.
Water Rail: Secretive, heard in reedbeds, occasionally seen in winter. Lough Carra and Lough Mask, part of the Lough Mask-Carra SPA, are important for waterfowl. Viewing points near Ballinrobe and along lake shores offer access. Winter (November–March) is best for migratory waterfowl, with spring/summer good for breeding grebes.

Nephin Beg Mountains and Owenduff Bog (Near Bangor Erris)

Red Grouse: Resident in heather moorlands, though declining.
Golden Plover: Breeds in uplands, seen in spring/summer; winter flocks in lowlands.
Merlin, Kestrel: Small raptors hunting over bogs and hills.
Skylark, Meadow Pipit: Common in open uplands, singing in spring/summer.
Hen Harrier: Rare, seen over bogs, especially in winter. The Nephin Beg range and Owenduff Bog, part of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, offer vast blanket bog and upland habitats. Trails near Bangor Erris provide access, though some areas are remote. Spring and summer (March–August) are best for breeding birds, with winter good for raptors.

Killala Bay (Near Ballina)

Brent Goose, Greylag Goose: Winter flocks on mudflats and fields.
Bar-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Redshank: Waders common in winter.
Common Scoter, Red-throated Diver: Winter seabirds, seen offshore.
Little Egret: Common along estuarine shores. Killala Bay, an SPA, supports wintering waterfowl and waders. Viewing points near Ballina and Enniscrone offer access to mudflats. Winter (November–March) is peak season, with high tides concentrating birds.

Moore Hall Wood and Lough Carra (Near Claremorris)

Great Spotted Woodpecker: Recent colonist, seen in mature woodlands.
Treecreeper, Coal Tit, Goldcrest: Common in mixed forests.
Jay, Chaffinch, Siskin: Resident woodland birds, active year-round.
Buzzard, Sparrowhawk: Raptors hunting in wooded areas. Moore Hall Wood, near Lough Carra, offers oak and mixed woodlands for birdwatching. Trails provide access to forest and lakeside habitats. Spring (March–May) is best for active songbirds, with year-round opportunities for residents.

Rare and Notable Sightings (Various Sites)

Green-winged Teal, American Wigeon: Rare transatlantic vagrants, seen at Killala Bay or Mullet Peninsula.
Leach’s Petrel, Sooty Shearwater: Rare, recorded during autumn seawatching at Annagh Head.
Little Gull, Sabine’s Gull: Rare, spotted in Killala Bay during migration.
Corncrake: Rare, occasionally heard in coastal grasslands (e.g., Mullet Peninsula). Mayo’s coastal sites attract rare vagrants, especially during autumn migration (September–November). Killala Bay and Annagh Head are hotspots. Check www.irishbirding.com for recent records.

Seasonal Considerations:

Spring (March–May): Summer migrants (Wheatear, Corncrake) arrive. Seabirds (Puffin, Storm Petrel) breed on islands.
Summer (June–August): Breeding season for seabirds, Chough, and upland species. Woodlands like Moore Hall are active with songbirds.
Autumn (September–November): Peak for seawatching (shearwaters, skuas) at Annagh Head and migration of waders at Killala Bay.
Winter (December–March): Best for waterfowl (Brent Geese, Whooper Swans) and waders at Mullet Peninsula and Killala Bay.
Conservation Context: Clew Bay, Inishkea Islands, and Killala Bay are SPAs, critical for seabirds and wintering waterfowl. Species like Corncrake, Golden Plover, and Hen Harrier are conservation priorities. Report rare sightings to Irish Birding (www.irishbirding.com) (www.irishbirding.com) or BirdWatch Ireland.

Access and Resources:

Binoculars and a telescope are essential for seawatching and wetland birdwatching, especially at Mullet Peninsula and Killala Bay.
Check www.irishbirding.com or BirdGuides (www.birdguides.com) (www.birdguides.com) for real-time sighting updates.
Clare Island and Inishkea require boat bookings; mainland sites like Killala Bay have good access via public roads.
Waterproof clothing and sturdy boots are recommended for coastal, wetland, and upland sites.
BirdWatch Ireland’s Mayo Branch offers guided walks, particularly at Mullet Peninsula and Killala Bay.

Mayo:

Mayo offers dramatic scenery and ancient heritage, with the Cliffs of Moher’s rugged beauty and Croagh Patrick’s pilgrimage trail providing stunning vistas. The town of Westport features Georgian architecture and access to Clew Bay’s islands, while the Ceide Fields showcase a prehistoric farming landscape. Other attractions include the celebrity beaches of Achill Island. Mayo is Ireland’s third largest county by size (5,398 square km) and 18th largest by population (137,970). Population peaked at 388,887 in 1841 and reached its lowest point, 109,525 in 1971. In terms of hospitality, Mayo is Ireland’s tenth most visited tourist county with around 218,000 international visitors per year.

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