Friday, 15 July 2016

Rathlin Island

While in Northern Ireland recently had a nice day trip to this beautiful island with lovely landscapes covered in Orchids, one field had easily over a thousand an amazing sight.

Walked up though the hills and had a nice selection of moorland species with good numbers of Linnets, Meadow Pipits, Stonechats and a few Wheatears with the odd Raven and Buzzard which were surprsing difficult to see in Ireland.

rathlinisland0030
View of one of the Male Linnets

rathlinisland0042
A nice Singing stonechat

rathlinisland0046
Meadow Pipit with food for nearby young

cliffsofmohar0017
A Young Wheatear
Then walked to the main cliffs and viewing point where there where a nice mixture of seabirds with Fulmars and Kittiwakes patrolling the cliffs with thousands of Guillemots and Razorbills with a few Puffins nesting in the cliffs.

rathlinisland0068
The Seabird cliffs

rathlinisland0072
Gliding Fulmar

rathlinisland0074
Auks on the rocks

rathlinisland0094
Flying Razorbill

rathlinisland0103


rathlinisland0159


rathlinisland0138
Flying Guillemot
Also around the cliff and around Ireland Coast were a few Choughs and many young Rock Pipits and historic an upside down Lighthouse.

rathlinisland0014
Calling Rock Pipit

cliffsofmohar0078


cliffsofmohar0021
Chough in flight

cliffsofmohar0089
Calling Chough

cliffsofmohar0091


Then headed back to the boat via the seal point thanks to the local bus driver where we had a nice view of the sandy beach and a few pairs of Eiders with their chicks a lovely day out.

rathlinisland0194
Basking seals

rathlinisland0165
The bay from the south of the island

rathlinisland0208
House Martins down to collect nesting materials

rathlinisland0233
Eider with family

No comments:

Post a Comment