Hi everyone, a few days ago my family and I drove to Baltimore Harbor to catch a ferry to Cape Clear Island. We boarded the ferry at 10:30. On the ferry, we met another birder named Gareth O'Donnell who identified a bird that I pointed out called a RAZORBILL. Life 207! Thanks Gareth. On the ferry ride, someone spotted a whale! This is the first time I have seen a whale in 5 years. Gareth also identified a bunch of BLACK GUILLEMOT , a species that looks exactly the same as a Razorbill to me, so good thing there was another birder on the ferry. Black Guillimonts are life birds for me! We also saw a few flocks of NORTHERN GANNETS, a few LESSER BLACK BACKED GULLS, and the bird of the day, 2 MANX SHEARWATER. Life Bird 209! Then, I spotted a bunch of GREAT CORMORANT my second Cormorant species and life bird 210! Heres a photo of all those great cormorants on an island. There might also be a few European Shag mixed in, another species that looks almost the same as the Cormorant, though I did not look for the Shags.
We arrived at the harbor after the 40 minute ferry ride where I saw this PIED WAGTAIL, a common species.
We decided to take a hike, and one of the first species I saw was this EURASIAN JACKDAW.
As we continued the hike I saw many birds including ROCK PIPIT, EUROPEAN GOLDFINCH, BARN SWALLOW, etc. We kept walking and stumbled upon a house with a man standing in the doorway holding a cup of tea. Gareth. First, I must tell you that Gareth's home was maybe the size of your bathroom . My dad claims all he saw in it was a cot and a cooking stove.
We finished the hike and went to the storytelling festival, the main reason we came here. The storytelling festival is a place where many people meet up in a room and just tell stories. Personally, I thought it was kind of boring, but everyone else seemed to enjoy it. After that, we took a 45 minute gaelic lesson, which was more fun than the storytelling festival, but I did not learn anything at all. Oh, and did I mention that Cape Clear Island is one of the last places in the world where people speak gaelic? Later, my mom and I went on a walk and I spotted this EUROPEAN ROBIN which is one of the most common species in all of Ireland.
We finished the hike and went to the storytelling festival, the main reason we came here. The storytelling festival is a place where many people meet up in a room and just tell stories. Personally, I thought it was kind of boring, but everyone else seemed to enjoy it. After that, we took a 45 minute gaelic lesson, which was more fun than the storytelling festival, but I did not learn anything at all. Oh, and did I mention that Cape Clear Island is one of the last places in the world where people speak gaelic? Later, my mom and I went on a walk and I spotted this EUROPEAN ROBIN which is one of the most common species in all of Ireland.
Shortly after I spotted the European Robin, My mom and I ran back to the harbor to catch the ferry back. At the harbor, I also spotted this HOODED CROW.
We boarded the ferry, and that pretty much concluded our wonderful day spent on the island, seeing many birds including 4 life birds. It was a great day!
Life List 210 (4 life birds that day)
Bird List For That Day
Manx Shearwater 2 Life Bird!
Northern Gannet 30
Eurasian Oystercatcher 5
Razorbill 1 Life Bird!
Black Guillemot 10 Life Bird!
Black Headed Gull 5
Herring Gull 25
Lesser Black Backed Gull 10
Rock Pigeon 3
Eurasian Jackdaw 2
Barn Swallow 20
European Robin 4
Eurasian Blackbird 1
Pied Wagtail 4
European Goldfinch 2
House Sparrow 40
Life List 210 (4 life birds that day)
Bird List For That Day
Manx Shearwater 2 Life Bird!
Northern Gannet 30
Eurasian Oystercatcher 5
Razorbill 1 Life Bird!
Black Guillemot 10 Life Bird!
Black Headed Gull 5
Herring Gull 25
Lesser Black Backed Gull 10
Rock Pigeon 3
Eurasian Jackdaw 2
Barn Swallow 20
European Robin 4
Eurasian Blackbird 1
Pied Wagtail 4
European Goldfinch 2
House Sparrow 40
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