IF THE GOOD weather keeps up – and apologies if I’ve just hexed it – there’s going to be no better summer to get up close and personal with the riches in our own backyard.
Among the very best places to get started, and enjoy a back-to-nature holiday, is Cape Clear off the west coast of Cork.
The Cape Clear Bird Observatory has been a feature here for more than 50 years and runs a range of introduction to birdwatching and wildlife courses throughout the summer.
Courses are run for groups of between five and 12 people and involve a fair amount of walking.
As the island is very steep, a reasonable level of physical fitness is required.
Bring your binoculars, a telescope and tripod if you have them, and buckets of patience. Days are spent perched atop rocky cliff tops, for hours on end, watching the aerial displays around you.
Pack a flask and a cushion and you’ll be as happy as a sandpiper.
This summer, beginners’ birdwatching courses take place on May 14th-15th, June 4th-5th, July 2nd-3rd, August 6th-7th and September 3rd-4th. These cost €95, excluding accommodation.
Once you’ve done one of these, there are all sorts of additional courses worth checking out, including nature photography for beginners, magnificent moths, plus a course entitled “Birds, Butterflies, Flowers and More”.
In September, you can catch the last swallow of summer, so to speak, with a fixture entitled “The Wonders of Migration”.
These five-day courses cost €250. All participants can opt to stay on a self-catering basis in the observatory for €22 a night.
birdwatchireland.ie
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