Day trips and custom made birding tours of Ireland are available at any time of the year for 1 to 7 persons and are designed according to clients preferences and requirements, and for any length of time. Transport is in a saloon car, SUV or minibus ( van ) according to client numbers. Pre booked accommodation is provided ( or choose your own ). Please emails us with your enquiry and we will be glad to plan a trip at an all inclusive cost. Flexibility is the keyword in birding and this will also apply to any trip that you take with us. For one day trips we pick up and return to your accommodation.
Three day tours of the South West
Available for any 3 day period of your choice
The south west of Ireland holds a large variety of very interesting birding sites and a tour of three days will do justice to the main sites which will change according to the season. At some times during the year, mainly in Autumn, a boat trip a few miles off shore is always a good option, especially if photographing of seabirds is of sea birds is a target.
TOUR OVERVIEW
EASE & PACE: Leisurely throughout and basic fitness is all that is required. We will enjoy short walks from our vehicles on routes specifically chosen to enable us to stay on relatively flat ground with few inclines. Breakfast will be taken at 8 0 am and we should be back at our accommodation no later than 5 pm each day. We will take coffee / refreshment breaks during the day, in addition to our lunch break. Other visits to interesting historical sites etc are an easy option to accompany the days birding. Flexibility is always the keyword !
ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD: You can choose the accommodation yourself which must be within 20 minutes driving time from the town of Bantry or you can choose from our recommended list on request. You will be picked up daily and returned each day. Initial transport to your chosen accommodation can be included at a supplementary cost, as can return. Lunch will be taken at convenient pubs, cafes and small restaurants. Evening dinner ( which is not included in the cost ) will be available either at your overnight accommodation or you may choose to eat out locally. To make life easy a pick up and return service is available from Cork Bus station, Cork Railway Station and Cork Airport. - all three have connections to Dublin - or any town in the South West.
PRICE The trip is priced in euro and as an example for 1, 2 or 3 clients is 210.00 per day ( not per person ) plus accommodation. For larger numbers please enquire as a larger vehicle will be required. Please email us for payment details. birdingireland@gmail.com
Birding Tours 2019 ENDED
Ireland In Winter
November 23 to December 3 (10 Nights )
It is not well known that on any given day in the year, one will see more birds in Ireland in winter rather than in summer. This is mainly because that although Ireland lies at the same latitude as Canada, the effect of the gulf stream produces a mild climate all year, and in winter temperatures do not often fall below freezing, and if they do it will only be for a few days. It’s natural to think of winter in Ireland as the season when nature pulls down the blinds. light fades, leaves fall, vegetation withers and swallows fly south. Natural, but quite wrong for birds. This is the time of maximum abundance for waterfowl – swans, geese and ducks – and spectacular birds such as curlew, plovers and other shore birds. It's also the time when we receive an influx of other passerine migrants from the north of Europe.
The holiday makers have gone, accommodation is cheaper and you are able travel to a foreign land where English is spoken, the people are very friendly, the scenery is outstanding, the food is safe and superb, and even although it's winter we can have a great time finding birds ( and lots of them )
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TOUR OVERVIEW
This tour begins and ends Dublin International Airport. We use comfortable hotel accommodation,usually family owned, and will visit several acclaimed winter birding hot spots mainly in the southern half of Ireland. Visits to cultural sites are also included. EASE & PACE: Leisurely throughout and basic fitness is all that is required. We will enjoy short walks from our vehicles on routes specifically chosen to enable us to stay on relatively flat ground with few inclines. Breakfast will be taken at 8 0 am and we should be back at our accommodation no later than 5 pm each day. We will take coffee / refreshment breaks during the day, in addition to our lunch break. ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD: Small family run guest houses and hotels will be the norm. Lunch will be taken at convenient pubs, cafes and small restaurants. Evening dinner ( which is not included in the cost ) will be available either at the overnight accommodation or you may choose to eat out locally. Often we will be staying in town or if not, transport to a convenient town will be provided for free. WEATHER: It's winter so it will be cold - but by Irish standards this rarely means less than 4 degrees Celsius, and anything less will be classed as VERY cold and unusual. GROUP SIZE: We will take a maximum group size of 7 persons with one leader. and 14 persons with two leaders. The tour will be considered viable with 5 participants plus a leader. PRICE: USD 3040. Single supplement USD 700. Payments can also be made in GB Sterling and Euro at the prevailing exchange rates as provided on the currency exchange site XE.com. The cost includes all transport in Ireland using a small mini bus, ( van ) the services of Birding Ireland leader (s), twin or double bedded accommodation in good quality hotels and b and b guesthouses, breakfast, lunch, and all entrance fees to parks and monuments. Not included are international flights, any drinks other than those provided with meals, and any personal items such as laundry. Travel insurance is compulsory, and proof of such will be needed. GROUP SIZE: We will take a maximum group size of 7 persons with one leader, and 14 persons with two leaders. The tour will be considered viable with 5 participants plus a leader. REGISTRATION : To register for the tour please send an email to birdingireland@gmail.net On receipt you will be sent a detailed description of the the itinerary, the accommodation at which we will be staying, the birds that we hope to see and the fee payment details. A 25 % deposit will be required to confirm a registration which will returned if the tour does not proceed. An invoice for the balance will be issued in due course. When you send your email please ask any questions that you may have. |
Tour Itinerary
Day 1 : Saturday 23 November
Clients will be met at Dublin airport ( or at the hotel of the clients overnight accommodation ), we will then drive into town together for a meal, and check in to our hotel. Later we will explore Dublin itself.
Lodging: Blooms Hotel,, Dublin - clients not joining the tour at the airport can meet us here. Your accommodation for the night will be pre booked.
Day 2 : Sunday 24 November
After breakfast we’ll start our exploration of the island, heading first to Wicklow National Park .We’ll have lunch on our way to our second stop, the East Coast Nature Reserve, where we’ll have our first foray proper into Ireland's birding . Afterwards we’ll head to the coastal town of Wexford for dinner.
Lodging: Wexford
Day 3 : Monday 25 November
Wexford has some of the most bird-rich areas of the country. We’ll spend the day visiting farmland, wetlands, and “slobs” (mudflats)
Lodging: , Wexford
Day 4 : Tuesday 26 November
Today we’ll head West, exploring pockets of habitat along the road to Cork, Ireland’s second city, where we’ll lunch and enjoy the city for a few hours before continuing West, stopping for megaliths and farmland birds at Drombeg Circle before finishing the drive to Roscarbery.
LODGING : Rosscarbery
Day 5 : Wednesday 27 November
We’ll spend the whole day exploring the many coastal sites on the southern coastline of County Cork. First we head east to Courtmacsherry and Kinsale, then back west.
Lodging: Rosscarbery
Day 6 : Thursday 28 November
More birding in Co. Cork
Optional extra - a trip to Whiddy Island. Cost euro 10 return, payable on the boat
Lodging Rosscarberry
Day 7 : Friday 29 November
As we continue our clockwise exploration of the country, we’ll stop at some sites on our way to the Killarney National Park. Free day in Killarney.
Lodging: Killarney
Day 8 : Saturday 30 November
Tour of the Ring Of Kerry. No trip to Ireland is complete without stopping at the Cliffs of Moher which will be our next stop.The cliffs are a UNESCO site of unparalleled beauty. Birding on the way at several sites.
Lodging: Killarney
Day 9 : Sunday 1 December
Onwards to Galway birding on the way.
Lodging: Galway
Day 10: Monday 2 December
After breakfast we’ll take some time to explore Galway; both its cultural and historic sites in the afternoon, and some local birding in the morning, searching for Eurasian Oystercatcher, Ruddy Turnstone, Common Ringed Plover, and any of the gull species we haven’t found yet.
Lodging: Galway
Day 11 : Tuesday 3 December
On our last morning we’ll be able to explore the town of Athlone before finishing the drive, having lunch on our way to Dublin International Airport.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2020 Ireland In Summer - CANCELLED DUE TO CARONOVIRUS
May 11 to 18 (7 nights )
This is a short seven day tour of some of the best sites in the southern half of the country concentrating on the breeding birds of Ireland. It can easily be incorporated into a longer general vacation whilst in Ireland, either before or after the tour, and cars can be hired at the airport for onward travel. Please note that the tour can be extended before or after with the addition of a private tour for up to 4 persons in a car. Private tours for small groups up to 6 clients or individuals are always available We incorporate a good coverage of seabird sites for which Ireland is famous.
TOUR OVERVIEW
This tour begins and ends Cork International Airport. We use comfortable hotel or guesthouse accommodation,usually family owned, and will visit several acclaimed birding hot spots mainly in the southern half of Ireland. Visits to cultural sites are also included such as early Christian sites, castles and visits to a small number of modern churches to see stained glass windows.
EASE & PACE: Leisurely throughout and basic fitness is all that is required. We will enjoy short walks from our vehicles on routes specifically chosen to enable us to stay on relatively flat ground with few inclines. Breakfast will be taken at 8 0 am and we should be back at our accommodation no later than 5 pm each day. We will take coffee / refreshment breaks during the day, in addition to our lunch break.
ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD: Small family run guest houses and hotels will be the norm. Lunch will be taken at convenient pubs, cafes and small restaurants. Evening dinner ( which is not included in the cost ) will be available either at the overnight accommodation or you may choose to eat out in the nearest town. Often we will be staying in town or if not, transport to a convenient town will be provided for free.
WEATHER: It's summer so it will be warm but not too hot - by Irish standards this means 20 degrees Celsius, and anything more will be classed as VERY hot - so all in all very comfortable.
PRICE: This tour is priced in euro and is euro 1900. Single supplement 500 Payments can be made in USD and also in GB Sterling at the prevailing exchange rates as provided on the currency exchange site XE.com. The price includes all transport in Ireland using a small mini bus, the services of Birding Ireland leader(s), twin bedded accommodation in good quality hotels, breakfast, lunch and all entrance fees to parks and monuments. Not included are international flights, any drinks other than those provided with meals, and any personal items such as laundry. Travel insurance is compulsory, and proof of such will be needed.
GROUP SIZE: We will take a maximum group size of 7 persons with one leader, and 14 persons with two leaders. The tour will be considered viable with 5 participants plus a leader.
REGISTRATION : To register for the tour please send an email to
birdingireland@gmail.com
On receipt you will be sent a detailed description of the the itinerary, the accommodation at which we will be staying, the birds that we hope to see and the fee payment details.
A 25 % deposit will be required to confirm a registration which will returned if the tour does not proceed. An invoice for the balance will be issued in due course. When you send your email please ask any questions that you may have.
PLEASE NOTE THAT IF THE FOLLOWING ASPECTS OF THE TOUR DO NOT PROCEED DUE TO WEATHER CONDITIONS ETC, THEN AN APPROPRIATE REFUND OF THE COST WILL BE MADE ON THE DAY AS FOLLOWS
Whiddy Island euro 10, Cape Clear euro 20, Skelligs euro 100, Pelagic euro 60.
Tour Itinerary
Day 1 : Tuesday 11 May
Clients will be met at Cork airport ( or at the hotel of clients overnight accommodation ), we will then drive into town together for lunch, and check in to our hotel. In the afternoon we will explore the city of Cork itself.
Lodging: Clonakilty
Day 2 : Wednesday 12 May
After breakfast we’ll start our tour proper heading first to The Old Head Of Kinsale to visit a nesting seabird colony. Later we will visit various farmland and wetland sites to look for ducks and passerines.
Lodging: Rosscarbery
Day 3 : Thursday 13 May
Depending on the weather we hope to visit Cape Clear Island, if not we will spend some time at the many estuaries nearby, stopping for megaliths and farmland birds at Drombeg Circle and a trip to Whiddy Island near Bantry
Lodging: Rosscarberry
Day 4 : Friday 14 May
Today is the day that is penciled in for a half day pelagic trip from Baltimore or Union Hall, l if not we will spend the whole day exploring the many coastal sites on the southern coastline of County Cork.exploring pockets of habitat along the road to Glengarriff, where we’ll lunch and enjoy some shopping and a trip to Garnish Island. continuing West, before finishing at Kenmare.
LODGING : Kenmare
Day 5 :Saturday 15 May
Hopefully we will pay a visit to the Skellig Islands and we will have booked the trip in advance. Subject to the weather conditions it may be cancelled, if so we will have a tour of the Ring Of Kerry and birding at Killorglin and the surrounding area.
Lodging: Ballyvaughan
Day 6 : Sunday 16 May
No trip to Ireland is complete without stopping at the Cliffs of Moher which will be our next stop.The cliffs are a UNESCO site of unparalleled beauty.
Optional extra - a boat trip to see the seabirds at the Cliffs Of Moher. Cost TBA - recommended if we are unable to visit the Skelligs.
Lodging : Ballyvaughan
Day 7 : Monday 17 May
More birding in Co. Clare and a visit to The Burren.
Lodging Clonakilty
Day 8 : Tuesday 18 May
Home via Cork airport.