IRELAND 2023

Tricia and I just returned Tuesday evening, after spending 10 days in Ireland. It was my third trip to the Emerald Isle since I got heavily into birding back around 2011. As we have in years past, we spent our time on the west coast, visiting with Tricia’s family and spending time sightseeing and birding in the Clifden area initially, and then Galway after that. I observed a total of 57 species during the trip; 14 were new species for me in Ireland, and 12 of those were life birds.

~My best bird of the trip – WHITE-THROATED DIPPER near Ballynahinch Castle, Roundstone Ireland 05/25/23.~

Here’s a list of my new species in Ireland. Species in all caps were life birds for me.

  • COAL TIT
  • EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE
  • GREAT TIT
  • WILLOW WARBLER
  • EURASIAN BLACKCAP
  • COMMON CHAFFINCH
  • LONG-TAILED TIT
  • LESSER REDPOLL
  • Ring-necked Pheasant
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull
  • WHITE-THROATED DIPPER
  • COMMON CHIFFCHAFF
  • LITTLE EGRET
  • GRAY WAGTAIL
~One more look at the White-throated Dipper, Roundstone Ireland 05/25/23.~
~This was a brief but amazing moment. A crew of several recently fledged Long-tailed Tits moved through and I luckily managed to get one decent shot. Beach Road in Clifden, Ireland 05/24/23.~
~Long-tailed Tit adult with prey, Beach Road Clifden 05/24/23.~
~Eurasian Linnet taking a short flight at Nimmo’s Pier in Galway, 05/29/23.~
~European Robin in Clifden, Ireland 05/25/23.~
~I had a total of 5 species of gull during the trip: Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, and Common Gull (above at Dog’s Bay near the hamlet of Eararna, 05/26/23.~
~First Summer Common Gull at Omey Island, Cleggan Ireland 05/24/23.~
~Hooded Crow in the backyard of the place were were staying in Clifden, 05/24/23.~
~Look at the bill on this beast! I love it. Rook in Galway, 05/29/23.~
~Also in our yard in Clifden, Eurasian Magpie 05/24/23.~
~Singing Meadow Pipit, Cleggan Ireland 05/22/23.~
~Rock Pipit at Beach Road, Clifden 05/23/23.~
~Female Stonechat at Nimmo’s Pier 05/28/23.~
~Male Stonechat a day later at Nimmo’s Pier, 05/29/23.~
~Cool looking bird – European Greenfinch on Beach Road, Clifden 05/24/23.~
~Bluetit cuteness at Brigit’s Garden & Cafe outside of Galway, 05/26/23.~
~Not a great shot, but I loved this bird. Long-tailed Tit on Beach Road, 5/24/23.~

15 thoughts on “IRELAND 2023”

    1. Thanks Brian! Any trip with a dozen lifers has to be pretty good, lol! Matt

    1. Ha, amazing might be pushing it, Kyle, but thanks so much, it was a pretty darn good trip. Matt

  3. Matt,
    I am totally envious of your excursion! What a great array of birds, congrats on a great trip! John

    1. Thanks John. It was really good to see some new birds and some new spots – it had been a while. Matt

  4. Wow!! Just Wonderful shots of these Birds. Thanks so much for sharing….doubt I’d ever see them otherwise. That Rook!!! 🙂

    1. Yeah, that Rook! What a honker, lol. They are super creepy, but I love ’em! Matt

  7. You found a Pipit in Ireland??? How funny is that! Sounds like a great birding trip!

  8. I spent two weeks in Romania in early May with little time for birding. All told I just ticked 15 species. My European list is however near 180 species. Got a life bird today. A Lawrences warbler

Comments are closed.