Things were getting better but we hadn't seen any of the more uncommon passage migrants usually associated with Kilcoole in September. Outing leader and local expert Dick Coombes commented that we hadn't even seen the Little Egret that had been spending a lot of time there recently. As if on cue out across the water flew the splendid white apparition that was the Little Egret and it landed on the opposite bank where everyone could get a good look at it. A lovely end to the day. Co. Dublin, 1st July 2001.
Islands are by definition a place apart.
Take the boat out there on a good, dry day in early summer when the seabird colonies are crowded and you're in another world. The Branch trip was very well attended with nearly two boat loads setting out on an ideal morning from Howth. Straight off the boat we walked across rabbit burrows some of which are used by nesting Shelduck . Further along, heading for the high ground, are cliffs teeming with the nests of auks, Kittiwakes and Fulmars . Lower down the cliff near the tide line we looked straight down on Shags on their nests.