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Description
Achill Island is the largest of the Irish isles, and is situated off the west coast of Ireland. It has a population of 2,600. Achill is attached to the mainland by a bridge.
Best areas are
1, Croaghaun sea cliffs, third highest in Europe at 688 metres/2257ft, 2 breeding pairs of Peregrine Falcon here best seen when young are fledging, July to September.
2, Keel village, lough and machair. Nesting waders, Eurasian Skylark, pipits, passerines in village including Goldcrest and Bohemian Waxwing. Dabbling ducks and Whooper Swan in winter on lough.
3, Keem Bay, possible killer whales, dolphins, porpoise, seals, otter, basking shark, Kittiwake, Northern Fulmar, Great Skua, autumn migrant waders, Lapland Bunting, Red-billed Chough, Glaucous Gull, Iceland Gull and Ring-billed Gull.
4, Tonatanvally, or simply 'Valley' has machair, wetland and lakes and is good for rare waders.
5, Achill Head, sea headland for seawatch between September and March.
Rarities, especially transatlantic ones, turn up often, such as Baltimore Oriole, Pied-billed Grebe, American Black Duck, Buff-bellied Pipit, Ring-necked Duck, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Baird's Sandpiper and Pectoral Sandpiper.
Details
Access
From Dublin take the motorway NW towards Sligo, turn west through Strokestowe, Charlestown and Castlebar. Nearest airport is Connaught. There is a bridge to the island. Trains run from Dublin to Westport and bus 450 runs 6 times a day from there to Achill.