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 сив сокол here best seen when young are fledging, July to September.
2, Keel village, lough and machair. Nesting waders, полска чучулига, pipits, passerines in village including жолтоглаво кралче and свиларка. Dabbling ducks and жолтоклун лебед in winter on lough.
3, Keem Bay, possible killer whales, dolphins, porpoise, seals, otter, basking shark, тропрст галеб, Northern Fulmar, Great Skua, autumn migrant waders, Lapland Bunting, црвеноклуна галка, 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.

