28 Birdwatch•October 2017 http://www.birdguides.com/birdwatch
WHERE TO WATCH BIRDS
Where and why
Situated off the north-west coast
of Ireland, nine miles into the
Atlantic, Tory Island is a migration
hot-spot, with birds arriving from
the north, west and east – often
at the same time. October is the
prime month to look for vagrants.
The wind-swept rock with very little
vegetation means that scarce
and rare birds can turn up almost
anywhere. Flocks of migrating
Barnacle Geese and winter
Redwings dominate, but it is the
rare birds that Tory is famous for
that attract most birders.
Route planner
Tory Island is accessed via ferry
from Bunbeg and Magheraroarty.
There is one road on the island,
stretching from the lighthouse at
the west end, passing through the
two villages, aptly named West
Town and East Town, and nishing
off at the cliffs on the east side
of the island.
Every birding day in October
starts in West Town , which
has the largest number of houses
and gardens. The small collection
of gardens usually holds a
few Blackcaps and Common
Chiffchaffs, but careful searching
often produces something
scarcer such as Garden Warbler,
Spotted and Pied Flycatchers,
Lesser Whitethroat and Northern
Wheatear. Yellow-browed
Warblers are to be expected,
although they are not common.
The small hedge and collection
of bushes at the back of the
houses attract most of the
passerine vagrants; even if not
found there, they usually end
up there at some point in the
TORY ISLAND
By Derek Charles
❯ Sites and access
There is free open access to all sites, but
please do respect homeowners’ privacy when
scanning gardens. There is no public transport
on the island, and one of the best ways to get
around is cycling; call 00 353 (0)74 9165614
for bike hire.
❯ Maps
- Ordnance Survey Ireland Discovery Series 1.
- See bit.ly/bw304Tory for an annotated
Google map.
❯ Web resources
- http://www.toryislandferry.com for ferry crossings.
- http://www.oileanthorai.com for general
information on the island. - Follow on Twitter: @BirdGuides.
VISITOR INFORMATIONVISITOR INFORMATION
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DOMINIC MITCHELL (WWW.BIRDINGETC.COM)
day. Rarities found in this small
area known as the ‘Magic Bush’
include Greenish, Barred and
Booted Warblers, Collared and
Red-breasted Flycatchers, Little
Bunting and Arctic Redpoll; it is
usually also the best spot to see
a late Corncrake, a species that
breeds on the island.
Walk towards the lighthouse at
the east end, passing the larger of
the three lakes on the island.
American waders are seen on the
fringes of the lake most autumns,
with Pectoral and Buff-breasted
Sandpipers, Lesser Yellowlegs
and American Golden Plover all
recorded; American ducks such as
Green-winged Teal and Hooded
Merganser have also been seen
on the lake, and a hybrid American
Black Duck x Mallard is usually
knocking around.
The rough ground between
North and South Lakes is one
of the best areas for Lapland
Bunting and usually up to 20
are present. This area was the
favoured location for an autumn
Snowy Owl which stayed for
several weeks one October.
There is no cover in the
lighthouse compound , but it
still attracts migrants including
Yellow-browed and Barred
Warblers and ocks of redpolls,
which can include ‘Greenland’
Redpoll from time to time. Pipits,
larks and wagtails can often be
seen and heard ying over, but
nature is cruel and two or three
Peregrine Falcons and up to ve
Merlins are often present, picking
off tired migrants.
Seawatching is best from
this part of the island. Sooty
Shearwaters and skuas are
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Where
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to watch
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MAP DATA © 2017 GOOGLE
common, while one astonished
observer witnessed a passage
of 3,000 Great Shearwaters one
autumn.
Return to West Town and check
the small harbour. The small
beach has had Eastern Yellow
Wagtail – Ireland’s only record and
con rmed by DNA – as well as
Rosy Starling and Semipalmated
Sandpiper, while the harbour has
held Northern Eider, Grey and
Red-necked Phalaropes and a
resident Bottle-nosed Dolphin.
Head to East Town. A small
school playing eld is favoured by
passerines; this has held up to
three of each of Richard’s Pipit
and Common Rosefi nch, while
the gardens here hold the island’s
small ock of Tree Sparrows.
Chough has declined on Tory
Island, but there are usually three
or four birds on the short walk to
East Town. The village is a small
loose collection of houses with a
few gardens. Vagrants are often
found here; these have included
Booted Warbler, Red-backed
Shrike and Arctic Redpoll.
The rough ground between
East Town and East Lake attracts
large numbers of nches and
pipits – Ireland’s last Pechora Pipit
was found here 15 years ago.
The lake is not as attractive for
waders, but has produced Spotted
and Buff-breasted Sandpipers,
as well as Ring-necked Duck, in
recent autumns. Above the lake
is the last garden on the island.
Known as ‘Anton’s Garden’, this
was home to a spring Baltimore
Oriole, and has also produced
Blyth’s Reed Warbler and Red-
breasted Flycatcher. ■
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READS
- Where to Watch Birds in
Ireland by Paul Milne and Clive
Hutchinson (Christopher Helm,
second edition, £18.99) – order
from £16.99 on page 61. - Finding Birds in Ireland:
the Complete Guide by Eric
Dempsey and Michael O’Clery
(Gill and Macmillan).
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Check the gardens of
West Town for tired
migrants such as
Spotted Flycatcher.
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