The Aran Islands, Ireland
Early this morning we arrived at the Aran Islands just off the mouth of Galway Bay in the west of Ireland. We knew from previous experience that a lengthy Zodiac ride lay ahead over the shallow waters to Kilronan, the little capital of this Irish-speaking island. Our goal was to be Dun Aengus, the great prehistoric fort perched on the cliffs high above the surging Atlantic waves. Soon we were all ashore and on our way through the extraordinary landscape of limestone pavement where the wild flowers grow in profusion through the grykes left behind through aeons of erosion. Great wads of birdsfoot trefoil splashed cushions of yellow across the landscape while burnet roses, that wild member of the geranium family, which draped across the pale limestone slabs in a symphony of cerise and grey.
It was our good fortune to hear and then see a pair of choughs, those very special ebony-plumaged members of the crow family with their slender red bills and their bright red legs. A speciality of the west coast of Ireland, it is said of the chough that its character is as white as its plumage is black. This refers to the fact that it does not take eggs or chicks of other birds (a well-established habit among other crows!) nor does it in any way interfere with farm crops or other human activities. We watched one that flew right over our group at Dun Aengus, calling loudly as it tossed in the wind in the characteristically flamboyant manner of the species. They always give the impression that they are thoroughly enjoying themselves! All of this was a momentary distraction for the large group of guests who were being enthralled at that time by Carol Knott, our archaeologist.
Clinging to the very edge of the fortress on the cliff-top, cushions of thrift and sea-campion softened the overall effect.
Later we cruised the huge Cliffs of Moher which looked superb in the bright sunlight with their teaming ledges of kittiwakes and auks. And so ended another happy day in Ireland.
Early this morning we arrived at the Aran Islands just off the mouth of Galway Bay in the west of Ireland. We knew from previous experience that a lengthy Zodiac ride lay ahead over the shallow waters to Kilronan, the little capital of this Irish-speaking island. Our goal was to be Dun Aengus, the great prehistoric fort perched on the cliffs high above the surging Atlantic waves. Soon we were all ashore and on our way through the extraordinary landscape of limestone pavement where the wild flowers grow in profusion through the grykes left behind through aeons of erosion. Great wads of birdsfoot trefoil splashed cushions of yellow across the landscape while burnet roses, that wild member of the geranium family, which draped across the pale limestone slabs in a symphony of cerise and grey.
It was our good fortune to hear and then see a pair of choughs, those very special ebony-plumaged members of the crow family with their slender red bills and their bright red legs. A speciality of the west coast of Ireland, it is said of the chough that its character is as white as its plumage is black. This refers to the fact that it does not take eggs or chicks of other birds (a well-established habit among other crows!) nor does it in any way interfere with farm crops or other human activities. We watched one that flew right over our group at Dun Aengus, calling loudly as it tossed in the wind in the characteristically flamboyant manner of the species. They always give the impression that they are thoroughly enjoying themselves! All of this was a momentary distraction for the large group of guests who were being enthralled at that time by Carol Knott, our archaeologist.
Clinging to the very edge of the fortress on the cliff-top, cushions of thrift and sea-campion softened the overall effect.
Later we cruised the huge Cliffs of Moher which looked superb in the bright sunlight with their teaming ledges of kittiwakes and auks. And so ended another happy day in Ireland.
