1908. Pattkn. — Rambles on Achill Island. 201 



Passing Darby's Point, we came to Cloghmore, where we 

 saw several Common Gulls in adult and immature plumage, 

 also a Greenshank running over the sands with great rapidity. 

 Having descended to the beach we made for the Blind Sound, 

 and having scrambled dowm the rocks to the water's edge, we 

 halted for a bathe. 



Keeping to the coastline we wheeled round, and going 

 northward, made for Bunnafahy, taking occasional rambles 

 up and down the cliffs, where accessible. At Bunnafah}', 

 the cliffs, black and barren, are steep and fissured. Here 

 also ' are chasms whose narrow w^alls project beyond the 

 cliffs. Through the vestibule thus formed, with its narrow 

 strip, of Atlantic floor, I saw many Rock-Doves enter and 

 perch on the ledges within the gloom of Nature's Dove- 

 cot. Just then I suddenly detected a flock of Turnstones, old 

 and young, numbering in all about eighty. It was a grand 

 spectacle, and I longed for my camera, especially as the birds 

 allowed of near approach, and showed little disposition to 

 move. The sheer, black rock formed a bold background as 

 the birds arranged themselves on shelf-like ledges, their 

 bright 3^ellow legs showing up against the dark stone. 

 The summits of many rocks were tenanted by groups of 

 Herring-Gulls, while some dozen Curlews and a few Red- 

 shanks rested at highwater mark on the beach below. It was 

 now past mid-day, and as we sat at lunch, our attention w^as 

 aroused by the hoarse cry of a Raven. L^ooking up, we saw 

 its black figure in the distance flying over the face of the cliffs. 

 During the bird's approach we remained quietly seated and 

 had a very good view as it flapped past us some eighty yards 

 off. Continuing our walk to the hills overlooking Ashleam 

 Bay, we again saw the Choughs, this time a flock of twelve. 

 As they disported themselves in the air with buoyant and 

 glancing flight, and, alighting on the cliff, uttered their cheerful 

 though unmusical Kee-aw, Kee-aw, I could not think of one of 

 Nature's creatures which took fuller enjoyment out of life. 

 Between Ashleam and BreanavSkill I observed two Hooded 

 Crows, several Yellow-Hammers, a Wren, and flocks of Twites, 

 Redpolls, and Sparrows. Throughout the day Swallows were 

 plentiful. At 8.30 p.m. we reached the Sound after a good 

 day's outing. 



