Newsletter Issue 5   August 2005

Cape Clear International Newsletter

Issue Number 5               June - August 2005

Emailed free to the Friends & Families of Cape Clear Island.

Our quarterly Newsletter contains items of interest to all past & present islanders, as well as information about future events, which will help the visitor, occasional or frequent, to plan their visit to suit their interests. We welcome contributions of news items. Richard Fenlon, Editor.

....Mystery Bird.....

....Mystery Bird.....

 

Competition:  The first person to identify the mystery bird, which was not a recent visitor to Cape Clear, wins another donation to the canoe club.

NDP for Rural Ireland

The Cape Clear International Newsletter is made possible by the support of Comharchumann Chléire Teo with funding from The Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann, NRDP Program.

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Contents

 

Art on Cape Clear (1)

Astronomy (2)

Reflections on Bird Observatory (3)

Bird watching (4)

Book, Brochures, Pamphlets -  Reviews (5)

Calendar of Future Events 2005 (6)

Development, Infrastructure, Jobs (7)

Genealogy (8)

Canoe Club (9)

Links to Cape Clear Web Sites (10)

Poetry & Storytelling (11)

Sports & Games (12)

Thank You (13)

Whales & Dolphins and other Sea Creatures (14)

 

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1.   Arts & Crafts on Cape Clear

(1a) Quarterly Virtual Art Gallery – Selected Cape Clear Artist

Brendan Scully is a skilled carver and modeler. He fashions his creations of whales, dolphins, traditional boats, mirrors (carved to represent various lighthouses), and much more besides, from driftwood gathered from the shores of Cape Clear. Brendan has a great feel for wood and loves to use ancient bogwood – he also works with various resins for some of his traditional boat models.

 

Brendan’s creations are sold in the island pottery in North Harbour, as well as in shops along the south and west coast of Ireland.

 

Brendan is married to Aurkene and they live on the island with their new baby Amaia. Brendan can be contacted at: badoir@eircom.net

 

 To view the gallery as a slide show, click on the link and then click the play button:

Quarterly Virtual Art Gallery - Brendan Scully

(1b) General Virtual Art Gallery –  Artists from Cape Clear

All Cape Clear artists are invited to show their works here in the ‘General Virtual Art Gallery.’ This will be an ongoing and changing display of individual pieces of art.

To view the gallery as a slide show, click on the link and then click the play button:

General Virtual Art Gallery

 (1c) Bronze Casting

A marquee has been erected at the bunny club to house a group of craftspeople who are here for up to two weeks. There will be daily demonstrations of the ancient art of Bronze Casting – you will even have the chance of making your own axe or spearhead.  Runs from 20^th June to 1^st July

 

(1d) 25^th Anniversary of Harper Craft.

Harper Craft is always worth a visit and is open daily.  Congratulations to Ed and his ever changing team of wwooffers  for keeping such an enterprise going for so many years.  Goat ice cream and other delicacies are always available.

2.   Astronomy and UFO's

The solstice on 21st June marks the official start of summer. It is also the longest  day in the northern hemisphere. It is the longest day because the Sun will be above the horizon for more time than on any other day of the year.  

The Moon is worth watching for the next few months because the full moon will appear exceptionally large for a while. This is because of the Moon’s orbit, which being oval shaped means that every month the distance from the Earth to the Moon varies from 348,000 km to 398,000 km (approx); this affects the size of the Moon in the sky. During June the moon will be at perigee – an astronomical term - meaning that it will be closest to the Earth and so will appear much larger than usual.

 

Click on the link to see maps of the constellations and to discover what else you can see in the night sky during the current month.

Maps of the Night Sky from the BBC

Click on the link below to be taken to the NASA website to find out when you can next see the ISS as it dashes across the sky.

Date & Time for ISS NASA

Also, try the link to a rather wonderful website designed for children and beginners:

Astronomy for Children

The usual web site for those interested in UFO’s

UFO Society Ireland

3.   Reflections on Birdwatching from the Observatory:  by Steve Wing

WHY CAPE?

          On a day like today when I’m writing this, ‘Why Cape?’ is not an easy question to answer! There are a few Chaffinches and Greenfinches around gardens which provide feeders but, apart from these, there is very little else on the Island at present. ‘When Cape is quiet, it’s dead’ is a phrase I have often used! However we do have our good days and, unfortunately, these tend to happen when there are few birders on the Cape to enjoy the fantastic feeling that a ‘fall’ brings. To some I am preaching to the converted and I apologize for blowing our own trumpet, but for those who have yet to experience a birding trip to Cape.

 

The Obs (observatory) has been in existence since 1959 and has kept a daily log for each of the last 43 years, giving a huge amount of information on population levels, as well as giving a good indication as to when to be here for migrant arrivals and departures. Part of the experience of staying at the Obs is contributing to the Daily Log, thereby helping to continue this valuable work.

 

The winters of 1999 and 2000 saw a complete renovation of the Obs, turning it into a desirable residence. The aim of this work was two-fold – to extend the life of the building and to encourage more birders to return to the Obs. We have so far reached 50% of our objectives! The Obs now sleeps seven people in three bedrooms, a single and two rooms with three beds. If required, we can re-arrange the layout to provide a double room for those who need a bit of privacy!

 

The Obs is conveniently placed in North Harbour, only a short walk from where the ferry arrives. It is set in a relatively peaceful position, away from the main traffic routes and yet handy for the shop and the two Pubs on the island. We are also close to two of the top birding hotspots, Cotters garden – of Blue-winged Warbler fame, among others – and the Nordy Wood, a relatively new habitat planted by birders from, you guessed it, the North! To date, the Nordy  Wood has turned up exotics such as Greenish, Yellow-browed and Wood Warbler, Rustic Bunting, Red-breasted Flycatcher and Common Rosefinch to name a few. These two sites are where the majority of the Ringing is carried out and have produced such ‘skulkers’ as Thrush Nightingale, Golden Oriole and Scops Owl!

 

There are many sites on the island where birds are to be found -  see the Site Guide to Cape Clear in Irish Birding News, Vol 1 No 3, March 1991.

 

Returning to ‘Why Cape?’ the Daily Log for the 14^th September 2002 shows the highlights for the day:

 

Excellent day! Both sea and land produced the goods, as follows:

 

1 Corys’ Shearwater                                           1 Red-backed Shrike

1 large Shearwater                                             1 Wryneck

17 Bonxies                                                            1 Icterine Warbler

1 Med Shearwater                                               1 Lesser Whitethroat

22 Sooty Shearwaters                                        1 Tree Pipit

                                                                                2 Common Redstarts

                                                                                2 Whinchats

                                                                                2 Yellow Wagtails

                                                                                6 White Wagtails

                                                                                8 Garden Warblers

                                                                                17 Spotted Flycatchers

                                                                                26 Pied Flycatchers

 

 

There are few, if any, places in Ireland where you might expect such a diverse daily list!

 

Cape’s strong point is, by its very geographical location, the sea-watching. The experience of sitting out a squall on Blannan (a rocky spectacular headland) and then viewing the incredible passage of numerous species, sometimes too close for using the scope, is something that remains with you for life! The spectacle of over 5000 Great Shearwaters in one hour, outnumbering the Manxies by 50 to 1, Cory’s gliding past so close you can see the dark tip of the bill with the naked eye and the anticipation of a Soft-plumaged Petrel sweeping away westwards – it’s the stuff of dreams, yet very possible!

 

Another option to sitting on Blannan is to take a pelagic on one of the local fishing boats. Unlike most other sites in Ireland, the trips here only venture a few miles out to sea, enabling superb close up views of some of our rarer sea birds. We often have Great and Sooty Shearwaters on the water close to the boat and huge feeding frenzies of Gannets and Dolphins all around us!  There are many opportunities to take photographs of species that normally appear as dots in the distance, such as this Sunfish.

 

As the extract from the Daily Log shows, Cape is not just about sea-watching. The adrenaline rush in September and October after a gale – from any quarter – gets you out at dawn in the worst of weathers! In recent years, the Blue-winged Warbler obviously takes top spot but other rarities have included Olivaceous, Pallas’s, Barred, Radde’s and Dusky Warbler, Little and Rustic Buntings, Serin,  Red-backed and Woodchat Shrikes, Wrynecks and Red-breasted Flycatchers.

 

For the non-twitcher, there is the miracle of migration! Waking up and finding common migrants everywhere you look, in places you would just not expect to find them! The excitement of seeing first one, then two, then another and another Pied Flycatcher in Cotters (a great little pub in the north Harbour), 10 Chiffchaffs before you have even reached that area and birds flying past so fast that you don’t get the chance to get the bins on! Blackcaps in every bush and there, look, a Lesser Whitethroat! A Phyllosc with wing bars – Yellow-browed! All this and you’ve only been out for twenty minutes!

 

The busiest times of the year are August and October, during which times it is advisable to book early, but excellent birding can be had in April, May and September. May is a particularly beautiful time on Cape, the flowers are in bloom, the migrants have arrived and the sea passage is sometimes exciting –  it is also a very tranquil time on the island with fewer holidaymakers!

 

Why Cape?   -  You tell me!

 

 

Bookings for the Observatory can be made via:

 

BirdWatch Ireland

Rockingham House,

Newcastle,

Co Wicklow

 

Tel          01 281 2401

Email  dmurphy@birdwatchireland.org

4.  Birdwatching, by Steve Wing, Bird Observatory Warden.

Field Courses on Cape Clear

This year’s field courses have been expanded and developed to offer something for everyone. The courses are designed to aid the beginner and those with some experience in the craft of birdwatching and in more specific subjects depending on the course chosen.

Courses vary from weekend courses (Fri-Sun) to 5 day week-long courses (Sun-Fri) duration beginning with an introductory talk on arrival the night before the course begins. Each course will combine both indoor and outdoor sessions, including discussion and slide shows and field excursions. All courses involve participating in the practical work of the observatory, and there is an opportunity to see birds in the hand during ringing sessions. The weekend courses offer an optional morning session on the Monday for those wishing to travel on a later ferry.

Go to Calendar of Events for more information on specific dates and courses.

Thanks to Birdwatch Ireland for some of the above information, which has been extracted from their excellent website, click the link to visit Birdwatch Ireland

5.  Book, Brochures, Pamphlets -  Reviews

·                    Eamon Lankford

Eamon’s book, O’Driscolls:Past and Present, has been published and is available at all good bookshops in Skibbereen and here on the island. It will be officially launched at the O’ Driscoll Clan Gathering weekend, on Saturday June 25^th, at 7.30pm. 

6.  Calendar of Future Events 2005

·  June 3^rd - Sean O’Brien, of Skibbereen, Traditional Musician

The news just gets better and better. You music aficionados out there will be delighted to hear that Sean is booked to appear at the Club on the 3^rd of June.  Sure to be packed so get there early for a seat.

 

·             June – Irish Students arrive in numbers.

From June onwards for a couple of months the island is full of the energy of the flower of Irish youth.  

Coláiste na gCampaí Oibre was founded by “Na Campaí Oibre” (Work camps) in 1966.   Coláiste Phobal Chléire was founded by Comharchumann Chléire Teo.  (Cape Clear Co-Operative) in 1976.   Both Colleges were amalgamated under Comharchumann Chléire Teo in order to combine resources and to provide a better service. 

Courses are structured to cater for students at all levels and aim to give young people a greater command of the spoken language and a deeper appreciation of the culture.  The courses are structured around the facilities which the Island, by its very nature, has to offer. Students enjoy, rural and island living experience and as  Oileán Chléire is a Gaeltacht Island the language is a normal means of communication.   The islands’ many unique, natural geographical and historical features are employed constructively in the learning process.

 

http://www.oilean-chleire.ie/english/index.htm

 

 

·                 June 11^th to 12^th - Beginning Birdwatching

 Bird Identification & Observation Skills

 

·            June 18^th  - Ferghal & Muirnin – An Club

A great evening of traditional music at a great venue.

                                              

·                 June 18^th - Munster Mountain Bike Championships on Cape

An amazing scoop for Cape Clear: The first eliminator mountain bike race in Ireland will be held on the island in June. Organised by the Rebel Racing Club of Skibbereen; more than 90 riders are expected to take part in this race, which is part of the Munster Championship Series. Get your flags ready, and those of you brave enough to try riding our hills on a bike – well now is the time to get training. Visit the Rebel Racers website for information on everything mountainbikey: http://www.rebelracing.org/

·                 June 25th : O'Driscoll Clan Gathering

 

·                 July 2^nd to 3^rd  - Beginning Birdwatching,                                        

·                    July 18^th to 22^nd  - Digital Photography and Digiscoping

Course Leaders: Eugene Archer & Dick Coombes,  Fee - 195.00 euro

The aim of this course is to introduce participants to field techniques and equipment used in nature photography. The emphasis will be on composing good quality photographs in a wide range of situations using participants own equipment. Basic photographic equipment is required and participants are encouraged to bring a tripod if they have one. They will also need to supply their own stock of film and cover processing costs. Film will be processed and returned to the island to facilitate assessment towards the end of the course, (restricted to print film).

Cape Clear promises a range of topics for your lens ranging from ‘macro’ subjects such as lichens, mosses, flowers and the life of rock pools to birds and landscapes.

·                    July (late)  Lifeboat Day

·                    July 29^th – An Club – Annie Wobbler a one woman play

Annie Wobbler is performed by that mystical enigma Jacqueline Cotter.  It starts at 9.30pm sharp. Those over 16 years old only admitted. €5 Euros per person.

·                    July 31^st – An Club – Brigadoon - Bank holiday weekend

Multi-faceted, deeply dippy, marvellously musical  - that enormous group Brigadoon return to An Club. Starts at 8pm on both Saturday and Sunday.

 

·                    August 3^rd, Cape Clear Regatta

·                    August 3^rd - Sean O’Brien, of Skibbereen, Traditional Musician

The news just gets better and better. You music aficionados out there will be delighted to hear that Sean is booked to appear at the Club.  It is sure to be busy so get there early for a seat.

·                 August 13^th to 14^th  - Beginning Birdwatching

Bird Identification & Observation Skills                                           

·                 August 22^nd to 26^th - Birds, Butterflies & Flowers

Late summer/Autumn Birds, Butterflies and Flowers on Cape Clear

Course Leaders Geoff Oliver & Steve Wing , Fee - 195.00 euro

A week of exploring the island looking at local flora and fauna. The emphasis will be on identification of birds, butterflies, flowers and seashore animals and plants, with evening talks, slide shows and socializing.

The week will include an introduction to the geology, flora and fauna of Cape Clear with features on bird identification, butterflies & moths, plant identification, seaweeds and rocky shoreline ecology and searches for localised and rare plant species many of which are restricted to Roaring Water Bay. Course leaders will introduce participants to the work of the observatory with an opportunity to see birds in the hand during ringing sessions. Time will also be spent on the cliff tops watching passing seabirds and scanning the oceans for porpoise, dolphin and whale species. Click the link to go to the site of Birdwatch Ireland

·                 September 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th,  International Storytelling Festival

See section 11 for news on this years festival

·                 September 5^th to 9^th - Migration and Seabirds

Course Leader: Dick Coombes,  Fee - 195.00 euro

This is a stunning time on Cape with the opportunity to witness some of the huge migratory movements of seabirds - Manx Shearwaters, Storm Petrels, Fulmars, Kittiwakes, Gannets, and auks off our south-western seaboard. It is also the month in which a plethora of cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoise) are spotted off Cape, with rewards for hours of scanning the ocean including rare views of species such as Leatherback turtle and sunfish. Skuas are frequently seen during pelagic boat trips with Pomarine, Arctic and Great Skua (Bonxie) often encountered. Great and Sooty Shearwater have also been observed as was the rare Wilson’s Petrel. On occasion large numbers of the unpredictable Cory’s Shearwater have been observed moving inshore.

 Our migratory bird species such as Willow Warbler, Whitethroat and Chiffchaff are preparing to leave these shores for their wintering grounds while passage migrants are scarce on Cape during this time but have included Wryneck, Pied Flycatcher, Redstart, Sedge Warbler, Wood Warbler and Reed Warbler.

Dick’s course offers an insight into the world of migration and the joys of sea-watching delivered in a humorous and enthusiastic manner. The course will include a variety of topics ranging from identification techniques for birds in the hand and in flight, to survey and counting methodologies, the work of the observatory, and the effect of weather on birds and migration.

This course is suitable for those interested in understanding bird migration as well as those who have learned the basics and are keen to develop their skills and knowledge.

Important Notice: Before Travelling, you must check to make sure that the event of your choice is happening on the quoted date.  Not all events are shown and more will be added in the June issue of the Newsletter.

7.     Development, Infrastructure, Jobs

(7a) Pier Works North Harbour: report by Ed Harper

“Pier Works:   It is with very mixed feelings I have to report that the steel piling has arrived, from Rotterdam, in Baltimore and will be in Cape shortly.   This job was originally scheduled for March; presumably to avoid the tourist season.  There is no doubt that the work is necessary, and like childbirth and the dentist we will probably all be glad it happened, when it’s over!”

 

To keep you informed, and because of my own personal interest, as a person trying to run a farm and Craft-shop, I checked with the Dept. Of Marine and Natural Resources engineer in charge of the job, about a start date and the length of the work; I was told that when it starts it should take six to eight weeks, but that it is proving difficult to obtain a firm date from the contractor.  

 

Would anyone like to take bets on whether it will fall across Lifeboat Day, the Regatta and our usually busiest tourism weeks?

 

I understand that a consultative meeting was held with harbour-users a week or so ago, which expressed much the opinion that I did, that if at all possible avoiding the high season is very necessary for a community like ours, which has such a short weather dependent season for tourists.

 

If any of the harbour users who were consulted the last time are consulted again, perhaps they could share information via “emara News”, so as to make it available to anyone who uses the harbour.

 

 (7b) Fish Farm

Grand News for a Grand Enterprise – Abalone grown at the island fish farm are now being shipped to the world famous Fat Duck Restaurant in Bray, Berkshire, UK

 

 

Tuesday April 19, 2005
The Guardian

Last year it came second. This year it scooped the top award. The Fat Duck in Bray, once a pub, has now been voted the best restaurant in the world by a panel of critics and peers.

This is a remarkable achievement for a restaurant that is only in its 10th year and whose chef/proprietor, Heston Blumenthal, is self-taught.

Blumenthal's story is an extraordinary one. He left school with six O-levels and worked as a photocopier salesman and credit controller for his father's business.

Some 14 years later he lectures Nobel prize winners in physics on the science of food and taste, or molecular gastronomy as it has come to be known; corresponds with the likes of Harold McGee, the author of Science and Lore of the Kitchen, Charles Spence, a professor of experimental psychology at Oxford University and Tony Blake, the vice-president of research at Firmenich, the world's largest flavouring company; and creates some of the most remarkable and delicious food in the country.

Some people have found the idea of dishes such as snail porridge, cauliflower risotto with chocolate jelly, chips that take three days to prepare and carrot toffee as bizarre at best, but the critics and guides, with very few exceptions, have been unanimous in their praise.

 

http://travel.guardian.co.uk/restaurants/story/0,13739,1463026,00.html

 

http://www.fatduck.co.uk/

(7c) Jobs on Cape Clear

Email the Co-op for more information: Email here

 8.  Genealogy

The O’Driscoll Clan Gathering will take place on the 25^th June 2005.

9.  Canoe Club

The canoe club starts again during July. All interested should contact Seamus.  We are all looking forward to the outward-bound trip to one of the outlying islands – a great experience beckons us.  Don’t leave it to the last minute, start gathering your tents, stoves, and lots of sausages now.

10. Links to Cape Clear Web Sites

View back copies of the Newsletter and many pictures of Cape Clear.

Back Copies of the Newsletter on Line

Our island web site, with lots of links, pictures, places to stay on the island etc.

Cape Clear Web Site

Emara Community Portal, contains regular news about Cape Clear.

Emara Portal for Islands

11. Poetry & Storytelling

·                 September 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th,  International Storytelling Festival

A sample from the storytelling website about Joe Brennan, one of this year’s storytellers:

Growing up in Wexford, Joe was steeped in stories of days and characters past by both his parents.  His affinity with stories, and those who inhabit them, was further deepened through his work as a Teacher and radio broadcaster, and by his experiences travelling.  Joe will take you on a journey of magic and wonder through the highways and byways of Ireland, from his native Wexford to his home in Donegal.  He will bring you over the seas to exotic and mysterious lands that lie beyond the horizon of our imagination.  His repertoire of folktales, myths, legends and original stories reflects the wide gamut of human experiences and emotions.  He has featured at numerous storytelling festivals throughout Ireland - Cultra, Sperrins, Seacat, Wexford's 'Stories from the Hearth' - and this will be his first visit to Cape Clear. 

Click the link to be taken to the Storytelling website: http://www.oilean-chleire.ie/english/index.htm

12.  Sport & Games

(12a)  Table Tennis Club

Every Tuesday and Friday at the Old Coastguard Station (An Oige).

 8.00pm – 10.00pm. Younger children with parents on Friday.

(12b) Chess Club

Every Tuesday evening at the Old Coastguard Station (An Oige).

All are welcome 8pm – 10pm.

(12c)  Soccer

Every Sunday 12 noon, at the sports field. All are welcome – girls, boys, Yimmy & Yammy, young and old.

13. Thank You to Niall Mac Oscair:

Thank you to Niall Mac Oscair, for a life of fun and laughter.

It is with sadness that we report the passing of Niall. Many of us have great memories of him and he is in our minds daily. He was a big-hearted man, always ready to help anyone. I met him for the first time when I arrived on the island with my wife (Sinead) laden with boxes and furniture and he, along with a few of his friends, helped us to move into the house in South Harbour. He worked tirelessly bringing trailer load after trailer load of boxes across for us. I continued to meet him, almost daily, and I was always left with a smile on my face and glow in my heart. He was always and ever full of jokes and stories. His love of all things Irish, especially the language, was a joy to behold.

One of the marvels of life is that you can still see and feel those you hold dear; even after they have gone. God bless you and keep you, Niall, and please forgive the fact that this is not written in Irish.  I dedicate my efforts to learn the Irish to both you and Conchobhar and promise that if ever I do become fluent it will be due to the encouragement I received from you both. Our thoughts are with you and your family.

God rest the soul of Niall Mac Oscair.

 

14.  Whales, Dolphins, & Porpoises etc.

Killer whales were reported, during June, in the waters between Cape and the Calf islands. Basking sharks were spotted following the ferry in May.

 Slide show of Whales and Dolphins

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