Corncrakes calling on Tory, Inishbofin and the Mullet

Corncrake (Crex crex) — 281 calling-male territories in 2025 (Tory Island 40, Mullet Peninsula 96, Inishbofin & Inishdooey 28). Donegal islands and the Mullet Peninsula, Co. Mayo, Ireland.

Best time: 20 May – 30 Jun (May to June). Where: Tory Island (Toraigh), Co. Donegal, Inishbofin (Inis Bó Finne), Co. Donegal, Mullet Peninsula – Termoncarragh Lake and Annagh Machair, Belmullet (Ireland). Time of day: Males crake from dusk through the night, loudest between 23:00 and 03:00 — exactly the census hours.

• You can go on your own
• Low cost
• No binoculars needed
• Sound 5/5

Open it in the interactive calendarSunrise and sunset listening times for the day you pick, and the map.

When is the best time?

Peak: 20 May – 30 Jun. Late May to end of June (the national census runs 20 May–10 July, 23:00–03:00); first birds from early April in warm springs

Active from 25 Apr to 15 Jul (April to July) in a typical year.

Time of day

Males crake from dusk through the night, loudest between 23:00 and 03:00 — exactly the census hours; a quieter bout at dawn. Mild, still nights are best; wind shuts them up.

• Night craking: last light → 03:00
• Dawn craking: 45 min before sunrise → 30 min after sunrise

What will you hear?

The rasping 'crex-crex' of corncrakes from iris beds and nettle patches, several males answering across the island, with snipe drumming, the Atlantic on the rocks and sheep — one of the last places in western Europe you can still hear a corncrake night.

Binoculars?

No binoculars needed. You will not see them; the 'crex-crex' is audible 500 m off across the hay meadows. A red torch for the road only.

Where to go

• Tory Island (Toraigh), Co. Donegal — Passenger ferry from Magheroarty pier (55.146, -8.173); 40 territories in 2025; small island, walk the single road at night. Map
• Inishbofin (Inis Bó Finne), Co. Donegal — Ferry from Machaire Uí Rabhartaigh (Magheroarty); 28 territories with Inishdooey in 2025. Map
• Mullet Peninsula – Termoncarragh Lake and Annagh Machair, Belmullet — Mainland stronghold (96 territories in 2025); public roads through the machair and crofts; NPWS corncrake grant scheme fields. Map

How to go on your own, and what it costs

Tory: passenger ferry from Magheroarty (Machaire Rabhartaigh) pier, stay on the island and walk the road after 23:00. Inishbofin (Donegal): ferry from Magheroarty. Mullet: drive the R313 to Belmullet, then the lanes around Termoncarragh Lake and Annagh at night. All public roads, free; keep out of the meadows.

Cost: Free on the Mullet; island ferries (check current prices).

Field-recording notes

Corncrakes call from private hay meadows and crofts: record from the public road or track, never enter the fields (nests and late mowing are the whole conservation effort). No playback — the species is protected and fieldworkers are surveying the same nights; a played call corrupts the census. Islands are near-silent at night apart from the sea and generators; the Mullet has light road traffic. Bring wind protection: calm nights are the only good ones and are rare. Ferries to Tory and Inishbofin are weather-dependent; stay overnight.

Sources

• NPWS – Corncrake Conservation Programme final report 2025 (territories by site, survey method 23:00–03:00)
• NPWS – 20% increase in corncrake territories recorded (Sept 2025)

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More: all spectacles in Ireland · wildlife at night · Ireland in May · June