Personal Profile:

Shearwater Wildlife Tours founder Paul Connaughton has been an active birder in Ireland for over thirty years and has been runing pelagics in West Cork for over 5 years. He has also taken part in transatlantic seabird survey work on the Celtic Explorer, the Irish Marine Research vessal. During his time on the water and on land he has come across many rarities both avian and mammalian. Irelands first and only Cirl Bunting, 2nd Blyth's Reed Warbler, 6th Red-flanked Bluetail, 3rd Bearded Seal, and photographing the most northerly sight record of Zino's Petrel in the North Atlantic to name a few. Add to that 6 at-sea Fea's Petrels from his pelagics. A testimony to the quality of the birding in Ireland and Paul's time spent in the field and at sea actively birding. Although birding is the number one drive in his life, Paul is the current Chairman of Birdwatch Ireland's (Ireland's largest conservation organisation) West Cork branch and is actively involved with and promotes conservation projects and studies in his locality. A deep love and understanding of nature, and a want to share and promote it, is what inspired Paul to create Shearwater Wildlife Tours. Ireland is a country that is slowly emerging as a top wildlife destination and there is a lot to be discovered and pioneers like us at Shearwater Wildlife Tours are making this happen