Paul Petrus Loc: Sarasota, Florida

Heading to Ireland mid-May. What lens is necessary to get good photos of the birds nesting there. Any suggestions on where the best vantage point might be near the visitors center at the summit.
Thank You - Paul

Rich1939 Loc: Pike County Penna.

Check out this recent post by Gene51 it's exactly what you are looking for. (I think)
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-523829-1.html

Adicus Loc: New Zealand

We decided that we wouldn't see too much from the cliffs themselves and went out on a boat. It was pretty rough that day but got some nice shots.

crazydaddio Loc: Toronto Ontario Canada

You can get some great shots of the cliffs just by walking from the tourist drop all the way to the north end where it descends down to the pastures.
The first shot was taken half-way down. The 2nd was from the edge of the cliff.
For birds, I recommend getting as long as you can (Tamron or Sigma 100-400 for weight or the 150-600 G2(Tamron) / C (Sigma) for length.)
I shot some birds while there but I think I only brought my 70-200.....not nearly long enough...
If you have vertigo or are in any way depressed, do not go! You can walk right off the edge anywhere along the walk.
(see the 3rd, 4th and 5th shot...download and zoom in...you get what I am saying....many tourists have died doing selfies and losing their balance)
Frankly, there are few spots that a trip and fall could have you fall of the cliff. I was freaked out a couple of times (developed vertigo skiing the catwalks between bowls at Whistler)

Notwithstanding the above disclaimers, I recommend you walk it anyway...:-)

If you take the bus tour from Dublin to get there.....get a window seat....some of my best shots were "along the way" on the bus.
Shot 6 was through the closed bus window while we driving on the highway !

Enjoy and be sure to post when you get back...

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Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

When you go, don't pay to go through the visitor's center. Other than parking (if you drive) this is public use land and you need not pay to access the cliffs and viewing areas. The trail is long, and the visitor's center is roughly in the middle. If you don't want to pay for parking, you can start at the southern end or the northern end. You should be able to see lots of puffins, guillemots, razorills, and various gulls and cormorants - May is the height of the breeding season so you are going at a great time. If you take a boat, you may get lucky and see puffins catching sand eels and herring to bring back to their nests. The scale is amazing - it's easy to feel really insignificant when you start walking around the cliffs. For great light, go really late in the day, which could be 8 or even 9 PM. Currently sunset is at 9:14, and by the middle of May it will be 10 mins later. The warm color of the setting sun really sets off the colors of the cliffs. Hope you get lucky and you have a mostly clear sky and low winds. It is not uncommon to experience all 4 seasons there, sometimes within a 1 hour time frame. Be prepared for anything and everything.

Bring your longest lens - you won't regret it. Someone linked to a thread where there is a shot I took as a pano with a 150mm lens (a Sigma 150-600). When you view the image and magnify it, you can see the birds nesting. I went at the beginning of April. You will definitely see more birds in mid-May. If you want to see Puffins - head south to Kerry, and take a boat trip to Skellig Michael - an Island out in the Atlantic off the SW coast of Ireland. Or head SE, to Wexford, and take a short - 20 min - ferry ride to Great Saltee Island, another great place to see them and all the other sea birds that come in to breed, and seals and dolphins are not uncommon. Declan Bates in Kilmore Quay (pronounced "key") will take you there (and back) for about 35 euro. Again, if you are lucky, the sea will be calm and he will bring you to his dinghy so you can get ashore, but don't forget to bring your Wellies, in case you have bad timing with the waves. You don't actually get ashore in the boat, but you get pretty close - and may have to wade a little to reach land.

whwiden

Take a stop at nearby Lahinch Beach for sea birds as well as surfers.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

The Cliffs of Moher usually have high winds and dangerous updrafts most of the time. Shooting close to the edge is also very dangerous. Lots of folks who have have not come back, SERIOUSLY.
Best advice, leave the long lens at home, but if you do take it, also take a very good, heavy duty tripod with a huge weight bag to hold you rig steady.

rustfarmer

Our recent trip (April 20) we found so many tour buses and the long walk made us skip the Cliffs of Moher, so we did the Kerry Cliffs instead. Even there, the winds were very gusty and felt like 60 or 70 MPH, so we stayed away from the very edge, but still got some nice photos (IMHO). Kinda of sorry we didn't brave it, but maybe next time.

pecohen Loc: Central Maine

The cliffs are impressive, but if you can find the time I'd suggest a day at Inishmore - and bring your camera. It is a step into the past; to boot, you can get some good shots of the cliffs on the boat ride back, though you have to contend with a lot of motion from the waves.

jimcrna Loc: indiana/florida

good morning..been to the cliffs couple of times, march and September..mid may school is still in session so dont have to worry about throngs of family vacationers.tour buses could be another concern..the path along the cliff is stunning.it leads to a small sign that states proceeding is at your own risk. 99% of people cross over and proceed which is safe if one uses common sense. there are usually young folks seeking the next great pic that take foolish risks just to be cool but as they say "ignorance or stupidity is the privilege of youth". or something along those lines. head south along the path for bout quarter mile dn look back north..the tower will be a good shot, common but good. also looking down to the water is a striking small pillar that if you look just right looks like a face. some say an American Indian facade. no racial hurt feeling stuff please from readers t...take warm cloths..take a rain jacket..all the things you have heard or read about the weather is true..all four seasons in a day..the west coast is phenomenal for photos. lens!!! I took 18-200 for my d300 10 yrs ago..took 17-55 2.8 and 70-200 2.8 in may.going to scotland in couple weeks and will take 10-20 sigma...more rambling than lens help but hope you have great time. if your really into birds the visitors center may not give you the best opportunity other than suggestions..too many people near so you may have to trek a bit to get to a decent vantage point. ..as always there are lots of people here that do this for a living so hopefully they will chime in.best,jim

Paul Petrus Loc: Sarasota, Florida

Thank you to all the responders. So much good information. Pictures to follow, I hope good ones, in a few weeks.
Thank You,
Paul

jimcrna Loc: indiana/florida

Paul,just a few pics. enjoy your trip. is this your first trip to Ireland?

looking south


the tower


lousy pic but the facade




the danger sign

charlienow Loc: Hershey, PA

these were captured near the visitor center. i used my Nikon 18-140 lens

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Paul Petrus Loc: Sarasota, Florida

Great photos - I hope I can get even one as nice. The information was exactly what I was looking for. Thank you very much. Paul

Paul Petrus Loc: Sarasota, Florida

Nice photos! It is my first trip to Ireland and I am looking forward to it immensely. I love nature and the country is nothing but wonderful natural settings. I am told there is every color, hue, tint of green in existence. I believe I could spend a week just at the cliffs. Sadly I will be with a tour bus group and will have only 1 to 2 hours. I will make the most if it though. Thank you for the reply and the photos.

Paul