What an interesting year it has been since our last newsletter. From snowdrifts to drought, Ireland has seen it all over the past twelve months. Extreme weather patterns were also recorded further afield on the Arctic breeding grounds of many our wintering waterbirds. In north-east Greenland, for example, the snow melted so late this summer that it resulted in a non-breeding year for several wader species (for more on this, see bit.ly/2MHt8cF). This will undoubtedly affect the number of waterbirds we see here this winter, though to what extent remains to be seen. See full newsletter below.
