A Cliff Craving - Red the feet and red the bill A body ink-black so very dark Standing on a moss covered sill On top of the cliff so high. To east and west sharp screeches Answer the voices of the ocean Listens to the echo of the cliff Raging at the thundering seas. Flying low above the briny, A man alone on lands end Walks the mist of late afternoon To spy on the red footed chough. These magnificent, almost mythical birds have inspired poets such as the 19th century Cornish author John HARRIS and Domhnall MAC SITHIGH (Danny SHEEHY) of Ballyferriter, Co. Kerry. With their distinctive red legs and bill, choughs (pronounced chuff) are settling in the Dingle Peninsula where spectacular stretches of beach and mountains attract many visitors. Kerry provides the perfect territory for choughs - clefts in inaccessible cliffs, a good lookout post at Minard Castle or nearby, the valley of Annascaul Lake. Soaring over the deserted and windswept strands of Kerry, through air laced thickly with spray from the sea, one hears their raucous cry of 'Chee-aaw Chee-aaw." A several-page photo-article by Bob MOSS on the background of these members of the crow family (which are said to have a sinister side, an affinity with death) can be found in the May-June 2005 issue of Dublin's "Ireland of the Welcomes" magazine. There you will find the HARRIS poem in English, and the MAC SITHIGH (SHEEHY) poem in the lyrical Irish language. The translated version of the latter is above. Author of several books and award-winning articles, Bob MOSS has a particular interest in shoreline angling and the conservation of Bass, when not actually out fishing. He has lived on the Dingle peninsula for over 30 years - Smerwick Harbour in his home. His book "Through a Line Tightly - piscatorial illustrations of a lifetime misspent," (ISBN 0 9540466 2 5) is available from the author - bobmoss@iol.ie. The BirdWatch Ireland Chough Survey Team have been researching the species' year-round distribution and habitat use in Cork, Kerry and Donegal since 2002. More details from website www.birdwatchireland.ie or by post - BirdWatch Ireland, Rockingham House, Newcastle, Co. Wicklow. BirdWatch Ireland would be very pleased to hear from anyone who would like to report chough sightings, especially flocks of 20 or more: Contact the survey team at ngray@birdwatchireland.org (Nick GRAY).