The lone fisherman

Grey Heron

Interpretation panel

Sea life

Oystercatchers, Gull species and a Hooded Crow.

Oystercatcher

Brent geese

Lapwing flying

Lapwing

Spotted Redshank and Blackheaded Gull

Cormorant flying

The Cormorant usually fly's very close to the surface of the water.

Cormorant birds

Cunnigar spit and Helvick head

Cunnigar spit and view to the Comeragh mountains

Cunnigar spit

Cunnigar spit stretches out from the west side and supports various grass species.

Oyster farming

Dungarvan Harbour

Dungarvan harbour is sheltered from the west by Helvick Head.

Dungarvan Harbour SPA

Grid reference X2793 was the location of our last fieldtrip before the xmas break. Dungarvan harbour SPA is a very important area for wintering birdlife and the site regulary holds over 20,000 bird species. The Colligan river enters the site from the Comeragh mountains and provides the mud and sand flats the birds depend on for feeding. Extensive Oyster farming occurs on the site and it's effect on the area had not yet been understood.

We did two counts from the Ashton Callows bird hide.
@ 1419: Little Egret 1. Whooper swan 67. Mute swan 29. Shovler duck 20. Black headed Gull 53. Lesser black headed Gull 26. Mallard duck 3. Lapwing 88. Wigeon duck 241. Golden plover 120. Teal duck 85.
@ 1510: Pintail duck 41. Shovler duck 29. Whooper swan 54. Little Egret 1. Mute swan 39. Lesser black headed Gull 7. Green land white fronted Geese 3. Mallard duck 12. Golden plover 120. Lapwing 23. Moorhen 1. Teal duck 114. Tufted duck 10. Wigeon duck 435.

Swans

Two species of Swan Whooper and Mute. The Whooper has a yellow bill while the Mute has an orange colour bill.

View form Ashton Callows bird hide

Little Egret fishing

Little Egret in flight

Years ago you would had to go to Central Europe to find these birds. Today there found in every county in Ireland. Egrets belong to the Heron family.

Ladybird

I was sitting having lunch when this Ladybird came along.

On the way to Ashton Callows

Blanket bog and Fens cover a good portion of the wetland. I think this tree is a Willow.

Lapwing feeding.

Lapwing

Lapwing are mainly black and white and highly manoeuvrable in flight.

The Little Brosna Callows

It is understood that these birds were Golden Plover. They were the most abundant Birds on the Callows some flocks were estimated to be around 1000 strong.

We returned again to the Little Brosna Callows on the 17/Nov/2010. As it was later in the year and water levels higher, many migratory birds had arrived from the colder North. It was a great spectacle to get to see many hundreds of Golden Plover and Lapwing in the air.

Glenary River flow

Glenary River

The Glenary river is fast flowing through this part of the broadleaf forest. The area is part of Carey's Castle forest recreation area.

Brown Trout

Two Brown Trout sheltering under a rock pouch.

Sweet Wood Sorrel

Sorrel is a herb and is used for making soup

Landuse

Agriculture with different stages of forestry are evident. Hedgerows are very important for wildlife and biodiversity. They provide food, shelter and corridors to enable movement of species between habitats. Habitat fragmentation is becoming a serious threat to biodiversity and humanity.

Sleeping Swan