Hazel catkins

The woodland walkways are an excellent place to see Brimstone Butterfly's. The Brimstone larval require limestone areas where Buckthorn and Alder Buckthorn grow their main food source.

Crossing the foot bridge

Erkina river

An Otter (lutra lutra) was seen swimming in the river as we crossed the footbridge, great to see!

Wood Anemone

Three Ladybirds

Old timber dams

Larch timber was traditionally used to block small drains.

Enjoying the sunshine in Durrow

Catherine and Anne Marie checking out the Interpretation panel

Interpretation panel

Durrow Co Laois on the 23/3/2011.

Bishops Wood and Knockanoran woodland is an alluvial woodland just outside Durrow Co Laois off the R434.  Lat: 52° 51" 6.479'   Long: -7° 24" 46.74' .
The site is a natural floodplain of the Erkina river and is listed on Annex 1 of the EU Habitats Directive. Alluvial woodlands are very scarce in Ireland and especially in Europe, they occur where sediment accumulates due the action of water. The priority site covers 95.2 ha on either side of the Erkina river where restoration techniques are been carried out to improve the biodiversity of the area. The removal of non native tree species and efforts to reinstate natural water flow are the main areas of restoration. The work is carried out by Coillte and is funded from the EU LIFE PROJECT.

Visit a LIFE woodland near you!

Brown Trout

These Brown Trout swim along the small stream at the entrance to the Mitchelstown caves carpark

Old Lanterns

 Old lanterns hang

Entrance to the caves

Galtee Mts view North

The twin peaks of Galtymore stand 919 m

Knockeentoung Mt at 601m

Mitchelstown Caves on the 16/3/11

The Caves are situated along the R629 between Cahir in Tipperary and Mitchelstown in Co Cork, grid ref R656186. They were found in 1833 by a local man Mr Condon when his crowbar fell through a passage as he was out quarrying  rock. The caves are made of limestone and the temperature is a consent 12 degrees Celsius.

St Berrihert's Kyle and Well

 Pieces of cut prayers are placed alongside a mighty Oak

Crystal clear waters of the well

Scotts Pine trail

Galtee Mts

The Glen Of Aherlow (Tipperary) 9/3/2011

The Glen of Aherlow is found between the Galtee Mts to the south and the Slievenamuck ridge to the North in South West Tipperary.Spectular views can be seen looking South to Co Cork. Grid Ref R926296.

Knockbarron wood/Esker

After the looped walks around the Slieve Blooms we headed off for Knockbarron wood. The woodland is located along an Esker. Eskers can be found in many central parts of Ireland. They can be thought of as rivers of sediment and rubble that got transported when tunnels formed within glaciers. They sometimes can travel for miles and sometimes contain rich mineral and rock deposits. Knockbarron wood is considered the finest example of these land formation in Ireland. The woodland itself is a managed by various bodies and it contains a rich diversity of species especially solitary Bees and rare plants due to the underlining rock. 

Small Larch forest

Bilberry plant

The fight for higher ground

Our lecturer Michael Maunsell taking a photo of professer Roche as he explains the inner workings of the geomorphology process of Irelands past.

Glenafelly river

Conifer trees acidify the water along the river. This area along the river should be managed better to improve biodiversity and water PH levels.

Mosaic habitat

The majority of the lower slopes of the upland blanket bog is afforestated with Sitka spruce Norway spruce and larch species while semi natural hardwood trees are along the riparian zone of the river.

Timber

Class of 2011

Slieve Bloom Mountains map 26/1/2011

The Slieve Bloom Mountains are located along the Offaly Laois border. The area is designated an SAC as it contains mountain blanket bog habitat, a part of the site is also a statutory nature reserve.

Hovering Kestrel

Birds of prey are always a fantastic sight to get to see. These birds are truly amazing, as they can hover for long periods and make it look so effortless. It is understood that they can see in ultraviolet light which is a real advantage when hunting for rodents, as rodents urine glow when viewed in ultraviolet. The wonders of natural selection.

Fallow Deer

Blanket bog on the way to the Ashton bird hide

The Little Brosna Callows bird hide

The glare from the sun is a problem when trying to identify species, ice on the water too is an added challenge

Mixed flock

Ashton Callows

Water levels slightly lower when compared to Sunday December 5 post (view from Ashton Callows bird hide)

The Little Brosna Callows

We returned again to the Little Brosna Callows on the 19/Jan/2011, grid reference M970115. The water levels were slightly lower than our previous visit and surprisingly bird numbers were low too. This may be due to the extreme low tempertures over Ireland through the months of November and December. It was suggested from a member of Birdwatch Ireland who was on site the day we visited that perhaps the migrating birds had continued further south to Spain and Portugal. When all winter data is collected we will get a better understanding of this theory.

Wren claw anatomy

A bird such as the Wren is in the Order of a Passeriformes meaning perching birds. When its knees become bent the weight of the bird locks the Hallux (on left) around a branch holding it in place. The Tarsometatarsus is the bone leading down to the Hallux where it is joined with the three forward facing Phalanx.