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BIRDWATCHING IN KERRY The Lake Hotel is one
of the oldest and one of the most attractively located hotels in the Killarney
region, if not in Kerry. Situated in 45 acres of it's own wooded grounds,
the hotel property abuts on to the 10,000 hectare Killarney National Park.
The hotel is an ideal location for visiting birdwatchers wishing to explore
the region. In front of the hotel, the glistening waters of Lough Leane
reflect the images of Torc, Eagle's Nest and Purple mountains which rise
to nearly 1,000 metres. The largest of Killarney's three lakes, Lough
Leane overlies limestone on it's northern and eastern shores and sandstone
on it's southern and western shores. This geological divide has created
a wide variety of habitats in and around the lakes, from wooded mountain
slopes and islands to shallow reed-filled bays. These bays in particular
attract a wide range of wildfowl (23 species) and wader (17 species).
Red breasted Merganser, Tufted duck and Teal all breed, while rarities
such as Garganey, Goosander, Green-winged Teal and Ring.necked Duck have
occurred. Woodcock, Common Sandpipers and Snipe are also common breeding
birds, while Jack Snipe are frequent winter visitors. Castlelough Bay
is located at the eastern end of Lough Leane, and has a number of small
reedbeds located around it's shores. The largest of these lies in front
of the Lake Hotel, and is best viewed from the raised pier nearby. From
here one can get excellent views of Great - crested Grebes, Sedge Warblers,
Tufted Duck and Coot, with a good possibility of seeing the elusive Water
Rail. The reedbeds attract a good Swallow roost in the autumn. Red deer
are often seen in the woods at the edge of the reedbeds, and there is
a good chance of seeing otters here in the morning. Within a few kilometres
can be found the most diverse range of woodlands in Ireland. The nearby
Muckross peninsula contains Ireland's only Yew wood, covering 28 hectares.
The mountain slopes nearby hold woods of Sessile Oak and Beech, as well
as mature stands of Scots Pine, Douglas Fir, Western Hemlock and other
conifers. There is also an interesting avian fauna, including Long-eared
Owl, Jay, Sparrowhawk, Siskin and Crossbills. Wood Warblers and Common
Redstarts are occasional. The shores around Ross Castle are fringed by
extensive Alder woods where Blackcap and other warblers breed, and which
in winter attract large flocks of Siskins, Redpolls and other finches,
as well as good numbers of wintering Chiffchaffs. Dipper and Kingfishers
occur on nearby rivers, and a small flock of Greenland White-fronted Geese
winter on bogs in the National Park. Twenty kilometres west of Killarney
the estuary of the rivers Laune and Maine forms a rich feeding ground
for many birds. The mouth of the estuary is protected by three spits,
Cromane and Rossbeigh on the south shore and Inch spit on the north shore.
This whole area, Castlemaine Harbour, provides a wonderful day's birding
against a spectacular backdrop of high mountains. When the tide drops
off, large areas of mudflats are exposed behind Inch and Rossbeigh. In
autumn, this area is best visited on the incoming tide, when the wildfowl
and waders are pushed upshore and thus easier to view. Large numbers of
Wigeon, Pale-bellied Brent, Shelduck, Oystercatchers, Dunlin and Knot
congregate behind Inch with lesser numbers of Pintail, Teal and Bar-tailed
Godwits. American Wigeon have been seen on a few occasions, but because
of a low population density the area is very under-watched and a lot of
rarities are probably missed. On the south shore, Cromane Point, a shingle
spit holds up to 200 Turnstones and has been visited by little Egrets,
Short-eared Owls and Black Redstarts. Further Southwest, check Rossbeigh
for Brent geese and Chough, over 30 of which frequent the sand dunes outside
the breeding season. Offshore, one of Ireland's largest flocks of Common
Scoter winter, numbering up to 7,000 birds, often being accompanied by
Velvet and Surf Scoters. Up to 250 Red-throated divers also winter here.
Thirty kilometres north-west of Killarney lies Tralee Bay. This is one
of the best birding areas in Ireland and is readily accessible along both
it's northern and southern shores. Just outside Tralee, on the N68 road
to Blennerville, the estuary of the river Lee starts. The nearby saltmarsh
is an important roosting site for waders, including many thousands of
Lapwings which often provide spectacular aerial displays. Curlew Sandpipers,
Ruff and Spotted Redshank are regular in this area, and every year rarities
such as Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Sociable Plover and Avocet occur.
Travelling further west towards Castlegregory brings you to Brandon Bay,
one of the best Throughout the winter months the bay holds good numbers
of scarcer species such as Slavonian, Black-necked and Red-necked grebes,
as well as Great-northern and Red-throated Divers. On your way, stop in
at Lough Gill, an important site for wintering swans and duck such as
Scaup (1200+), Shoveller and Gadwall. Greater Flamingo was one of the
many rarities which turned up here recently. Turnstones and Purple Sandpipers
over winter at nearby Rough Point. On the western-most tip of the Dingle
Peninsula, the wooded gardens and glens at Dunquin have been attracting
interesting sites for grebes, divers and migrant seabirds, Strong north-west
winds in autumn will funnel birds into this bay and Brandon point is a
popular seawatching point. Great, Arctic and Pomarine skuas are frequent
and Long-tailed skuas turn up annually. Large numbers of Cory's and Sooty
Shearwater, Grey Phalaropes and Sabines Gulls have also American vagrants
such as Red-eyed Vireos and the locality is well worth a visit during
the autumn. North of Tralee one should stop in at Barrow Harbour and Carrahane
Strand, which attract up to 1,000 Pale-bellied Brent Geese and 10,000
Golden Plover. Further north, just outside the sleepy village of Ballyheigue
lies Akeragh Lough, a Mecca for European and American rarities. Lying
behind the sand dune system of Banna Strand, this lagoon type lake has
a good fringe of reedbeds and mudflats, through which a river flows to
the sea at the nearby Black Rock, another site well worth checking. The
list of rarities which gave been attracted to this relatively small site
is staggering Pectoral and Buff-breasted Sandpipers, Red-necked Grey and
Wilson's Phalarope, Black and White-winged Black Tern, Forster's Tern
and Laughing Gull, Spotted Crake, White-rumped and Semi-palmated Sandpipers
the list is endless. It is a site worth visiting at almost any time of
year.
I hope you find this information useful, Terry Carruthers ( I.W.E TOURS )
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Jaunting Cars |
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Killarney at Night |
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| © Niall Huggard 2010 |
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