A time for all the family.
Late Spring Early Summer, the time for Breeding birds. At present the
Glenveagh National Parks rich and diverse Birdlife is very much awake, from the
smallest bird in Europe to Ireland’s largest Raptor (bird of prey) all franticly
gathering food, building new homes and wooing partners. A fantastic time for
all the family to see and enjoy a great range of Irish wildlife at it’s busiest.
One doesn’t have to go far to see our smallest bird, the Goldcrest darting from
tree to tree in a flurry of colour around our carpark. The familiar call often
described as a ‘squeaky wheelbarrow’ will alert the visitor to this industrious
bird’s presence. Preferring conifers to our native deciduous trees, the
Goldcrest is one of the few birds to thrive in Ireland’s extensive pine
plantations. The unusual Crossbill Finch, which feeds exclusively on pine seeds
extracted from the cone with a specially adapted cross over bill, might also be
spotted high in the pine trees. They often feed in vigorous small flocks, the
constant movement and flash’s of their red plumage in amongst the canopy alert
the observant passer-by.
Moving up the valley, watch out for the rare but beautiful Red-throated Diver,
who’s alarming and amazing call signals that the breeding season is truly upon us.
Mallards and Cormorants are also eagerly fishing in this ancient lake, home to
the rare Arctic Charr and its relatives, the Salmon and Sea Trout (Brown
Trout). The Common Gull is making a comeback to the valley, watch out on some
of the small islands for their nests. The Meadow Pipit, in contrast, is a small
lively bird seen soaring and falling through the air in great arcs, alarmed as you
pass close to its breeding sites nestled in the grasses. Skylarks too, will
accompany you as you pass, soaring higher, and staying aloft for longer than the
pipit. The pipits are the most common parents in the park to the migratory
Cuckoo. The Cuckoo arrives in April and seeks out other bird’s nests, in which it
lays its eggs, leaving the little Pipits with the daunting task of satisfying the
comparatively massive chicks of the Cuckoo!
Look amongst the Gorse (whin) and rocks for the striking Stonechat and
Whinchat. Overhead, you should see a Raven, the biggest of the crow family. A
prolific bird in the Park, these artful masters of the skies have a sharp eye out
for scavenging opportunities. They hatch their young in March; purposefully
early so as to avail of any mishaps that might befall any young mammals such as
the Hare, Otter and Red Deer in their earliest days.
In the Castle grounds and gardens many of our more common woodland birds are
to be found. Taking advantage of the cleverly planted shelterbelt of Scots pine
and resulting microclimate, with all its exotic flowers, shrubs and trees, you will
find Chaffinches, Blackbirds, Song and Mistle thrushes, Robins, Bluetits and
Coaltits. Soaring high over head you might well see a pair of Buzzards surveying
their territory. This beautiful bird of prey has made an astonishing natural
recolinization after an absence of almost a century! Take a few moments to sit
in a quiet place in the gardens and watch the birdlife come alive around you. In
the walled garden, watch out for the purposely-left holes in the walls to see if
any of the smaller woodland birds are nesting in them.
If you move further up the Glen, you might well be rewarded with a view of the
Exotic Pheasant, not originally native to these shores but brought in from the
11th century from China by the Normans, most likely as a game bird. The well-
disguised Woodcock and heather loving Red Grouse could burst out from the
growth around you if disturbed. Red Grouse spend their whole lives within two
kilometres of where they were hatched unlike the migratory Wheatear, one of
the first birds to reappear and the larger Ring Ouzel, which travels from as far
as Southern Europe and Northern Africa. A shy bird, rather like a Blackbird
but with a conspicuous white crescent shaped patch on the breast.
At the furthest reaches of the valley and beyond, if you keep an eye on the
ridgelines of the mountains, especially on a windy day you might well be
rewarded with the magnificent sight of a Golden Eagle. These birds, our second
largest bird of prey (after the White Tailed Sea Eagle, recently re-introduced
in Kerry) have been also been re-introduced to Ireland after a long absence.
Unfortunately they became extinct due to over-hunting, but thanks to this
exciting project these spectacular raptors rule the skies once more.
A trip to the park, or to any wild or woody place in your locality will reward you
with a stunning diversity of life in our skies. All you have to do is remember to
look up. Don’t forget to bring a pair of binoculars, and call into our Visitors
Centre or our Nature Centre for a guidebook or perhaps some identification
cards to enhance your experience in Ireland’s most Northerly National Park. A
great time to set up a bird feeder in your garden, just don’t forget to keep it
topped up at least until mid-summer to give the new chicks plenty of time to
grow strong. If you have any natural shelter near your feeder you will be
treated to a surprisingly rich variety of birds! Happy birdwatching, remember,
wherever you go at this time of year the skies are full of life!
Goldcrest
Crossbill
Young Golden Eagle