It’s hard to believe that it’s late February already. Over the past few weeks instead of flood levels receding, they have been getting even higher and we are currently in the grip of a very high winter flood.
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| Tower Callow Bannagher© K. Finney |
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| Esker Rd, Bannagher © K. Finney |
Winter waterbird flocks are still around, although the high water levels can make them difficult to get close to. Often they are far out on isolated islands of high ground, with only a few stragglers close by the water’s edge. They also tend to be more dispersed over a larger area, again making it more difficult to get good views.
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| Ruff © D. Dillon |
Of note a number of Ruff have turned up on Tower Callow. There are also good numbers of Black-Tailed Godwit on “The Commonage” on Bullock Island, a good birding spot, even when water levels are high.
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| Inishee Island © K Finney |
The predator fence on Inishee is still very much under water. It will probably take about three weeks before water levels are low enough to begin working on it and by that stage the pressure will be on to get the work done before Lapwing, Redshank, Curlew and Snipe return to breed. Fingers crossed no serious damage has been caused by the prolonged summer and winter flooding.
