BALLYLONGFORD WETLANDS

Ballylongford Bay Wetlands is considered internationally important for its Birdlife. The natural deposition of silt from water courses has created vast expanses of mudflats and coastal wetlands of national importance. In the winter months the estuary comes alive with thousands of migrating birds who feed on these mudflats. Ducks, swans, divers, grebes, geese and waders stop here on their journey south escaping the harsh northern winter. A further 16 species feed here in numbers that make the estuary nationally important for their populations. Species like Cormorant and Whooper Swan and ducks such as Shelduck, Wigeon and Teal while waders such as Lapwing, Bar-tailed Godwit, Curlew and Greenshank are all frequent visitors. In excess of 50,000 birds are recorded visiting the Shannon estuary in the winter months.Many of these birds are protected which is why Ballylongford is a Special Protection Area (SPA) and is also a Special Area of Conservation (SAC)