The First outing of the New Year will take place on Sunday 22
January to Swan Lake,Gowna. Meet at the car
park on the Granard rd at 11 am. If you wish to car share coming from
the Bailieborough or Virginia area or if you wish to have soup and sandwiches
after the outing in the Piker’s Lodge, Gowna please email elizmckenna@eircom.net by Saturday 21st
Local Birdwatch Ireland member Tom
Murtagh will join us on the day and has supplied the above photo and following information and directions to the site.
Swan Lake is a wildlife refuge and is protected from
shooting/hunting, thus leading to transient populations of duck species, mainly
Mallard but with some Wigeon,Teal and Shoveler present. Gadwall and Pintail
have been recorded here this winter.
As well as checking out Swan Lake,if time and weather permits, it may be possible to visit the Lough Gowna lake system itself, viewing from vantage points at Church Lake, Dernaferst, Erne Head Wood and Dring. Lough Gowna holds the usual duck species in small numbers and also Mute and Whooper Swan,Great Crested and Little Grebe, Cormorants, with Golden Plover, Curlew and Lapwing on its shorelines from time to time.Hen Harrier, Buzzard and Raven have also been spotted in the area. The woodland at Erne Head has Jay,Treecreeper, Siskin and Redpoll. Brambling was recorded here in 2010.Car pooling for this part of our outing (if we have the time) would be helpful.
As well as checking out Swan Lake,if time and weather permits, it may be possible to visit the Lough Gowna lake system itself, viewing from vantage points at Church Lake, Dernaferst, Erne Head Wood and Dring. Lough Gowna holds the usual duck species in small numbers and also Mute and Whooper Swan,Great Crested and Little Grebe, Cormorants, with Golden Plover, Curlew and Lapwing on its shorelines from time to time.Hen Harrier, Buzzard and Raven have also been spotted in the area. The woodland at Erne Head has Jay,Treecreeper, Siskin and Redpoll. Brambling was recorded here in 2010.Car pooling for this part of our outing (if we have the time) would be helpful.
Directions:Gowna village is approx.
23km from Cavan town and is accessed from Cavan via the N55 (signposted
Athlone),On arriving at Ballinagh village (on the N55) follow the signage for Granard/Athlone.
On leaving Ballinagh, after approx 4km, take a right turn off the N55
on to the L2514 signposted Loch Gowna . Arriving in Loch Gowna village
(coming from Ballinagh/Cavan direction),turn left – signposted Granard and Swan
Lake is visible on left on the outskirts of the village.
Visit the Birdwatch Ireland webpage for more information on branch events here
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