Wildlife on the Bog
Creatures Big & Small
On the bog there is a rich diversity of plant and animal species which have specialized and adapted to thrive in a waterlogged, acidic, nutrient-poor environment including moss and lichen, frogs and newts, spiders and insects as well as larger animal species such as the Irish hare, foxes & otter. If you're lucky, very early in the morning or just after dusk, you might also spot a herd of Red Deer venturing out of the adjacent forests. Well worn deer paths can easily be seen criss-crossing the bogland here.
Birds
A variety of birds either live or breed here. These include the Red Grouse with its very distinctive call which sounds a bit like 'go back, go back, go back', Buzzards, Skylarks, Pheasants, Meadow Pipits and Snipe. The Snipe also make an extraordinary alien-like sound using their feathers which sounds like 'wu-wu-wu-wu' usually at dusk, often leaving guests convinced a U.F.O. is landing! A pair of Canada Geese breed on one of the small islands on Lough Mardal every year and stay here all spring closely guarding their nest. And we also regularly see Swans, Shelducks & Mallard Ducks on the lake. The iconic sound of the Cuckoo reverberates across Lough Mardal from mid-April waking us all up a little too early in the morning!
Protected Species
A number of Red List Bird Species (high conservation concern) are frequest visitors here; the Hen Harrier, Red Grouse, Snipe, Meadow Pippit and the Goldeneye Duck.
Amongst the many butterflies we also see the Marsh Fritillary every year, the only Irish insect protected under Annex II of the European Union Habitats and Species Directive.
​
And the Freshwater Pearl Mussel, listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, is one of the 365 most endangered species in the world. It is protected under the Wildlife Act and Annex II and V of the EU Habitats Directive.
Insects
Insects such as the impressive Emperor moths feed on the heather and dragonflies and blue damselflies dart around the lake shoreline all summer. The butterflies you can watch out for are the Orange-tip, Speckled Wood, Green Hairstreak, Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Small Heath, Painted Lady, Green-veined White, Red Admiral, Peacock, Great White and Small Copper as well as the now rare and protected Marsh Fritillary.