The Birds of Binevenagh - Causeway Coast & Glens Heritage ......The birds are listed per habitat, but it is useful to bear in mind that they are mobile and will often be found passing

The Birds ofBinevenaghA guide to the wild birds ofBinevenagh Area of OutstandingNatural Beauty

BINEVENAGHAREA OF OUTSTANDING NATURAL BEAUTY

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4 The Binevenagh AONB6 The nature of wild birds8 The importance of birds in the landscape9 Priority species & endangered birds10 Birds of the coastline14 Birds of the estuaries & wetlands19 Birds of the farmland24 Birds of the Binevenagh cliffs


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27 Birds of the uplands 32 Bird spotting locations36 Bird spotting checklist40 Opportunities & threats42 Glossary43 Acknowledgements, references & useful links

River Roe & Binevenagh

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The Binevenagh Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)received its protected area status in 2006. In fact, this was a re-designation & extension of the old North Derry AONB that had beenin existence since 1966 and joins the province’s 8 other AONBscontributing to a total of 49 AONB designations within the UnitedKingdom. Via this status the landscape is acknowledged to be ofsignificant, national importance and deemed worthy of measures ofconservation to protect its distinctive character. This character isrepresented in a rich balance of natural, built and culturalheritage.

The dark basaltic cliffs of Binevenagh which form the most westerly outcropof the Antrim Plateau, tower above the surrounding lowlands and lead to asummit height of 385m on Binevenagh Mountain. On a fine day, there arespectacular panoramic views in a clockwise direction of the Sperrins,Inishowen & the Donegal Mountains across the waters of Lough Foyle,Magilligan and beyond to the Isles of Islay and Jura in Scotland.

In complete contrast, the lowlands stretching out below Binevenagh to thepromontory spit of land which forms Magilligan Point and along the banksof Lough Foyle are a product of post-glacial raised beaches, salt marshes,and low lying flood plains, barely a few metres above current sea-level. Alongthe extent of the northern land boundary of the AONB are some of the mostextensive dune systems and finest stretches of beach in Ireland. Beyond thebeaches, the coastal waters around Binevenagh AONB hold a wide variety of

The Binevenagh AONB


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marine habitats teaming with a rich sea life, a primary food source to manypopular sea faring birds.

This dramatic landscape of contrast and diversity provides a haven ofdifferent habitats within the Binevenagh AONB for an abundant wild birdpopulation. The area is sparsely populated with people and is on the outerfringes of the province, making it a stopping off point for long-distancemigrating birds and it is this fortunate coincidence that means it is favouredby some of the most abundant and at times rare displays of birdlife in thecountry.

This guide is a non-exhaustive list of the birds that may appear throughoutthe Binevenagh AONB. It is not an attempt to name every possible sighting,but a representative sample from the wide variety of species you maycommonly come across along with some special rare but equally, importantspecies that may hold particular significance to the regional heritage or thehabitat in which they are found.

The birds are listed per habitat, but it is useful to bear in mind that they aremobile and will often be found passing through various habitats or evenoccupying more than one of the habitats listed. There may also be variationsin the male and female of the species and often the young will havedissimilarities usually in the colour of their down before they grow a fullyfledged feather coat, like the adult bird. However, for ease of use, the mostcommon representation of the bird species has been presented in each case.

Happy bird spotting!

Beach at Magilligan Point


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Nowhere is the high visibility ofbirds more pronounced than alongthe north coast of Ireland. Theprovince’s prominent position onthe northwestern fringes of Europemakes it an ideal stopping off pointfor many migratory bird species and

breeding colonies alike. This meansthat throughout the year, there aredifferent birds associated with thevarious seasons. Sometimes theremay even be varieties that we don’talways expect, the golden eagle,once absent from the skies in

The study of birds is called ‘Ornithology’. Ornithology deserves aparticular sub-division from the field of zoology (the study of allliving animals) as it is the delight in the high visibility andaesthetic appeal of birds.

Spri

ng

The return of birds from their southern, winter destinations is an annual spectacle, such as the sightings of the first swallows from Africa or the first sea birds of the coastal headlands. Adversely, the winter visitors such as swans and geese are leaving these shores to return to their northern haunts - estuaries become quiet. The uplands may have interesting sightings at this time, as species return from winter retreats in low-lying and/or coastal locations.

Win

ter

A prosperous time for bird watching around estuaries, they are alive with wintering wildfowl such as whooper swans and waders benefiting from the invertebrate rich mudflats. Geese and ducks also enjoy the relatively mild winter climates found in the northwest of Ireland. Buntings and winter thrushes are a common sight in open country. In uplands bird sightings can be fewer as species move to lower or coastal ranges.

The nature of wild birds

Yearly Observ


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Northern Ireland has made areappearance in the region from asmall population, whichconservation charity ‘The GoldenEagle Trust’ is attempting to re-establish in neighbouring CountyDonegal, these efforts are hoped toincrease numbers further byencouraging breeding in the wild.

Occasionally birds which areattempting to travel southwards

down the American sea-board fromthe Canadian Arctic to central orsouthern America can get caught upin Atlantic storms and get lost orblown as far off track as Irishshores. Waders such as the pectoralsandpiper or the American goldenplover fall amongst this category.Some of the more general birdmovements throughout the seasonsare shown above…

Sum

mer

Breeding species are most active at this time. Farmland familiarities such as blackbirds, tits and song thrushes are busy attending young. Raptors (buzzards, peregrines etc.) that are year round residents can find good hunting opportunities when some of the less aware young fledglings emerge. The cliffs along the coastline can be noisy and active places in summer as nesting fulmars and kittiwakes cram the craggy ledges.

Au

tum

n

Birds on passage – At coastal outlooks, rare varieties of sea birds may be spotted, terns and auks include some of the possibilities. Wildfowl species and wintering (species who arrive for winter only) waders are returning to Northern Ireland from their northern breeding grounds where they have spent the summer months. Summer visitors to Northern Ireland (e.g. swallows) are also on the move to their southern, winter destinations.

rvation Times


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The importance of birds in the landscape• As natural indicators – Thinking of the canary being taken down the

coalmine… when the little bird perishes it is a pre-warning ofunfavourable and even deadly conditions for humans… likewise, whenbirds disappear from a natural environment it is a severe warningsignal, which would be unwise to ignore! A common gauge of thehealth of the wider environment is the biodiversity of wildlife,particularly birds as they are such a useful visual indicator. Thedeterioration of an entire ecosystem can be alerted by the desertion ofits complimentary bird life.

• A natural predator – Birds can be an effective natural and ‘cheep’ wayof keeping pests at bay for the gardener and within farmland alike.

• Seed dispersal – Birds are an important link in the life cycle of certainplants. For example, jays are important for the dispersal of acorns asthey bury them in the autumn as a food supply for the harsher wintersand some that may remain in the soil can spring forth to form a newoak tree, the thrush family is also an important agent of dispersal forthe rowan tree.

• Aural & visual contribution to the countryside and gardens. Birds arepart of what many of us come to associate as synonymous with a walkin the countryside, likewise the robin or wagtails brighten up wintergardens. Their varieties of song and aesthetic qualities add to thedelight of young and old alike.

Castlerock sand dunes


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Priority species & endangered birdsMost people may be aware that many birds have suffered declines inpopulation over past decades. From common garden species such assparrows and starlings through to the symbolic call of the corncrake nowabsent from our farmland. These changes have occurred for a number ofreasons outlined in the ‘Opportunities & threats’ section (page 40) butthroughout the guide those that have made the Northern Ireland PrioritySpecies List (NIEA) have been marked with an asterisk (*). The RSPB hasalso identified a priority species list (more details in the ‘Opportunities &Threats’ section).

Magilligan Point from Gortmore


Northern fulmar(Fulmarus glacialis)

Strictly a sea faring bird, it spendsmost of its life above the waves on itsstrong, powerful wings. Fulmars feedin flock on fish and other deadanimals floating as they can’t dive.During the breeding season theycome in to find a suitable perchalong the steep cliffs. They are gull-like in appearance with grey tonesand white underparts visible in flight.

Eider(Somateria mollissima)

Common to the region, it is the UK’sheaviest duck but also the fastest inflight. The male has identifiableblack and white markings and thefemale has a similar profile but isgreyish-brown. The down of thisbird, which is the soft fluffy feathersunder the tougher exterior layer, isthe prized stuffing of ‘eider down’pillows. This was traditionally

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Birds of the coastline

Northern fulmar

The stretch of coastline from Magilligan Point, along the strands ofBenone, Downhill and Portstewart forms the northern landboundary of the Binevenagh AONB. The coastline is dominated by itswide, sandy beaches and extensive dune networks which provide anatural backdrop to the coastal setting.

Sand is the key agent responsible for this landscape and can be witnessedeverywhere from the wind blown accumulations, which over thousands of yearshave extended the land across the mouth of Lough Foyle to form the spit ofMagilligan Point to the beach networks which run in an almost uninterruptedstrip from Magilligan to Portstewart. The dune systems at Magilligan andPortstewart are some of the finest and most complete dune networks in thewhole of Ireland and provide a valuable habitat for wild bird species. Below thewaves is a marine world rich in sea life, which for many of the sea birds in thissection is a vital food source as species such as skuas, auks and kittiwake mayspend months at a time at sea. Other species such as the red-throated diver andgreat-northern diver, can occasionally be witnessed offshore usually in thewinter months and the manx shearwater is a summer visitor around thecoastline, which rarely visits land. This is a windswept environment and theboundary zone where land meets the North Atlantic, it is a good place for longstrolls with a display of sea birds taking the spotlight overhead.


collected from the bird’s nests as thefemale used it to make a warmlining for her eggs and ducklings,but harvested when the ducklingshad abandoned the nest makes thistraditional method sustainable.

Black guillemot(Cepphus grylle)

The black guillemot, unlike mostsea birds, is found mainly singly orin pairs. It is a member of the aukfamily of sea birds who aredistinctive due to their barrelshaped bodies and short stumpylegs. This means auks standclumsily on land, where they rarelyvisit apart from during nestingseason (March-July) but despitetheir poor manoeuvrability are veryfast flyers, admirable divers and canuse their wings to ‘swim’ underwater. The black guillemots have a

striking black plumage in summerand bright red legs.

Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis)

The shag has an all black plumagewith a glossy green sheen and isperhaps most distinctive for itsforehead crest, an unmistakable‘upcurved’ tuft of feathers. The shagis maritime in nature, more so thanits relative the cormorant(Phalacrocorax carbo) which canalso be seen along the coastlinehere. Cormorants are stockier,thicker necked birds and have whitepatches on their face which theshags lack.

Eider

Black guillemot

Shag

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Gannet(Morus bassanus)

A sea bird commonly spotted offshore. It is one of our largest seabirds with a wingspan of up to twometres. It is a spectacle to seegannets diving for fish, as they shootinto the water wings folded tightlyback like an arrow and can plungefrom heights of thirty metres abovethe water surface. The adults havelong narrow wings with black tips, aspear like bill and pointed tails.

Great skua (Catharacta skua)

The great skua, alongside the Arcticskua (Stercorarius parasiticus),may be found off Ireland’s coast.Great skuas are regular autumnpassage migrants, which means theycan be seen from coastal lookouts,such as the northern fringes ofBinevenagh AONB when travellingsouth from breeding grounds inIceland or northern Scotland. Theyare known as the ‘pirates of the seas’

as they commonly pursue other seabirds, chasing and attacking until thevictim is forced to give up its food.

Arctic tern (Sterna paradisaea)

The greatest long distance migrantspecies known is the arctic tern; theyastonishingly can cover the distancefrom pole to pole twice yearly towitness more hours of daylight thanany other bird. Some do not make itall the way north in summer and stopoff on our shores. There are twoother varieties of tern that in flightmay look similar in appearance tothe arctic tern and can be foundcommonly off the coast ofBinevenagh AONB, they are allsummer visitors. These are thecommon tern (Sterna hirundo) andsandwich tern (Sternasandvicensis). Terns tend to besmaller than gulls and are white withpale grey apart from a blackcap.They also have forked, tail steamersand have therefore earned thenickname of ‘sea-swallows’.

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Gannet

Great skua

Arctic tern

Black-legged kittiwake


Black-leggedkittiwake(Rissa tridactyla)

Departed from our shores in winterto spend these months out at sea, thekittiwake is best spotted in springand summer. They are the mostnumerous gull species in the worldand are distinguishable from thecommon gull that is similarly greyand white in colour by, as the namesuggests, their black legs and wingstipped with a triangular patch ofblack, looking as if they have beendipped with ink. The kittiwakesbreed along this coastline makinguse of the cliffs adjacent to the coast.

Gulls (Larus)

These are very common and easy tospot birds that can be seen alongthe coastline and also in coastalinlets such as the estuaries. Gullscan vary in size from the smallerblack-headed gull (Larusridibundus), which is pale grey andwhite with black tipped wings and ablack hood to the very large greatblack-backed gull (Larus marinus)which has an all black back andwings and pink legs. A smallerversion of the great black-backed isthe lesser black-backed gull (Larusfuscus) with similar colourings onits back and wings although perhapsa greyer shade of black and yellow

legs, it is still quite a large gull butmore similar in size to that of theherring gull (Larus argentatus)*.The herring gull has black only onthe tips of its wings and a good wayto distinguish this bird is its bill,which is yellow with a spot of red.Often herring gulls are mistaken forthe common gull (Larus canus),these medium sized gulls have ayellow-green bill with a black tip.Overall the gulls have theirdissimilarities but to the untrainedeye especially from afar they may behard to differentiate conclusively.Overall the gulls can be spotted withtheir dominating shades of white,black and grey, their long wings andstrong flight and may be seenfloating in the water as they havegreat buoyancy and will even rooston the water at night if needed.

Rock pipit(Anthus petrosus)

The rock pipit is slightly larger anddrabber in colour than its inlandcounterpart the meadow pipit (seepg 29). The rock pipit hugs thecoastline searching for insects,worms, sand hoppers and molluscs.It also makes use of cliffs and rockcrevices for its nest, as a residentbreeding species.

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Rock pipitHerring gull


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Whooper swan(Cygnus cygnus)Lough Foyle supports internationallyimportant numbers of whooperswan. It has been recorded that over5% of the of the total international

population is supported here on theshores of the Lough, showing justhow important this site is for thesemajestic birds (source: NIEA). Thewhooper swan has a long, thin neckusually held in a straight, uprightposition and a yellow bill. Peakcounts for the whooper are recordedin spring and autumn although theyalso reside at Lough Foyle during thewinter period. There are alsosignificant numbers of mute swan(Cygnus olor), which isdistinguishable from the whooper byits more curvy ‘S’ shaped neck andorange bill.

One of the most rewarding places to catch a glimpse of someinteresting bird species is by the Bann and Roe estuaries andaround the waters of Lough Foyle where extensive mudflats rich ininvertebrate provide feeding grounds for many birds. The RAMSARdesignated site supports a diverse assemblage of birdlife, whichincludes some nationally and internationally significant species ofwintering wildfowl and many nationally important species of wader.

Lough Foyle is a wide and shallow coastal inlet and along with StrangfordLough in County Down, is one of just two similar water bird magnets in thecountry. The eastern edge is rimmed with mudflats, saltmarsh and polderenhanced by shell and shingle ridges and mussel beds. Also withinBinevenagh AONB, the Bann Estuary has a less extensive area of mudflatsinland from its artificially aligned entrance to the North Atlantic at theBarmouth between the strands of Castlerock and Portstewart. Mostrewarding times for bird watching in these areas occur during low tides,especially coincided with migration and in winter, as many are winteringspecies visiting the area only in the winter months migrating from coldercountries such as Greenland and Scandinavia.

Birds of the estuaries & wetlands

Whooper swan

Bann Estuary


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Pale-bellied brent goose * (Branta bernicla hrota)Peak counts in autumn when thesebirds arrive via Greenland andIceland from spending the summerin breeding grounds in ArcticCanada. They can be found in noisyflocks and are a small, short-neckedgoose with a black head, neck and awhite lower breast and belly.

Greylag goose(Anser anser)A parent of the farmyard goose, thisbird's honking call and aggressivehiss may sound familiar. It is a large,heavy goose of greyish-brown colour,an orange bill and pinkish legs. Itwinters here in concentratedpopulations.

Shelduck(Tadorna tadorna)The shelduck is an attractive andboldly coloured duck with shades ofgreenish-black on the head, a brightred bill and chestnut, white andblack upperparts. It is a commonresident breeding species which usesthe estuaries and mudflats for feedingand may also utilise the sand dunessystems during nesting time.

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)This is a widespread and extemelycommon duck species that can beseen in many locations fromestuaries to lakes and ponds. Inwinter populations are highest withthe arrival of birds from northernEurope. This duck gives the familiarquack that many of us will come toexpect from ducks, however, it isonly the females that give this calland the males give a softer, lessstrong kairp call amongst othernoises.

Pale-bellied brent goose

Greylag goose Mallard

Shelduck


Wigeon(Anas penelope)The male wigeon has a distinctivecall, a penetrating whistle whichmakes a whee-oo call. It is acompact, short-necked duck andarrives from Iceland, Scandinaviaand as far east as Siberia in autumn.Wigeon have a distinguishable blue-grey bill with a black tip.

Red-breastedmerganser (Mergus serrator)This duck has a long wispy headcrest and a slender profile. Its neckis longer than most of the otherducks present in the local estuariesand it has a long serrated bill that isused for diving for fish although theyalso consume some invertebrates.This is a resident breeding species,using large river systems and inlandlakes but is most commonly seenaround estuaries and at coastallocations in winter.

Goldeneye(Bucephala clangula)A quieter species, almost silent apartfrom a whistling call associated withcourtship displays. Both male andfemale have the distinctive yellow eye,although in males it is set in a dark-green head and with female in areddish-brown head, the female alsohas less white than the male and agreyer coat.

Great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus)This is a large, handsome bird with along neck and a black crown thatduring breeding season is moststriking as it extends back to form adouble black crest on either side ofits head. This bird suffered massivedeclines in number throughout theUK when its beautiful plumes weresought after to decorate ladies hats.When they received protection fromlaw, numbers increased. Theyfrequent the estuaries in winter andin summer breed inland makinglarge floating nests amongst reeds ofinland waterways.

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Wigeon

Red-breasted merganser

Goldeneye

Great crested grebe


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Grey heron(Ardea cinerea)Grey herons are common birdsthroughout Northern Ireland and arefamiliar for their association withwetland habitats especially shallowwater, which they can stand in likestatues until an unsuspecting fishswims past and is promptly grabbedout of the water by the birds long,dagger-shaped bill. It is an effectivefisher.

Knot (Calidris canutus)A medium-sized wader, the knot hasa somewhat stocky build and theirstraight, black bill is distinctive. Theyfeed in flocks and similarly remain intight flocks when in flight, moving asone.

Redshank * (Tringa totanus) The redshank is, like many estuarybirds, a wintering species leaving fornorthern breeding grounds in spring

although small populations are saidto remain and breed inland on lakessuch as Lough Neagh and LoughErne. The redshank is smaller thanits relative the greenshank (Tringanebularia) which may also bespotted in this area although not ascommonly. Redshanks have orange-red legs and the greenshank has palegreen legs with a slightly upturnedbill, noisy waders, they conspicuouslywill draw attention to themselves withtheir loud ‘teuk-teuk-teuk’ call.

Dunlin(Calidris alpina)A small bird, it may be seen on theestuary at low tide in winter dottedamongst the other waders. Itsfeathers at this time are brownish-grey and it eats a variety of smallestuary creatures from molluscs andshrimps to other invertebrates.

Dunlin

Knot

RedshankGrey heron


Bar-tailed godwit(Limosa lapponica)The bar-tailed godwit has a long bill,which is pink at the base changing to adark greyish-black near the tip. It has longlegs and is a large wader wintering aroundthe lough margins from breeding groundsin northern Europe. Not dissimilar inappearance to the curlew, but lacking thecurlew’s downward curving bill.

Sanderling(Calidris alba)Around the sand flats and sandy shores iswhere the sanderling is most commonlyfound. It darts around the tide line andcan be distinguished by its pale, greyplumage. Sanderlings also have a short,black bill and black legs which ifwitnessed up close are lacking a hindclaw. They are hyperactive little, wadingbirds.

Oystercatcher(Haematopus ostralegus)A common wader of coastal estuaries andmudflats, it is a large black and white birdthat has a striking long, orange bill, rubyeyes and pink legs. The oystercatcherfeeds on shellfish, which it may prise openwith its powerful bill or hammer open, italso probes for worms on tidal mudflats.The oystercatcher is one of the noisiestbirds in the estuary environment, and canoften be heard giving a shrill ‘kleep, klee-eep’ call.

Curlew *(Numenius arquata)This bird has a variety of habitats, it maybreed in upland bogs, but during wintermonths it retreats to the coastal estuaries.They are ideal for this large wader to useits very long, downwards curving bill toprobe the mudflats for molluscs, crabs,worms and invertebrates.

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Sanderling

Bar-tailed godwit

Curlew

Oystercatcher


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Birds of the farmland

Farming remains an important component of this area’s economyand culture, the uplands are of less value due to the pooreragriculture land status but the lowlands of Magilligan have some ofthe most productive agricultural ground in Northern Ireland. Thefarmland is dissected by an artificial drainage network, which resultsin dry, sandy soils perfect for crops such as carrots and potatoes.

The farmland is generally composedof large field systems with littleshelter and open expanses of flatcountryside that stretch from nearthe foot of the Binevenagh Mountainto the coast. For the wildlife of theMagilligan farmland the expanses ofimproved land means that there isgenerally a small variety of differentspecies, but it nevertheless supportssome priority species (NIEA) such asthe skylark, song-thrush and linnetamongst others.

Skylark *(Alauda arvensis)A bird noticed to be in decline - theskylark is a small, brown farmlandbird with a distinctive crest on thetop of its head, which can be raisedwhen the bird is excited or alarmed.It is a species renowned for its

displays in flight, soaring verticallyupwards and hovering while still insong. The skylark is resident inNorthern Ireland all year round andwithin the Binevenagh AONB it hasextended its habitat into the adjacentdune systems, this is where it mayalso be common to catch a sighting(or hear the musical, high-pitchedchorus) of this bird.

Skylark


Reed bunting *(Emberiza schoeniclus)The reed bunting is particularly fondof wet areas and therefore can befound occupying damper habitats, forexample around the lowland ditchnetworks that drain the surroundingfarmland. These ditches are the veinsof the lowlands directing water tooutlets in Lough Foyle as the area isartificially drained due to the fact thata lot of it is land reclaimed from thesea. Reed buntings have a sturdybuild and the males have a blackhead and throat, separated by a whitecollar.

Snow bunting(Plectrophenax nivalis)A spectacular little winter visitor, thisbird has a striking ‘snowy’ plumagethat is of a dazzling brightness andwhen in flight they are said to looklike a bunch of drifting snow flakesespecially against a grey winters sky.The snow bunting is a winter visitorfrom Greenland and Scandinavia andnormally strays little from coastal

reaches. It arrives in late Septemberand stays until February or Marchfeeding on seeds and insects. It canbe spotted most abundantly on thecoastal peripheries of the farmland

adjacent to and amongst the dunenetworks and in stubble fields.

Swallow(Hirundo rustica)A summer bird, finding nests high inthe rafters of farm buildings, theswallow is especially fond of quiet ordisused barns and is a faithful nestingbird often returning to the same spotyear after year. It has distinctive long,tail streamers, which can often be itsdistinguishing feature and identifies itfrom the similar house martin(Delichon urbica) which hasshorter, forked tails and lacks the redmarkings on the face that is presenton the swallow. It is often spottedperched on overhead power cables,especially when flocks gather prior totheir famous annual migrations to asfar afield as Africa.

Magpie(Pica pica)An extremely common sight, themagpie has interesting blue, purpleand green, glossy tones whenwitnessed up close, although from adistance they appear black and white.A resident bird that is probably mostnotorious for its ‘bad reputation’, themagpie can steal other birds’ eggs

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Reed bunting

Swallow

Snow bunting


but also feeds on insects, worms andseeds. It has a distinctive, loud‘chacka-chacka-chack’ call, whichcan be heard from trees as theychase each other around thebranches.

Blackbird(Turdus merula)It is normally the male that is wellknown and easily identifiable infarmland, woodlands and gardens asit has a striking all black plumagewith a bright orange bill. The femaleis dull brown in colour with amottled breast, especially theyounger bird, making her sometimesconfused for a song thrush. Theblackbird is also musical and haseven been thought to copy humanmusic although they are veryterritorial birds and when alarmedcan give an excited ‘chack-ing’ noise.

Song thrush *(Turdus philomelos)The song thrush is a small, shy bird,smaller also than its close relative themistle thrush (Turdus viscivorus) *which can also be seen in the open

farmland in flocks in late summer orat other times bouncing around theground searching for worms, slugs,insects and berries. The song thrushis a shy bird and has brown tones onthe upper body, a yellowish face anda heavily mottled underbelly. Todistinguish the mistle thrush it ismore greyish-brown with a blackmottled underbelly. Both thrushesare species of conservationimportance.

Robin(Erithacus rubecula)This bird barely needs anintroduction, its bright orange-redchest plumage and olive brown backand wings are a sure give away. Itonce was a bird of the woodland buthas since become accustomed tohumans and is now a regular andbold visitor to most people’s garden.Although people may associate therobin with a winter Christmas cardscene, it is in fact a resident speciesin Northern Ireland.

Robin

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Magpie

Blackbird

Song thrush


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Linnet *(Carduelis cannabina)A small, brown finch with black andwhite streaking and a paleunderbelly, the linnet is widespreadthroughout a variety of Northern Irishhabitats from farmland to saltmarshand is resident all year round. It eatsseeds and insects and nests close tothe ground or in brambles. In thebreeding season the cock has acrimson forehead and breast.

Twite *(Carduelis flavirostris)Similar in appearance to the linnetbut appearing rounder with a slightlylonger tail and darker streakedmarkings, this little bird (around14cm long) is a rare member of thefinch family. It enjoys marginal,coastal habitats often with aheathland component and thereclaimed land of Magilligan is oneof the best spots in Northern Irelandto witness wintering flocks. It may beseen amongst flocks of other finchesfeeding around saltmarshes and instubble fields.

Greenfinch(Carduelis chloris)A very common finch species withbright markings, it has patches ofyellow seen most clearly in flight asthey run along the bird’s wingspanand tail sides. They may be seen inflocks on farmland and in farmyardsin the winter when they are searchingfor food, they eat mainly a diet ofseeds.

Goldfinch(Carduelis carduelis)This resident finch is commonlyfound where there are thistlescovering the ground, they enjoy quiteopen landscapes from gardens towoodland edges. Adults have a brightred forehead and chin, brown backand black wings with the famousgold streak that runs along the

wingspan making them vivid in flight.

Lapwing *(Vanellus vanellus)A very handsome bird, the long creston its forehead makes it an easy oneto identify, it also has a black cresent

Twite

Linnet Greenfinch

Goldfinch


on its upper breast, white underpartsand a greenish sheen to its blackupper plumage. The lapwing hasgained a few names that it is knownby, green plover being one andsimply the peewit after its distinctivehigh pitched call.

Chiffchaff(Phylloscopus collybita)A summer visitor, this small butactive warbler enjoys lowlandwoodland with tall trees where it canfind shelter. It receives its name fromthe song that this bird makes, anunmistakable ‘chiff-chaff’ repeatedtime after time.

Sedge warbler(Acrocephalus schoenobaenus)This bird enjoys coastal meadowsand can be seen in the farmland ofMagilligan, it does however enjoydamp locations especially for nestingand therefore may be mostcommonly sighted around the ditcheswhere there are reeds, bushes andsedges. The sedge warbler is pale

brown with cream underparts andhead markings, it spends its summerin the region and departs again in theautumn for Africa where it winters.

Blackcap(Sylvia atricapilla)This little warbler is a striking birdand can be found usually near theperimeters of farmland or in otherlocations such as Downhill Demesnewhere its melodic tunes fill the air. Ithas recently increased in numbersdue to the milder climate and withmore numbers staying through thewinter months when it would usuallyretreat to southern Europe or Africa.Its obvious blackcap is the mostidentifiable feature in males and is achestnut cap in females.

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Blackcap

ChiffchaffLapwing

Sedge warbler


A good outlook for bird spotting issituated along the scenic BishopsRoad at Gortmore View Point wherepanoramic views across thepeninsula of Magilligan are alsostriking. Along from BinevenaghMountain and its adjoiningescarpment there are important cliffline habitats running parallel withthe coastline at Benone Strand,where waterfalls cascade over theedge, fed by streams draining theupland plateau above. Below thefamous landmark of MussendenTemple also lie important cliffhabitats for nesting sea birds such asthe fulmar and kittiwake that arrivefrom their usual maritime habitat to

find a suitable nesting site inbreeding season.

What’s in the name?

Place names have long been knownto hold significance in their meaningand often give insight into thehistory of a place or feature they aredescribing. Along the Bishops Road,there is a high point with the name‘Eagles hill’. What is known is thateagles were present in the regionapproximately 100 years ago. Effortsby bird conservation groups areunderway so that perhaps onceagain the golden eagle will return totake its place as the largest raptor ofthese skies.

Birds of the Binevenagh cliffsThis dramatic frontier of sheer cliff faces, between the sweepinglowlands and upland plateau is a remote haven for bird life. Wellout of humans reach, it makes an ideal nesting site for birds andraptors like the peregrine falcon which can on occasion, be seensoaring around the rocky crags hunting for unsuspecting victims.

24


25

Peregrine falcon(Falco peregrinus)A powerful bird and adept hunter,when positioned for attack, theperegrine can hurtle towards itsprey at speeds of up to 180kph! Atsuch phenomenal speeds theperegrines attacks are mainly air-borne to prevent injury to the bird,but it has also been known to pluckprey from perches or from theground at reduced speeds. Theperegrine is resident to theBinevenagh AONB, therefore it maybe spotted all year round.

Buzzard(Buteo buteo)The most common of the UK’s largebirds of prey, the buzzard has ashort undefined neck, broad wingsand a broad, rounded tail. It can beeasily spotted within the BinevenaghAONB and is found in a range ofhabitats but the cliffs are a goodplace to catch a glimpse of ahovering buzzard. Although good inflight they can be seen on posts, intrees or on a rocky perch giving the

distinctive ‘pee-oo’ call. Populationsof buzzards are said to be highesthere in the northeast of theprovince, therefore this is a key areafor this large raptor.

Northern wheatear(Oenanthe oenanthe)The northern wheatear is oftenpresent at coastal lookouts duringmigration from the start of March.Some may be passing through enroute to Greenland, and northwestlocalities of the British Isles such as

Peregrine falcon

Buzzard


here are said to be the best spots tosee them on their northern passage.In breeding season, those that stopoff also inhabit upland areas wherethey can be seen hopping andflitting around the ground. In flightthe wheatear may be distinguishedby its white rump and black ‘T’markings on the tail. The males arethe most highly distinctive withbright, black markings, a grey backand white underparts. The femalesare less brightly patterned and lackthe black cheek markings of themale.

Jackdaw(Corvus monedula)The crow family includes some ofthe easiest spotted birds includingthe rook (Corvus frugilegus),hooded crow (Corvus corone) andthe jackdaw which are allpredominantly black in appearance,but have definable differences. Therook has a subtle purple sheen to itscoat and a grey bill. The hoodedcrow has a black head and adistinctive amount of greyish-whiteplumage. The jackdaw issignificantly smaller and a morecompact crow with a glossy black

sheen and pale grey nape, they usethe cliff ledges for nesting. Oftenbirds from this family tend to be lessfavorably thought of by people, asthey are renowned for their cheekyattitude and bold nature.

Northern fulma(Fulmarus glacialis) (see pg 10)

Black-leggedkittiwake(Rissa tridactyla) (see pg 10)

Raven(Corvus corax) (see pg 29)

26

Northern Fulmar

Jackdaw


27

Red grouse *(Lagopus lagopus)The red grouse is commonlyassociated with the plant speciesCalluna vulgaris commonly calledheather. The bird relies on heatherrich habitats such as uplandheathland, blanket bogs and raisedbogs for its habitat, as a food source

Birds of the uplandsThe uplands of Binevenagh AONB are cloaked in blanket bogs andupland heath which is sustained by the high rainfall, high humidityand cool summers, typical of the Northern Irish climate. Blanketbogs are defined as a layer of peat deeper than 0.5m and itsassociated plant life, such as heather, bog cotton and sphagnummoss.

This is found within the AONB at Altikeeragh which has been designated anASSI (Area of Special Scientific Interest) due to the importance of this habitatin Ireland, the dense vegetation provides an ideal habitat for some of the lastpopulations of red grouse in Northern Ireland. Heathlands are similar tobogs but the layer of peat is thinner (less than 0.5m) and they tend tooccupy the western fringes of the AONB around Springwell and Cam Forestand associated bird species such as the stonechat find this habitat mostsuitable. The area also includes large swathes of planted, coniferous forest.These are typically lower in bird diversity than their natural deciduouswoodland counterpart which is the natural vegetative state of the north ofIreland if all human influence was absent, (as was the case before the firstsettlers 9000 years ago). However, the coniferous forests teamed with theadjacent upland, blanket bogs and heathland has its own distinctive bird life.These birds may be some of the hardest to spot because of the nature of thedense cover, care must be taken not to disturb the fragile habitat, keepstrictly to the footpaths and rights of way.

Red grouse


28

and to conceal their nests inbreeding season. Therefore a threatto these habitats, such as draining,fragmentation and excessive cuttingof peat is a threat to the ongoingexistence of the red grouse inNorthern Ireland. It is currently ahigh priority species, with analarming decline of 60% in the last30 years. (source: NIEA 08)

Jay(Garrulus glandarius)The jay can be found in theconiferous plantations shelteringamongst the cover of the trees sinceit is a shy woodland bird. But if youkeep a beady eye on walks throughwoodland you may be lucky to see it,with its characteristic white rumpflitting between trees from cover tocover. Jays are often heard beforethey are seen by their screaming call.When found in deciduous woodlandslike the small patches that do existwithin the Binevenagh AONB they arethe famous acorn buriers, supplyingthe bird with food during the harsherwinter months and helping in the lifecycle of the oak tree.

Crossbill(Loxia curvirostra)Adult males are a vivid bright redcolour and its unique, crossed overbill used for extracting seeds fromcones makes it a distinctive bird tospot. It is a bird of plump build andmay be encountered within noisygroups of family members or widergroupings. They are adapted to theconiferous woodland with their dietof conifer seeds and can be spottedhigh up by the tree tops, commonlyoccupying the roof of the forest.

Crossbill

Jay


29

Raven(Corvus corax)The largest of the crow family,however, the raven is not normallyassociated as closely with its otherrelatives as the other crow speciesmay be. It has a different habitatniche being most commonly seen inuplands reaches and coastal cliffs.Ravens are a powerful bird, they havelarge bills and shaggy neck feathersand not surprisingly are thereforevery strong in flight and, whilstusually feeding on carrion, are ableto kill small mammals or birds.

Meadow pipit (Anthus pratensis)A common songbird of the uplandareas, it has a distinctive high-pitchedpiping call. In appearance it is asmall bird with a streaky, brownplumage. The meadow pipit is aadaptable bird as it accommodatesitself in a variety of habitats, fromfarmland to the dune network andindeed to the upland peatlands. Themeadow pipit forages for a variety ofinsects such as moths, spiders,beetles and flies.

Sparrowhawk(Accipiter nisus)A popular bird, found all over the UK.In flight they have a barred patternaligned across their white chest,which is grey streaked on femalesand brown on males. This bird isfound in the forests, but may also useopen farmland and even gardens.

Skylark*(Alauda arvensis)This priority species also finds refugein the uplands especially thepeatlands. It can be heard more oftenthan spotted making a trill ‘chirrup’call in flight along with a variety ofsong.

Sparrowhawk

Skylark

Raven

Meadow pipit


30

Coal tit(Periparus ater)A very common tit found occupyingmainly the coniferous woodlandswithin the uplands, they like to buildtheir nests in holes close to theground, such as in old tree stumps,walls and stony areas. The coal titvariety commonly seen in the area isthe ‘Irish race’ (hibernicus) with ayellowish-white cheek strip andunderparts, an olive-grey hue on theupper body and darker wings. Thecoal tit is slightly smaller than thefamiliar blue tit (Cyanistescaeruleus) seen in lowlandlocations.

Siskin(Carduelis spinus)The siskin is a member of the finchfamily but is especially adapted towoodland environments and atypical bird species of coniferplantations, of which the uplandsare cloaked in large swaths atBinevenagh, Cam and Springwellforests. The siskin nests high up inconifer trees in summer months. Ithas a black crown and chin withblack also on the wings and tail.Prominent tones of yellow and olivegreen are present in its plumage,which is most vibrant in males.

Siskin

Irish RacesSome species are resident in a region or country throughout the year,never mixing or joining with populations from other regions - overtime this may result in them evolving differences from outsidepopulations as they are effectively cut off.

This has occurred in Ireland, where some unique species (knownscientifically as endemic), have evolved over thousands of years ofbeing separated from their British or European counterparts to formdistinguishable differences (e.g. in shade of down) into a distinct‘Irish race’. Ireland has four such endemic species: coal tits, jay,dipper and red grouse.

Coal tit


31

Willow warbler(Phylloscopus trochilus)This bird is a summer visitor, fromearly spring to September when itspleasant song has a lasting, liquidtone starting soft and growinglouder before fading away again. Itis a tiny bird, but a busy creatureamongst woodland, hedgerows andscrub. The bird has pale tones ofyellow, green and beige.

Goldcrest(Regulus regulus)This is Ireland’s tiniest bird species,it is however a very active little birdwhich likes coniferous woodlandsand thick cover, using thisvegetation as shelter for its nestingsite as it breeds in Ireland. It may bespotted in the AONB in other

forested areas along the coast atDownhill Demesne and DownhillForest. It has a yellow crown on itshead that is even more orange in themales from where it takes its name.

Stonechat (Saxicola torquata)A bird with an orangey-red breastplumage, males have a black-brownmantle and females have dullershades of the same pattern. They area plump bird found in heathlandsand gorsy areas and can be seenperched on bushes or postsflickering their tail, they give asharp, repeated ‘tsack tsack’ callwhich sounds similar to the noisemade when stones are clickingtogether.

Willow warbler

Goldcrest

Stonechat


32

Binevenagh AONB map and


33

key bird spotting locations

Binevenagh Lake


34

Bird spottinglocations1. Gortmore View PointGreat location to have a picnic andenjoy the view over Magilligan,Lough Foyle and the North Coast.There is a public car parksignposted at Downhill.

Location: Take the Bishop’s Roadfrom the village of Downhill,following road signs for GortmoreView Point.

What can we see? Buzzard andperegrine all year round and cliffbreeding fulmar over the summerperiod.

Contact: Limavady TouristInformation CentreTel: 028 7776 [email protected]

2. Benone StrandA Blue Flag beach, popularthroughout the year for a variety ofoutdoor activities and events withgreat views along the North Coast, toInishowen in Donegal and to

Scotland. Look out for seals,porpoises and sea birds.

Location: Benone Strand is locatedoff the Seacoast Road (A2), 12miles north of Limavady and 4 mileswest of Castlerock. A regular busroute runs from Limavady toColeraine.

Species: Gulls, black guillemot andeider ducks are common all yearround over the sea; terns andkittiwake can be spotted throughoutthe summer.

Contact: Limavady TouristInformation CentreTel: 028 7776 [email protected]

3. Roe EstuaryThis is a National Nature Reserve.The car park is situated at the endof the public road. There are noformal paths and it is important tonote that the soft mud on the shorecan be dangerous and crossingeither the railway line or bridge isnot permitted.

Location: From Limavady, left offA2 before Bellarena level crossing.


35

Species: Thousands of migratingwaders, ducks and geese in winter.The oystercatcher, lapwing andredshank can be seen all year round

Contact: Northern IrelandEnvironment AgencyWarden: 028 7776 3982

4. Magilligan PointThis is a National Nature Reserve.There is a car park at the end of thepublic road and Interpretationpanels, but no formal paths or walkways.

Location: At the end of the PointRoad, off the A2 about 10 milesnorth of Limavady.

Species: Both wintering waders,ducks and geese and sea birds canbe seen. Gannet and skuas can bespotted offshore over the summerperiod.


5. The Bann Estuary andthe BarmouthThe Barmouth is a local naturereserve and wildlife sanctuary, andattracts large numbers of migrantand wintering waterfowl andwaders. A National Trust bird hide,accessible for wheelchair users,provides excellent views of thespectacle, although this is a fragilesite and access is restricted.

Location: From Coleraine, CranaghRoad off the A2 Road.

Species: Over 4,000 waders, ducksand geese are present over thewinter period. Each spring andautumn large numbers of birds ontheir way to and from countriesfurther north pass through the

Lower Bann corridor linking toeither Lough Neagh or wetlands andcoastal areas further south inIreland.

Contact: National TrustKeys for the bird hide can beobtained from Portstewart Strand(£10 deposit)Tel: 028 7083 [email protected]

6. AltikeeraghThis is a National Nature Reserve,renowned for its relatively intactarea of peatland. No facilities areavailable on the site.

Location: On the Limavady toCatlerock Road, left at the top of theBallyhacket Road.

Species: The bog provides habitatfor upland birds such as red grouse,meadow pipit, skylark and raven.


7. Springwell ForestWalks and trails in 1,200 hectares ofmixed coniferous and broad leavedaward-winning conservationwoodland. Picnic tables and carparking available, open from dawnto dusk every day of the year.

Location: Located on the main A37Dunhill Road between Limavady andColeraine.

Species: Woodland species presentin this forest includes the jay,crossbill and sparrowhawk.

Contact: Forest Service NorthernIrelandTel: 028 2955 [email protected]


36

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40

Opportunities & threats Agricultural schemes – DARD (Department of Agriculture & RuralDevelopment) encourages farmers to adopt environmentally sensitivefarming methods through its Countryside Management Scheme (CMS).Measures relative to farmland bird life include planting of crops in autumninstead of spring to provide winter stubble in the fields for the benefit ofskylarks, linnets and reed buntings that feed on the seeds in winter. Thereare also incentives to farmers with land used by swans and geese aroundLough Foyle to leave the land uncultivated and free of stock between Octoberand March when the birds use it for vital feeding after their long migrations.

Pollution – Pollution of coastal zones is particularly problematic for sea-faring bird species. Polluting items reaching the sea may be mistakenlyingested by birds resulting in fatalities, especially in gannets as shiny objectslike metal can catch their eye and appear similar to a fish from their positionhigh, above the water. Direct pollution into the sea of plastic bags, tin cans,discarded fishing lines & old fishing nets may similarly cause fatalities for seadiving bird species that get tangled up in the rubbish and drown. Oil spillsalthough less frequent affect a lot of birds when they do occur.

Rising sea levels threaten the coastal lowlands where the most extensivebird populations in the Binevenagh AONB are found. The especially low lyingland of the coastal rim around Lough Foyle, Magilligan and Bann Estuarywould be at severe risk of inundation from any sea level rise which has beenforecasted at between 85cm and 1 metre by 2100. (National Trust NI, 2007).

Northern Ireland Priority Species are those that have been chosen usingscientific bases such as species decline, confined populations, being amongsta significant percentage of total international population or a species underthreat that requires conservation action. The species list includes birds alongwith all other living species, which require extra conservation measures toensure their survival and is undertaken through the publication andimplementation of Species Action Plans. This helps to concentrate the effortsof biodiversity officers responsible for maintaining the overall biodiversity ofboroughs and Northern Ireland as a whole. There is also a more extensivelist for the UK although species under threat may differ between regions.


Peat extraction and drainage of upland bog habitat - Peat builds upslowly after many cycles of vegetation growth, die back and decay underwater logged conditions. The peatland within the Binevenagh AONB is animportant habitat for birds, teamed with adjacent heathland and coniferousforest it provides for a habitat range and species variety very different fromthe lowland area. This valuable habitat is restricted in its global distributionto areas (like the island of Ireland) that have sufficient levels of rainfall tomaintain it and therefore should be carefully managed with futuresustainability in mind so that peat is not extracted at a rate that maydetriment the bogs ability to maintain itself. Drainage results in similarhabitat destruction and usually occurs related to agriculture when channelsand gullies are put in place in an attempt to dry out the land for agriculturalprofitability. However drainage removes the bogs lifeline (i.e. the waterlogged conditions) and peatlands are now being conserved due to theirimmeasurable ecological value. For instance it is believed that habitat loss ispartly the reason that Irish red grouse have fallen so greatly in number andbecome a priority species.

RSPB – Probably the most recognised bird conservation organisation in theUK, including the reserve on Lough Foyle the RSPB has 5 nature reserves inNorthern Ireland and 200 in the UK covering 130,000 hectares and home to80% of the UK’s rarest or most threatened bird species. The main themes ofRSPB work include the conservation of wild birds but also they have aninterest in related wildlife and the habitats in which the birds live. They havea categorised guide to bird conservation status (from UK and all-Irelandperspectives) with red being of the highest conservation priority, with speciesneeding urgent action. Amber is the next most critical group, followed bygreen. More information can be obtained on the RSPB’s website:www.rspb.org.uk.

RAMSAR site – This protected area tag is for wetlands deemed to be ofinternational importance, designated under the Ramsar Convention; theytherefore are specifically important in protecting the habitats of water birdswithin the U.K. The Lough Foyle Ramsar Site was designated in 1999 andcovers an area of 2159.62ha, including the whole of the Lough Foyle Area ofSpecial Scientific Interest (ASSI), the intertidal area of the Magilligan ASSIextending south of Magilligan Point and all of the Lough Foyle SpecialProtected Area (SPA). The Ramsar site at Lough Foyle includes the habitatsof intertidal mudflats, sandflats and associated saline ditches. These habitatsare vital to the numerous ducks, geese and waders that visit Lough Foyleevery winter.

SPA (Special Protected Area) - All European Union member states arerequired to identify internationally important areas for breeding, over-wintering and migrating birds and designate them as Special ProtectedAreas. These sites are designated under the European Commission Directiveon the Conservation of Wild Birds (The Birds Directive). The Lough FoyleSPA designated in 1999 overlaps the Ramsar site (above).

The implementation of the EC Birds and Habitats Directives, and inparticular the designation of sites, forms part of the “Natura 2000” network.

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Glossarybiodiversity - the total variety of allliving things, from the smallestinsect to the largest tree often usedas a marker of the health of anenvironment.

down - Layer of fine feathers foundunder the tougher exterior feathers.Very young birds are clad only indown.

ecosystem – a biologicalcommunity along with itscorresponding physicalenvironment.

invertebrates – a large groupincluding any animal lacking abackbone such as insects, wormsand starfish.

habitat – where a plant or animallives, providing it with food, shelterand protection.

mantle – The whole back of a bird,combined with the top surface ofthe wings

molluscs – molluscs are typicalfood for many birds. Molluscs areclassified as any animal lacking abackbone and with a soft body, suchas clams, mussels, snails and slugs.

NIEA – The Northern IrelandEnvironment Agency is an agencywithin the Department ofEnvironment.

polder – term used to describe alow-lying tract of land, enclosed byembankments known as dykes. Itforms its own artificial closed watersystem as it is separated by itsembankments form any naturalinteractions. Any interactions that dooccur are human operated devices.

raptor – a bird of prey.

spit – area which projects out intothe sea, formed from theaccumulation of sand via the coastalprocess of long shore drift. Longshore drift occurs when waves hitthe coastline at an angle andgradual transport sand along thebeach, sometimes to project overthe mouth of estuaries, like a longfinger.

waders – a broad classification forbirds which are associated withwetland or coastal environmentsand have adaptations to feed frommudflats and/or exposed soils. Oftenmany varieties of waders can survivein these environments alongside asthe different lengths of bill meanthat they all feed from differentlevels of the mudflats.

wildfowl – includes ducks, geeseand swans, these birds are adaptedto life around water often with theability to float swim or dive inaquatic environments.


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AcknowledgementThis publication has been produced by the Causeway Coast & Glens HeritageTrust with financial assistance from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency(NIEA).

Special thanks are due to Matthew Tickner (RSPB), Emma McLaughlin(formerly Coleraine Borough Council, Biodiversity Officer), Richard Gillen(Limavady Borough Council, Environmental Officer) and Hill Dick, for theircontributions and to Larry Toal (NIEA) for image sourcing. This publicationwas prepared by Joanne Pollock BSc (student placement, CCGHT) and MaximeSizaret (Heritage Manager, CCGHT). Design work was undertaken by elevator8.

PhotographsPaul Weston Bird Photographs:www.birdimages.co.uk/images.aspx

NIEA: www.ni-environment.gov.uk

Dave Parry (The Happy Robot), Alf (ellyll), Andrew (polandeze), FerranPestana, Omar Runolfsson (omarrun), Arturo Nikolai (chausinho), HenryMcLin, Daniel Santana (danybotica), Jose Sousa, Ian (Ian-S), David Merett(Dave Hamster), Mike Baird (mikebaird), Sergey Yeliseev, Dave (wolf 359):www.flickr.com

Causeway Coast & Glens Heritage Trust, National Trust, Garry O’Neill.

For more information on the images used on this publication, contact theCauseway Coast & Glens Heritage Trust.

ReferencesThe complete guide to Ireland’s birdsDempsey & O’Clery. 2002.

Coleraine Borough Biodiversity Action PlanMcLaughlin, E. (2007). The Biodiversity of the Coleraine Borough: AnAssessment of Priority Habitats and Species, Species of Conservation Concernand Locally Important Habitats and Species.

WebsitesThe Royal Society for the Protection of Birdswww.rspb.org.uk

British Trust for Ornithologywww.bto.org

BirdWatch Irelandwww.birdwatchireland.ie

Northern Ireland Priority Species (follow link to ‘species list’ to findsection on birds)www.habitas.org.uk/priority

www.ni-environment.gov.uk/ramsar/ramsar_foyle.shtmlwww.ni-environment.gov.uk/landscape/designated-areaswww.wildlifehebrides.com/environment/machair/www.jncc.gov.ukwww.nbn.org.uk

Acknowledgements, References & Useful Links.


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For more information:

Tilly Molloy s18 Main StArmoy, BallymoneyCo. Antrim, BT53 8RQ

t: (028) 2075 2100f: (028) 2075 2101e: [email protected]: www.ccght.org

Causeway Coast AONB provides a secretariat servicefor the Causeway Coast AONB. The Trust is gratefulfor support from these organisations.

BINEVENAGHAREA OF OUTSTANDING NATURAL BEAUTY


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The Birds of Binevenagh - Causeway Coast & Glens Heritage ......The birds are listed per habitat, but it is useful to bear in mind that they are mobile and will often be found passing