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A Cruising Guide and Anthology of the Ballinamore
- Ballyconnell Canal
Published by the Erne-Ballinamore-Ballyconnell Rally Committee
1994
for the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland
Wildlife On The Ballinamore and Ballyconnell Canal
My involvement with the Ballinamore and Ballyconnell canal began in June
1989,when the Environmental Consultancy Services was commissioned to carry out the ecological section of the Environmental
Impact Assessment for the restoration of the navigation. Our work involved surveying the canal and its lakes from
the Shannon to Lough Erne to find out what habitats and wildlife were present,and to make recommendations about
how the restoration work could be carried out so as to avoid damage to important areas. Excavation work work along
the channel to make it navigable is bound to disturb wildlife. Our main concern was to make sure that habitats
such as woodlands and wetlands were protected so that birds,mammals,and other animals would have somewhere to come
back to after the heavy machinery had moved on.
The Ballinamore and Ballyconnell canal lies on poorly draining glacial soils,with limestone outcropping in places,particularly
around Lough Scur where the navigation is in rock cutting.From Lough scur to Lough Erne,the canal is actually a
river(the Woodford River).and the water level can vary quite a lot through the year depending on rainfall. Winter
flooding along parts of the canal and around the lakes provides suitable conditions for wetland vegetation,which
can tolerate being under water for at least some of the time.
In several places you can see the natural succession of wetland plants,from species which only grow in water to
others which can make do with a bit of winter flooding or just damp soil. The southern end of Ballymagauran lough
is a good example;there is a wide band of common reed which can grow in water up to 1.5 metres deep.then a strip
of "Fen" whre big tussocky tufted sedges grow on ground that dries out in summer,followed by "fen
carr" on slightly drier ground where the sedges are joined by willow and alder trees,and finally wet heath
where mosses and heathers grow.
There are areas of wet grassland along the canal where the winter flooding covers wide flat fields and the land
can only be used in summer.fields that are grazed by cattle have clumps of rushes and sedges which don't get a
chance to develop in the fields that are mown every year for hay or big-bale silage.This kind of species rich vegetation
will be familiar to people who cruise on the Shannon between Athlone and Portumna,ther are good examples on the
Ballinamore and Ballyconnell canal between Cloncoohy and Lough erne,and at the western end of garadice lough whre
the silt carried by the Woodford river is deposited as the water slows down on entering the lake. You will find
a lot of flowers growing in wet grassland:marsh marigolds in April and early May,followed by cuckoo-flowers,water
avens,orchids.meadowsweet and yellow flags,and a great variety of grasses and sedges.
You may be lucky enough to find the rare marsh pea,which looks rather like a smaller version of the garden everlasting
sweet pea,but remember it's a protected plant-no picking allowed!. The pink flowers of the flowering rush can be
found growing along the canal margins in shallow water,together with arrowhead and water plantain,and the bur.reeds
whose seeds provide good feeding for duck in autumn.
The most common type of woodland along the canal is carr woodland ,where willow and alder grow on wet ground that
usually floods in winter and the other plants are mostly sedges.Hazel,holly and ash grow on drier ground,with hawthorn,elder,blackthorn
and honeysuckle. In spring and early summer,the woodland flowers include bluebells,bugle,and wood anemones with
their delicate white flowers. In autumn,look out for the translucent red berries of the guelder rose,and the bright
pink three.lobed fruits of the spindle tree which split open when ripe to reveal orange seeds inside. Bray wood,on
the south bank of the canal about 2 km downstream of Ballyconnell,is the best example of native woodland on the
navigation.
Birdlife On The Canal
The canal and its lakes are best known for the migratory waterfowl(swans,geese,duck,and wading birds) that use
the area in winter,when the system is closed to navigation.However,some wintering birds will be around in October
and April. The most important species visiting the area are the whooper swans with yellow and black bills-if you
here them calling you will realise why the are called whoopers.The birds you will see breed in Iceland,and spend
the winter in Ireland and western Scotland. The Ballinamore and Ballyconnell canal navigation,with its lakes and
adjoining farmland,holds over 1% of the total wintering population of whoopers,and thus qualifies as nationally
important for this species.The 1% population level is a guideline value used in conservation to identify the most
important sites used by birds so that they can be protected. While whooper swans can be seen in about twenty different
places between Leitrim and Lough erne,the main site is Ballymagauran Lough,where about 100 birds can be seen,often
feeding on the fields to the north of the lake between Ballymagauran and Derrycassan.
Wigeon and teal are the most numerous dabbling duck along the navigation,with smaller numbers of mallard.Tufted
duck are the most common diving duck,although pochard and goldeneye do occur in small numbers at the Lough Erne
end of the canal. You will see mute swans and Canada geese. The main wading birds to be seen in winter are lapwing
and curlew,which feed mostly on wet ground near lakes.Whimbrel can be seen in april as they migrate north to breed
in Iceland,the wet grassland at the western side of garadice is the bset place to see these smaller relatives of
the curlew.
Breeding Birds
You won't see many water birds along the canal,most of them stay on the lakes where they are less likely to be
disturbed.Look out for the spectacular courtship rituals of the great crested grebes,when paired birds shake their
heads and offer each other pieces of water weed.Little grebes breed on the lakes too,they can be hard to see as
they spend so much time under the water surface diving for food.,but in spring there's a lot of activity on the
water surface as they get to dispute who gets to nest where and chase each other around-you can hear their high
pitched whinnying calss from quite a distance. A few pairs of Canadian geese bred on the canal,these birds originated
in private collections of waterfowl and are described as feral rather than wild. However they won't like getting
too close and will stand honking at you before they fly off. If you approach a mute swan nest you will find out
they are not mute at all,and make a variety of hissing and grunting noises-it is usually the male bird who will
come to see you off,he has a thicker neck than his mate and this is the easiest way of telling the sexes apart.
Most of the wetland species of breeding birds are found in wet grassland
areas or in reedbeds and willows near the lakes and canal.The best way to become aware of them is to go for a walk
along the bank early in the morning from April to mid June,when they will be singing or doing territorial dispalys.
Snipe are the most common breeding wader,you will hear them drumming-the noise is made with their outer tail feathers
which are held out at an angle to make a bleating noise as they dive through the air,they will then fly up again
making a "chip","chip" call. Curlew breed mostly at the eastern end of the canal system,listen
out for their clear bubbling call.
Common sandpiper breed on the stony lake shores,they can be seen standing on a fallen branch or boulder to make
their piping call.
The reedbed and scrub nesting species include sedge warblers and reed buntings,both of which attract your attention
with their loud songs from a high stem or branch. Grasshopper warblers are difficult to see,but you will often
hear their monotonous song,which sounds like someone endlessly reeling in a fishing line. All the hedgerow and
woodland nesting songbirds are present too;thrushes,blackbirds,and robins included. You can expect to see grey
wagtails and dippers at the weirs where shallow fast moving water provides ideal feeding conditions for these species.
Look out for kingfishers too. Remember,however tempted you may be ,not to go looking for nests.Ground nesting birds
are especially vulnerable because foxes and mink often follow human tracks out of curiosity and could be led straight
to a tasty snack. Chicks can die of cold if their parents are disturbed enough to leave them.
Wildlife On The Ballinamore and Ballyconnell Canal
Mammals
Seeing mammals is really a matter of luck,unless you are fishing or just sitting quietly for a long time. Both
mink and otter are found throughout the canal system. If you are not familiar with them and just see an animal
disappearing through the water, a good way to tell them apart is to look at the tail. The mink's tail will generally
float behind on the water surface like a bottle brush,while the otter's tail is sleek and is usually in the water
than on it. Foxes and badgers will feed along the canal banks as well,they are fond of the swan mussels which they
can dig out if water levels are low.
Dragonflies
Damselflies and dragonflies are well worth looking out for when you are on the canal.The best place to see them
is where stock do not have access to the canal to drink,and because the banks aren't trampled or grazed there is
plenty of vegetation growing down into the water. Sunny,calm summer days are best for dragonfly spotting as they
are most active in good weather. Damselflies are smaller than dragonflies and can't fly as strongly.Their four
wings are much the same size,and when resting they fold them together and back over the abdomen. Dragonflies have
larger hind wings than fore wings,and hold their wings out to their sides when resting.
While they are all quite colourful if you can get close enough to use binoculars,the loveliest species is the beautiful
demoiselle damselfly. The male has iridescent deep blue wings and a shiny metallic blue-green body.The female has
smoky red wings and an iridescent green body. The banded demoiselle is similar,but the male's wing are not completely
coloured,just a band towards the tip of the wings.
Useful Field Guides To Bring with You
Birds of Europe,with North Africa and the Middle East Lars Jonsson published by Helm
A Field Guide to the birds of britain and Europe. Roger Peterson Guy Mountford and P.A.D. Hollom Published by Collins
The Wild Flowers Of britain and Northern Europe R. and A. Fitter and M.Blarney.Published by Collins.
An Irish Flora D.A.Webb Published by Dundalgan Press
Eleanor Mayes
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