Inch Levels Wildfowl Reserve
Site Details
Longitude: -7.443001
Inch Levels Wildfowl ReserveIreland’s premier wetland site, Inch Wildfowl Reserve is situated to the east of Lough Swilly, approximately 8 km to the south of Buncrana. It is an internationally significant destination and staging ground for migrating birds from three continents. This global importance is recognised by the area’s designation as a Special Protection Area (SPA) under the EU Birds Directive. The combination within this site of extensive feeding areas and safe resting and roosting sites makes this site one of the most important wetlands in the north-west of the country for wintering waterfowl. |
Anaclann Éanlaithe Fiáine Leibhéal na hInseTá príomhshuíomh bogaidh na hÉireann, Anaclann Éanlaithe na hInse, lonnaithe taobh thoir de Loch Suilí, tuairim is 8 km ó dheas de Bhun Cranncha. Is ceann scríbe suntasach idirnáisiúnta é agus talamh stad d’éin imirce as trí ilchríoch. Tugtar aitheantas dá thábhacht domhanda le hainmniú an limistéir mar Limistéar faoi Chosaint Speisialta (SPA) faoi Threoir maidir le hÉin ón Aontas Eorpach. Mar gheall ar an meascán de limistéir mhóra cothaithe agus de shuíomhanna sábháilte scíthe agus fara san áit seo, tá sé ar cheann de na suíomhanna bogaidh is tábhachtaí in iarthuaisceart na tíre d’éin uisce geimhrithe. |
HistoryInch Lough was created from the estuarine mud of Lough Swilly in the late 19th Century when two embankments were built to link Inch Island to the mainland on behalf of the Derry & Lough Swilly Railway. A railway embankment was then built dividing the area - the inner part (Inch Levels) being further drained to create polders or sloblands for agricultural use, while the outer part (Inch Lough) acted as a holding reservoir or lake for drainage water. A sluice gate in one of the original embankments allows drainage to the sea at low tide. There is some seepage of seawater back, creating brackish 'lagoonal' conditions within the lake. This large-scale engineering project transformed the area and has provided a resting stop for many travelling wildfowl, and is now an excellent place to spend your day. The lake is surrounded by marsh and swamp vegetation. The extensive sloblands to the east and south of the lake, Inch Levels, are included in the site. These lands are farmed intensively for grass, winter cereals and root crops and provide important feeding areas for wintering waterfowl, especially geese and swans. |
StairCruthaíodh Loch na hInse as láib inbhearach Loch Suilí ag deireadh an 19ú haois nuair a tógadh dhá chlaífort chun Oileán na hInse a nascadh leis an mórthír thar ceann Iarnród Dhoire & Loch Suilí. Tógadh claífort iarnróid ansin a roinn an limistéar – rinneadh tuilleadh draenála ar an gcuid istigh (Leibhéal na hInse) chun poldair agus slabaí a chruthú ar mhaithe le talmhaíocht, agus d’fheidhmigh an chuid amuigh (Loch na hInse) mar loch nó taiscumar coinneála d’uisce siltin. Ligtear d’uisce draenáil amach san fharraige, trí bhual-chomhla i gceann de na chéad chlaífoirt, nuair a bhíonn an taoide íseal. Sileann roinnt uisce sáile ar ais, rud a chruthaíonn coinníollacha ‘murlaigh’ sáile sa loch. D’athraigh an mórthionscadal innealtóireachta seo an limistéar ó bhun agus tá láthair scíthe cruthaithe do lear mór éan uisce géim agus iad ag taisteal. Is áit iontach anois í chun an lá a chaitheamh. Tá fásra seascainn agus réisce timpeall ar an loch ar fad anois. Tá na slabaí móra ar an taobh thoir agus ó dheas den loch, Leibhéal na hInse, san áireamh sa suíomh. Déantar dianfheirmeoireacht ar na tailte seo d’fhéar, do ghránbharra geimhridh agus do mheacain. Cuireann said limistéir thábhachtacha chothaithe ar fáil d’éin uisce geimhrithe freisin, go háirithe géanna agus ealaí. |
Excellent Bird WatchingWhether you are a serious twitcher or a novice bird watcher, the Inch Wildfowl Reserve provides excellent viewing opportunities for summer and winter visitors including wintering wildfowl and waders, not to mention the variety of summer breeders. It supports a wide diversity of wintering waterfowl, notably swans and geese, as well as breeding terns, gulls and duck. It is an important link in the overall Lough Swilly wetland system, which includes Blanket Nook and Big Isle to the south. Three of these species occur in nationally important numbers (Greenland White-fronted Goose, Sandwich Tern and Common Tern) and one of these in internationally important numbers (Whooper Swan). In addition, it also supports internationally important numbers of the migratory species Greylag Goose. Two species, Whooper Swan and Greylag Goose, occur in numbers of international importance. Greylag geese numbers fluctuate depending on the weather (2008 numbers peaked at 3000+). Considerably higher numbers of Whooper Swan (peak of 6000+) have been recorded, especially early in the season, as this is the area where the swans make their Irish landfall in autumn on their return from breeding grounds inIceland. |
Fairtheoireacht Éan den ScothBíodh tú i d’fhaireoir éan fánach nó dáiríre, cuireann Anaclann Éanlaithe Fiáine na hInse deiseanna iontacha féachana ar fáil do chuairteoirí samhraidh agus geimhridh, lena n-áirítear lapairí agus fia-éin gheimhrithe, gan trácht ar na cineálacha difriúla póraitheoirí samhraidh. Tacaítear le héagsúlacht mhór éan uisce geimhrithe, go háirithe ealaí agus géanna, chomh maith le geabhróga goir, faoileáin ghoir agus lachain ghoir. Is nasc tábhachtach é i gcóras iomlán bogaidh Loch Suilí, a bhfuil Cúil na Birte agus an tOileán Mór ó dheas san áireamh ann. Tá tábhacht náisiúnta ag baint leis an lion de thrí cinn de na speicis seo atá ann (an Ghé Bhánéadanach Ghraonlannach, an Gheabhróg Scothdhubh agus an Gheabhróg). Tá ceann de na speicis ann i líonta atá tábhachtach go hidirnáisiúnta (an Eala Ghlórach). Chomh maith leis sin, tacaíonn an áit le líon tábhachtach idirnáisiúnta den speiceas imirce, an Ghé Ghlas. Tá tábhacht idirnáisiúnta leis an lion de dhá speiceas atá ann, an Eala Ghlórach agus an Ghé Ghlas. Téann líon na ngéanna glasa suas agus síos ag brath ar an aimsir (d’ardaigh lion na ngéanna go 3000+ sa bhliain 2008). Tá cuntas oifigiúil tógtha de líon i bhfad níos mó ná sin d’Ealaí Glóracha (uasmhéid de 6000+), go háirithe luath sa séasúr, ó tharla gur sa limistéar seo a thagann na healaí ar an talamh in Éirinn san fhómhar agus iad ag filleadh óna gcuid tailte pórúcháin san Íoslainn.
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Beautiful WalksIf you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, you can take advantage of over 8km of idyllic country walks, whilst taking in the majesty of the Inishowen Peninsula. There are also designated picnic areas to take time out to relax, refresh and renew. For further information contact National Parks and Wildlife Service, Glenveagh National Park, Churchill, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal. |
Siúlóidí ÁilleDá mba mhaith leat éalú ó anó an tsaoil, is fiú leas a bhaint as breis agus 8km de bhealaí siúlóide a thugann léargas duit ar áilleacht Leithinis Inis Eoghain. Tá láithreacha picnicí ar leith ann freisin chun deis a thabhairt duit do scíth a ligean. Chun tuilleadh eolais a fháil, téigh i dteagmháil leis an tSeirbhís Páirceanna Náisiúnta agus Fiadhúlra, Páirc Náisiúnta Ghleann Bheatha, Mín an Lábáin, Leitir Ceannain, Co. Dhún na nGall. |
Inch Woodland Education AreaThe Inch Woodland Education Area is the ideal place for school visits with a range of curriculum-based learning tools for primary and post-primary level groups. The education area caters for groups from junior and senior infants, and has tailored programmes for children from 1st and 6th class. There is also a picnic and interpretative area for families and small groups. To access the education and field trip investigation sheets visit below. |
Limistéar Oideachais Choill na hInseIs iontach an áit é Limistéar Oideachais Choill na hInse do chuairteanna ó ghrúpa daltaí bunscoile agus meánscoile mar go bhfuil réimse uirlisí foghlama atá bunaithe ar an gcuraclam ann. Déanann an limistéar oideachais freastal ar ghrúpaí ó na naíonáin bheaga agus na naíonáin mhóra agus tá cláir ar leith ann do pháistí ó rang a haon go dtí rang a sé. Tá láthair phicnicí agus léirmhíniúcháin ann freisin do theaghlaigh agus do ghrúpaí beaga. Chun teacht ar na bileoga fiosrúcháin oideachais agus turais taobh amuigh, téigh chuig thíos. |
