Inch Wildlife Reserve - Lough Swilly (Part 1)

Over the next 4 days I will be showing you photographs I took while bird watching at Lough Swilly which is a sea inlet lying between the western side of the Inishowen Peninsula and the Fanad Peninsula, in County Donegal.

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There are several areas to explore and when I reached the Inch Wildlife Reserve, I found this baby Magpie on the ground. I just hoped the parents would find it as I thought it was too young to fly. 

Sitting on a barbed wire fence were a row of twittering Swallows and thousands of them as well as House Martins and Swift filled the air which I did try and video (not too successful) but you will see that at the end of this post.

There is a flat path a short distance to the right from the car park with a viewing platform over the lake.  To the left is a longer walk to a hide.  Along this flat path borders lovely wildflowers and there were Chiffchaff and Willow as well as  Finches and Tits, Robin, Wren, Dunnock, and Blackbird. Lots of gulls flying around.

Great Black backed Gull and Black headed Gull.

Long tailed Tit

Goldfinch

Chiffchaff

Buzzard

Lapwing nest in the surrounding fields.

Another area is known as the Inch Levels and here a man comes every day and puts seeds out for the birds.  That day I saw Chaffinch, Dunnock, House Sparrows and 4 Yellowhammer.  

You will see a video and more of these birds on Saturday's post this week.

Yet another area but at the sea where I saw this Black Guillemot.  

There is also Inch Island which can be reached via a causeway.

 I hope to take my bird group to explore this whole area around Lough Swilly in the autumn when there should be thousands of ducks and geese.

Mute Swan with only one cygnet.  

CLICK HERE if the video does not appear below.

More to follow tomorrow in Good Fences.

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