Located south of Maghera, this is the largest of Ulster Wildlife's nature reserves and has an incredible range of bog flora, including nationally rare sphagnum mosses, liverworts and bog rosemary. The bog and surrounding birch woodland is very rich in birds, dragonflies and butterflies, including the biggest known colony of the large heath butterfly in Northern Ireland.
Look out for NI Priority Species; hen harrier, curlew, skylark, song thrush, bullfinch, linnet and reed bunting. Other interesting birds found here are merlin and jack snipe (during winter), breeding snipe and a small heronry. Amanita fulva and russula flava are some of the fabulous fungi to be found in the birch scrub surrounding the bog. Rare and unusual sightings are purple spoonwort, a species more associated with coastalareas in the west, and the saldid bug (chartoscirta elegantula) which was found here in 2010 - the third such recording of this species in Ireland. Barn owl and Irish hare have also been recorded on this nature reserve.
2011-05-03 14:15
Walking information:
No paths, wet, rough terrain, frequent draining ditches and ponds. Caution required.
Location type:
Wildlife or nature reserve