Birdwatching at Ballymascanlon

Between the fine dining, the superb leisure facilities, the 18-hole golf course, the interesting archaeological site, or just the relaxed atmosphere, there are many reasons to come to the Ballymascanlon Hotel, but one you might not have considered is bird watching.

The parkland around the golf course supports a large number of songbirds and other species. Because the woodland includes a wide variety of both evergreen cone-bearing trees and broad-leaved deciduous trees, many of which are berry-bearing, several species of thrush are supported, including Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Blackbird. In the winter months, Fieldfare and Redwing can be seen feeding along the fairways as you come up the driveway. On the trees lining the drive, you have a good chance of seeing Treecreepers busily mounting the boughs of the trees in search of insects. In the hotel forecourt, Robins battle in spring for dominance in this prime territory, while occasional Hooded Crows watch balefully from the treetops.

If you walk up to the Proleek Dolmen, keep an eye on the fir woods to the right where there are Goldcrests and many tits including the indigenous sub-species of Coal Tit (Parus ater hibernicus).

Occasionally the hysterical call of a Jay might echo out from the trees. Along the path Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Chaffinch and occasionally Yellowhammer can be seen feeding on the grasses and weeds at the edge of the fairways and in the hedgerows and flowerbeds. Over the trees and ponds Swallows, House Martins and occasional Swifts hunt for insects in the summer.

A fast-flowing brook joins the Flurry River on the grounds where indigenous Irish species of Dipper (Cinclus cinclus hibernicus) may be seen hawking insects and invertebrates in the water with its typical “dipping” motion. Grey Wagtail may be seen catching flying insects along the river. In spring and early summer Blackcaps, Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs may be heard singing out from the trees and shrubs that line the river.

There are two large ponds on the grounds and these are favoured by Little Grebe, Moorhen, Grey Heron, and sometimes Coot. In high trees Grey Heron and Little Egret roost. The secretive Little Grebe even bred on one of the ponds last year, advertising their presence with their weird whinnying call, but often invisible, hiding almost completely submerged under the pond’s Lilly leaves.

Where there are songbirds, there follow raptors and Ballymascanlon has no shortage of these. Buzzards are sure to be seen either drifting high up on the breeze or sitting quietly on a post watching for their favourite prey of rodents and young rabbits. A Sparrowhawk plies the fairways, often springing acrobatic ambushes on the songbirds through the tree lines. This particular bird uses a spot by the green of the 7th hole as a plucking area (where the bird plucks and eats captured prey). Hovering Kestrel hawks regularly quarter the area.

Opposite the hotel is Ballymascanlon Bay. This area is a Special Protection Area where many protected bird species are to be found, in particular waders. These include large numbers of Black-tailed Godwit, Golden Plover, Lapwing, Curlew, Redshank, Oystercatcher, Knot, and Dunlin as well as a variety of ducks and geese. The area may be accessed from Racecourse Road. Further along the lower road towards Dundalk is Dundalk harbour. This provides excellent viewing of the birds in the harbour from the quay wall. In the other direction is Ravensdale park, where the nature walk provides opportunities to see many woodland species.

Breffni Martin
April 2006

All photographs copyright Breffni Martin

Little Grebe Resting Little Egrets - Roost in trees in & around the hotel grounds

Buzzard Watching for prey Kestrel Quartering the grounds

All photographs copyright Breffni Martin