Long Legged Birds Wade Upper Erne Shores

The open waters of Upper Lough Erne, in association with a range of associated wetland and other habitats, is an internationally important site for breeding waders and significant numbers of wetland bird species.

It has been designated as an Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI), Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Special Protected Area (SPA), in addition to being a RAMSAR site, which is a wetland of international importance designated under RAMSAR Convention.

Numbers of breeding waders such as lapwing, curlew and snipe have declined significantly in County Fermanagh in recent years. This is due to loss of suitable feeding and breeding sites, predation, trampling by livestock, loss of mixed farming and the intensification of grassland management. With appropriate management of grassland and wetland habitats this decline may be reversed.

Under agri-environment schemes, Countryside Management Scheme (CMS) and Environmentally Sensitive Area Scheme (ESA), habitats for breeding waders are recognised and receive an annual payment. These fields of improved, unimproved or rough pastures have at least one breeding pair of breeding waders. This land is subject to certain management prescriptions which aim to preserve the flora and fauna present. To date some 1,300 ha of Fermanagh farms are managed under these schemes.

Lapwings or peewits were once commonly found in the grasslands of County Fermanagh. They can be easily identified by their black and white colour and the conspicuous long slender upturned crest and their distinctive pee-wit call. Lapwings nest and feed on short, damp grassland or spring sown arable land. These open areas with short swards aid detection of predators, but also provide cover for chicks in the event of danger. Land should be managed to achieve a short sward by mid-March.

The curlew is a large brown wader with long legs and a long down curved bill. Their distinctive haunting cry is characteristic of many uplands and wet pastures. They nest and feed within tussocks of rushes or sedges.

Snipe are a small brown wading bird with a long straight bill. They are predominantly found in bogs and moorland as well as unimproved wet pastures. Snipe are easily recognised in flight by their erratic zig-zag pattern and perform a “drumming” display during the breeding season. They use their long bill for probing the soft ground for food.

Lapwings nest between March and early June, whereas Snipe and Curlew breed between April and July. These breeding waders feed mainly on earthworms, leatherjackets and a range of insects and beetles.

Breeding wader sites are usually wet for much of the year and benefit from cattle or mixed grazing which gives a range of sward heights with tussocks for nesting and short swards for feeding. Rush should be cut between 15 July and 15 March if it covers more than one third of the field. 10 percent should remain uncut to provide nesting and feeding areas. Field operations should be carried out as early as possible in the year and all within one week, so that failed pairs can re-nest safely.

For further information on the management of breeding wader sites, contact your local DARD Countryside Management Branch staff. Further information is also available at www.ruralni.gov.uk