Inch Wildfowl Reserve

23/05/2024

This Saturday in Letterkenny there is an opportunity to meet your new biodiversity officer and climate change officer. Join us for a q+a in St Eunans Gaa hall, Letterkenny for a cuppa and chats.

18/09/2023

Donegal Public Participation Network welcome you to an Environment Pillar Information Event

Full details on poster below

Naturenorthwest DLDC Dungloe River Walk Inishowen Rivers Trust Cara House Family Resource Centre

06/08/2023

Lots of speakers delivering a diverse range of topics at this years ‘Farming, Food and Nature’ marquee. Check out the schedule below to see what’s happening in farming and nature around Donegal.

14/07/2023

This full day event will demonstrate the use of fieldwork surveys to collect and evaluate data relating to rivers - from source to sea.

02/06/2022

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jxMGGkzbY8&list=PLPxaRefFMyOzvFp0FtrQwkA3KZal3xn2K&index=8

Interesting video with some very nice footage on the reclamation of the Grianan Farm from the Donegal County Council Trail Gazers Project

26/04/2022

The TrailGazers program is looking for this short survey to be filled out. All about Inch.

Toggle navigation Load unfinished survey Resume later Exit and clear survey Language: English - English English - English Español - Spanish Français - French Português - Portuguese Caution: JavaScript ex*****on is disabled in your browser or for this website. You may not be able to answer all que...

07/04/2022

It is with great sadness tonight we have learned of the death of friend, former NPWS Wildlife Ranger and member of Inch Wildfowl Reserve Trust Dermot McLaughlin. Dermot was instrumental in obtaining a 30 year lease of Inch lake and its surrounding wetlands in 2002 which later was developed as Inch Wildfowl Reserve. Dermot had a great love of Inch and the wildlife of Inishowen and beyond. Sincere condolences to Dermot's family and friends from all of us.

Dermot is pictured below (left) with a delegation visiting Inch to assess its potential as an international Ramsar site in 2010.

In his own words

“This is the first step towards getting ‘Ramsar’ designation,” Dermot McLaughlin, a retired wildlife ranger and chairman of the Inishowen Wildlife Club said. “Inch Lake is of international importance, but getting this designation would give even greater international recognition.”
Almost 2,000 such sites around the world are protected by the Ramsar Convention, which is an international treaty (named after the Iranian town in which it was first adopted back in 1971) for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands. Mr Salathe was on a three day visit to Ireland, and that he spent a day here in Inishowen and the other two in meetings in Dublin, tells you just how highly regarded Inch Lake and its bird population is,” Mr McLaughlin continued. “He was very impressed with Inch Lake Nature Reserve, its facilities and the biodiversity that exits here. We have four species of international importance and 20 species of national importance here.”
Thousands of swans and geese have arrived at Inch Lake in the last week, creating a spectacular sight – and a real racket a night.
“The freshwater lake is a manmade one and dates from the 1860s,” Mr McLaughlin said. “Indeed, the whole area, from Blanketnook to Tooban, is man managed and Donegal Creameries and the National Parks and Wildlife Service do a tremendous job in maintaining it.”
“The birds will feed on the loose grain amongst the barley stubble first, and then move onto the potato fields which are being harvested now.
“It’s a really spectacular sight, especially at dusk when they fill the air as they come home to roost.”

Full article Inishowen Independent
http://www.inishowennews.com/06InchLake0786.htm

16/11/2021

Dear Friends,

As you will be aware Avian Influenza has again been recorded in Ireland in 2021. We would ask you to remain vigilant and to report any sick or dead birds to the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine using the link below. It is important to stress that while there may be no immediate threat to humans please do not approach, touch or handle any sick or dead bird.

To report:

https://aviancheck.apps.rhos.agriculture.gov.ie/report

or using the following phone numbers

Avian Influenza Hotline: 01 6072512

Outside of Office Hours: 01 4928026

Further information can be found on the Department's website

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/50ce4-avian-influenza-bird-flu/

06/11/2021

05/11/2021

Beautiful sight of 100s of Whooper Swans just arrived from Iceland at Inch Wildfowl Reserve. Some of these birds will feed and rest before moving to other traditional wintering sites around the country whilst others will stay with us the whole winter. A sight to behold and easily observed from the Pumphouse Carpark. For those with telescopes one of the birds has a leg ring as pointed out by DM!.. Enjoy

27/09/2021

Mobile phone was lost yesterday at Inch Wildfowl Reserve, if anyone finds can they please contact us here and we will reunite it with its owner.
Thanks