Michael Long spotted the very rare marsh harrier gliding over the reeds near the birdhide on Tuesday 4th May. Eamon Brennan took photos the next day. Though these magnificent birds of prey are no longer breeding in Ireland as far as we know, but now and again an individual appears at swamplands somewhere on the Island. The female is larger than the male and can have a wingspan of up to 4 feet.


The large barn owl box on the wetlands was used during the winter by an owl but now a kestrel seems to have taken over as tenant, possibly using it for nesting.