Slieve Blooms, Counties Offaly and Laois

by Jason Monaghan Slieve Blooms, Counties Offaly and Laois Bog pool in Red Grouse habitat at the Cut, Slieve Blooms, Co Laois. Photo: Jason Monaghan (Conservation Ranger, NPWS). Jason Monaghan takes us on a tour of the best birding spots in the Slieve Bloom Mountains. The Slieve Bloom Mountains, straddling 1 Ridge of Capard out for interesting species such as Brimstone, counties Laois and Offaly, are an ecological Green Hairstreak and Marsh Fritillary. gem in the heart of Ireland. Under the Wildlife Follow the road signs from Rosenallis, taking the Keeping to either the blue (2km) or the Acts, they are designated a Special Area of road opposite the church. The Ridge of Capard purple (4km) trail loops will allow for the Conservation for their upland blanket bog and offers a good cross-section of the habitats in possibility of seeing or certainly hearing heath as well as a Special Protection Area for these mountains and there are signed walking Cuckoos in spring; check the forest boundary breeding Hen Harriers, an EU Annex I species trails to suit most levels of fitness. on the moorland edge, as calling males fly and a bird of conservation concern. The Slieve Willow and bramble scrub near the two car from one tree to the next. Bloom Mountains Nature Reserve, managed parks are good for Reed Bunting, Lesser The blue loop brings you to a willow flush by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, is, Redpoll and, in summer, Willow Warbler, in the bog, an interesting place to look for at 2,300 hectares, the largest in the State and Whitethroat and Grasshopper Warbler. All Emperor Moths and plant species such as runs along the spine of the mountains, these are good prey species for the area’s sundews and butterworts. protecting much of the blanket bog, heath and raptors. There is a visitor information board at Follow the purple loop downhill through their upland species. Habitat management the upper car park with information on the forestry of various age classes and into includes invasive conifer removal and ditch trails. Follow the boardwalk to a viewing Glenbarrow Valley. Before going over the stile blocking. platform that takes in superb views of the at the gate, scan north and south along the Whilst there is bird interest at any time of mountains, the surrounding countryside and ridge and valley to pick up any raptor activity: year, spring and summer undoubtedly are the much of Ireland. Buzzards, Kestrels and Sparrowhawks may best times to visit. Slieve Bloom (Sliabh Scan the ridge for Hen Harriers hunting be seen, along with Hen Harriers. Bladhma) offers a range of tracks and trails to over the mosaic of heath, bog, scrub and Follow the trail downhill past the ruins of discover – below are just five of the many to rough grassland. Look out for wing-tagged the old village settlement of Cones, and take a check out. Hen Harriers: these are part of an ongoing Boardwalk on the Ridge of Capard, leading to sharp right turn. Long-eared Owls and roding a viewing platform with stunning views of the NPWS research project in the Slieve Blooms. Woodcocks may be encountered at dusk. Slieve Blooms. Follow the boardwalk through the heath Follow the track which runs parallel with and blanket bog. In summer, you will enjoy the the upper reaches of the River Barrow. N soundtrack of the aerial song-flights of A Further downstream is Glenbarrow Waterfall, H Meadow Pipit (the main prey item of Hen G worth a visit on another day. A N Harriers in the mountains) and Skylark, which Continue along the purple trail, which leads O M may be interspersed with the ‘go-back, go- back into the nature reserve. Go over the N back, go-back’ call of a male Red Grouse; look O S wooden steps and stile, passing a small pond A J for the distinctive clusters of grouse droppings (good for dragonflies). The mix of willow beside or on the boardwalk. scrub and forestry on one side of the track, The boardwalk follows an old bog track with moorland on the other, supports a range where Snow Buntings have been seen feeding of passerines as well as plants such as Pale on heather seeds in winter; Stonechats and Butterwort, Round-leaved Wintergreen and Wheatears may be seen in summer. Fir Clubmoss. Look also for the distinctive, Sheltered areas of the track and near the twisted spraints of Pine Marten along the car parks can be good for butterflies, so look track, which leads back to the upper car park. 22 WINGS SUMMER 2015 R Clonaslee iv er B a rr Offaly Laois Rosenallis ow Cadamstown 5 0 0 1 L Glenbarrow w ro ar r B ve Ri 5 Glenletter Valley P P Cones 1 P Letter rd Kinnity Wolftrap Mountain pa P a The Cones The Cut f C 2 o P ge 4 id P R R 44 0 P Slieve Blooms 3 Monicknew Wood To Mountrath Burke’s N 2 The Cut 3 Monicknew Wood A H G Follow the L1005 from Clonaslee; it brings you Follow the L1005 south from the Cut to A N up the mountains to a gap known as the Cut. Monicknew Glen. There is a large car park O M There are car parks on either side, both of here and a number of trails. A short walk will N O S which are good vantage points for viewing bring you to a riverside trail – this is a good A J wide expanses of moorland and forestry. spot for Grey Wagtails and Dippers (check In the Slieve Blooms, Hen Harriers the latter species for leg rings; they are part predominantly use moorland for nesting and of a BirdWatch Ireland project). Willow scrub foraging. Look out for hunting adults and, if along the riverbank is good for Willow lucky, males skydancing in spring. Merlins may Warblers and Chiffchaffs. You might see Pine also be seen: scan for perching adults on old Marten ambling along the trail. fence posts, on trees on moorland edges or on large heather hummocks (the latter used for 4 Wolftrap Mountain plucking prey). Peregrines and Ravens may The wet plateau of Wolftrap Mountain. also be seen, particularly from the southern Follow the L1040 to Burke’s Crossroads and side of the Cut. turn right onto the R440 (towards Kinnity); Glenletter Valley. Listen for the bubbling calls of There are many Coillte forest trails on either this road ascends into the mountains again. Curlews and possibly breeding Lapwing. side, worth checking for Siskins, Coal Tits and Continue on for several kilometres until you Foraging Hen Harrier, Merlin and Peregrine Jays. Listen for the metallic chirping of reach, on the right-hand side, a car park with may be seen here. Enjoy everything you see. Crossbills and maybe even something rarer – interpretative boards. A track known as the Yellow-browed Warbler has been recorded General’s Road leads from here to the For more information on the birds and habitats of Slieve Blooms Nature Reserve, and here in autumn. summit of Wolftrap Mountain (there are radio to download a pdf leaflet, check out the site A short boardwalk on the northern masts on its top). www.slievebloommountainsnaturereserve.ie (Clonaslee) side of the Cut is also worth a The track leads through moorland to a (NPWS website). See also www.slievebloom.ie look. wet plateau at the summit. On the way up, which has information on some great trails and Wheatear, Red Grouse and occasionally eco loops, e.g. the Silver River, Glenbarrow Walk Red Grouse : a bird emblematic of the area . Merlin can be seen; in winter, Snow Buntings and Glenafelly Eco Loops. Please always stick to feed along the track. At the top, near the marked tracks and trails as the blanket bog may X O masts, is a flat area with wet pools and sedge- F contain sink-holes and deep pools. N dominated blanket bog. In early summer, listen H O Hen Harrier (female): an area speciality. J for drumming Snipe, calling Skylarks and maybe calling Curlew. Large flocks of Golden ) m Plover can stage here on migration; it is o c . s worth scanning the flocks for Dotterel. e g a m The ‘trig’ point pillar at the summit is a good i - B P vantage point with fantastic views. It’s a good S R ( spot from which to view visible migration. Y A H Y D 5 Glenletter Valley N A Continue straight on through Letter Crossroads. There are a number of lay-bys along this road, good locations for scoping WINGS SUMMER 2015 23.

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