Data Zone
Country/territory: Ireland
IBA Criteria met: C6 (2009)
For more information about IBA criteria please click here
Area: 49,228 ha
Protection status:
Site description
Roundstone bog is a complex of lakes, rocky outcrops and lowland Atlantic blanket bog. Rocky outcrops and variations in topography have resulted in a complexity of peatland plant communities, making the site of particular conservation interest. The site includes Lough Scannive (83 ha) which was treated as an IBA (formerly IE044) in the previous pan-European inventory (Grimmett and Jones 1989). The site has been extended substantially (since 2009) to include a much wider area, comprising a large area of blanket bog and abundant lakes north and northwest of Spiddle, in west Galway. The bedrock geology is of various Galway granites. Much of the area is lowland Atlantic blanket bog, which is greater than one metre in dept in most places, and is surrounded by rocky outcrops. The lakes and lagoons display considerable variation in size, depth and salinity and result in a diverse array of floral and faunal communities.
Key biodiversity
The site supports 24 pairs of Pluvialis apricaria, a species listed on Annex I of the EU Birds Directive, and 2 pairs of Calidris alpine schinzii. Another Annex I species known to be present in the site is Falco columbarius. Wintering populations of Anser albifrons flavirostris have been known use the area and Lagopus lagopus are also resident.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2020) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Connemara Bogs (south-east), including Roundstone Bog. Downloaded from
http://www.birdlife.org on 09/07/2020.
