IE084
The Gearagh and the Iniscarra reservoir


Country/territory: Ireland

IBA criteria met: C7 (2000)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here

Area: 323 ha

BirdWatch Ireland

Site description (2000 baseline)
The Gearagh valley is located 3 km south of Macroom, County Cork, and forms part of the channel of the Lee river. In the 1950s the valley was dammed, trees felled and 60% of it flooded for a hydroelectric scheme. Some of the original alluvial woodland remains. The site also encompasses the upper part of the Iniscarra reservoir as far as the Carrigadrohid Dam.

Key biodiversity
The site was designated as a Special Protection Area on the basis of its migratory waterfowl, notably those species wintering in numbers of national importance: Anas penelope (2,000 birds, 1996), Anas crecca (1,600 birds, 1996), Anas platyrhynchos (1,750 birds, 1985), Fulica atra (312 birds, 1995) and Pluvialis apricaria (1,500 birds, 1985).


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: The Gearagh and the Iniscarra reservoir. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/the-gearagh-and-the-iniscarra-reservoir-iba-ireland on 19/03/2024.