Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
A large freshwater lake adjacent to Donegal Bay and situated 10 km north of Ballyshannon in County Donegal. The lake is separated from the sea by sand-dunes, is fringed by extensive reedbeds and large areas of wet grassland, and is surrounded by drumlins.
This is an important wintering site for waterfowl, particularly swans
Cygnus. Formerly,
Aythya marila was also recorded in internationally important numbers. The fields around Durnesh Lough are an alternative feeding site for
Anser albifrons flavirostris from Pettigo plateau (site 027).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Wildfowling causes disturbance to birds, and agricultural intensification of surrounding farmland may threaten water quality due to nutrient pollution.
National None
International None
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Durnesh Lough (Ireland). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/durnesh-lough-iba-ireland on 23/11/2024.
