Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
Located in County Donegal 10 km east-south-east of Donegal town, this is an extensive complex of blanket bog, wet heath, lakes and pools covering an area of low hills and broad basins. There is grassland within the Brownhall estate, which lies adjacent to the bog and forms part of the site. This complex is also known as the Pettigo Plateau and extends across the border into Northern Ireland (County Fermanagh) where it is covered by an immediately adjacent IBA (UK site 282; `Pettigoe Plateau'). Land-uses include peat-cutting (`Other' land-use).
This site has been designated as a Special Protection Area due to the presence of breeding
Pluvialis apricaria and
Gavia stellata and of wintering
Anser albifrons flavirostris (average 113 during 1992-1996), all of which are listed under Annex I of the EC Birds Directive. This is also a notable breeding site for the nationally scarce
Lagopus lagopus.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Restricted access to Brownhall estate limits disturbance to this goose-feeding site. However, a deterioration since 1989 in the suitability of Brownhall grasslands for
Anser albifrons flavirostris (following agricultural improvement) may be the reason for a decline in numbers of this species. Alternative feeding sites, such as Durnesh Lough, are limited and more disturbed. In the past, afforestation caused serious degradation of blanket bog and is now the subject of an action against Ireland in the European Court. The site overlaps with a proposed candidate Special Area for Conservation (Pettigo Plateau; area not known).
National High
International High691 ha of IBA covered by Nature Reserve (Pettigo Plateau, 900 ha). 691 ha of IBA covered by Ramsar Site (Pettigo Plateau, 900 ha). 691 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Pettigo Plateau, 691 ha).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Moors west and north-west of Lough Derg, Brownhall bogs around Loughs Golagh and Dunragh (includes Pettigo Plateau) (Ireland). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/moors-west-and-north-west-of-lough-derg-brownhall-bogs-around-loughs-golagh-and-dunragh-(includes-pettigo-plateau)-iba-ireland on 25/12/2024.
