Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
A narrow flood-plain of the River Blackwater surrounded by parallel sandstone ridges and extending 29 km along the river from Fermoy east to Cappoquin. The site comprises the river itself and adjacent wet grassland along either side.
The river flood-plain supports important numbers of wintering waterfowl. Additional species wintering in numbers of national importance are
Anas penelope (4,217 birds, 1996),
Anas crecca (1,844 birds, 1996),
Anas platyrhynchos (844 birds, 1996) and
Anas clypeata (50 birds, 1996).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
A potential threat to the site is loss of wet meadows due to the deepening of drains.
National High
International HighIBA overlaps with Wildfowl Sanctuary (River Blackwater Callows; area not known). 1,053 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (River Blackwater Callows, 1,053 ha).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: River Blackwater callows (Ireland). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/river-blackwater-callows-iba-ireland on 23/12/2024.
