Machairs in Mayo - a rare dune ecosystem.

Northwest Ireland has several areas of rare machair dunes including those stretching from Mulranny salt marsh to Rosmurrevagh peninsula in Clew Bay, Co.Mayo.

Machairs are fertile, low-lying dune areas - a unique form of coastal grassland (described as 'raised beaches' by Wikipedia). They are formed when sand catches in coastal vegetation, such as marram grass. Consequently, the plants gradually move upward, more sand is caught, and the land's surface is raised.

Although little research has been done into machairs, they are known to support a rich variety of species including many birds and insects (such as the belted beauty moth). Machairs also provide habitat for up to 150 species of flower, some of which are endangered and protected, including the Irish Lady's Tresses.

Machairs are vulnerable to erosion and rising sea levels. In 2007, Mulranny village received the inaugural Notice Nature Biodiversity Award, part of Ireland's Tidy Towns competition. The award recognises over a decade of conservation work to protect and restore local machairs. The Mulranny Causeway loop walk provides access to part of the machairs.

• Wikipedia article on Machairs
• Read about the Belted Beauty Moth
• Irish Lady's Tresses Species Action Plan (36 pages, 239KB, PDF).

Dragonflies in Ireland

There are 32 species on the Irish dragonfly list. Of these, 22 are resident, including 11 'true' dragonfly species and 11 damselfly species. Other species include visitors, unconfirmed sightings and recent arrivals to Ireland (possibly as a result of climate change).

Irish damselflies and dragonflies start to appear around May. The Dragonflies in Ireland website includes information on dragonfly and damselfly life cycles, flight times, sightings, species found in Ireland and identification.

• The book Natural History of Ireland's Dragonflies (Brian Nelson and Robert Thompson) covers dragonfly biology, ecology, habitats and associated fieldcraft skills in an Irish context. The book is available from the Ulster Museum Shop.

31 species of butterfly in Ireland

There are 31 species of butterfly in Ireland. You can find about 28 of these species in the Burren in Co. Clare and 21 in Lullymore West bog in Co. Kildare.

Small

1. Common Blue
2. Holly Blue
3. Small Blue
4. Green Hairstreak
5. Purple Hairstreak
6. Brown Hairstreak
7. Small Copper
8. Dingy Skipper

Brown

1. Meadow Brown
2. Ringlet
3. Wall Brown
4. Speckled Wood
5. Grayling
6. Small Heath
7. Large Heath
8. Gatekeeper

White

1. Small White
2. Large White
3. Green-veined White
4. Wood White
5. Orange Tip
6. Brimstone
7. Clouded Yellow

Multi-coloured

1. Small Tortoiseshell
2. Peacock
3. Red Admiral
4. Painted Lady
5. Silver-washed Fritillary
6. Dark Green Fritillary
7. Pearl-bordered Fritillary
8. Marsh Fritillary

Find out more on Ireland's butterflies:

• See photos, read information on and find out where to spot all these butterfly species at www.irishbutterflies.com
• Buy the Millennium Atlas of Butterflies in Britain and Ireland the most comprehensive survey of butterflies ever undertaken in Britain and Ireland
• Visit Butterfly Ireland for distribution maps and photographs of Irish butterflies, caterpillars and pupae.
• Visit this UK focused website - a good source of information on butterfly species that are also found in Ireland http://www.butterfly-conservation.org/

Kildare bog home to 21 of Ireland's 28(ish) butterfly species

Lullymore West Bog in Co. Kildare is being conserved by the Irish Peatland Conservation Council for its incredible diversity of butterflies. According to the IPCC:

"With 21 out of the 28 Irish resident breeding butterfly species finding refuge here, including the endangered Marsh Fritillary, this fragile wetland habitat is exceptional in Ireland... The remoteness of the bog is a double-edged sword. On the one hand it's fantastic for wildlife watching, but on the other it allows unscrupulous people to undertake anti-social activities at our bog, such as dumping, quad biking and tree felling."

In response the IPCC have developed a management plan to guide activities at the 4.5 hectare site for the next five years (to 2012). Plans include

• providing fencing, information signs and visitor guidance;
• carrying out habitat and species mapping and
• setting up a long term butterfly transect to enable ongoing monitoring.

You can find out more, see photos and donate to the Lullymore West project.

Other sources indicate that there are actually closer to 31 species of butterfly in Ireland.

Donegal's Biodiversity Project

The Donegal Biodiversity Project is gathering together records of all the wildlife found in Donegal. Almost 50,000 records of birds, plants, mammals and insects in the county have been computerised, with many more to be added.

Donegal moths
One group that it is focusing on in particular, is the larger (or macro) moths. Of 572 moth species in Ireland, the Donegal Biodiversity Project has recorded 378 in the county, but believes the true total is very close to 400. Each species is being photographed, its distribution is mapped, the habitat requirements of threatened species are being revealed, and important areas for moth conservation identified.

• Find out more about the Donegal Biodiversity Project
• Get a copy of the 'Mapping the Moths of Donegal' leaflet from Ralph Sheppard at 074-9147129
• View maps and photos of the Donegal macro-moths at www.skylark.ie/donegalmoths