Wildlife in The Burren

Mammals

Bank Vole
Copyright Mike Brown

A wide variety of mammals inhabit the Burren National Park . During the daytime, hares, foxes, pigmy shrews, bank voles, pine martens and more can be seen. The Feral Goat can also be seen roving across the Burren. The woodlands and hazel scrub offer shelter to these goats in harsh weather. Seven species of bats live within the National Park.

Birds

 

Peregrine

Peregrine

Lorcan Scott Duchas

Peregrine
Lorcan Scott Duchas

Peregrine

Peregrine

Lorcan Scott Duchas

Enlarge image

Mute swan

A swan paddling across a lake

Courtesy of the EPA

Mute swan
Courtesy of the EPA

Mute swan

A swan paddling across a lake

Courtesy of the EPA

Enlarge image

A broad range of birds also fill the Burren landscape, from smaller birds such as finches and blue tits, to larger, more spectacular species. These include Peregrine Falcons, kestrels, and hen harriers in the winter-time. Wintering wildfowl also appear when the Turloughs have been filled with water e.g. curlews, mute swans, whooper swans, and plovers. One hundred and two bird species have been recorded in the Burren. This respresents 70% of Ireland's breeding bird population.

Species of invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles and fish are also common in the Burren. It is the quiet, unspoiled nature of the Burren that attracts such a large population of wildlife.