Wildlife

Fritillary butterfly

Silver-washed fritillary: This large butterfly is associated withold broad-leaved woodland. The eggs are usually laid on the bark of a mature tree in an area where the larval food plant, common dog violet, is available. The adults fly in sunny gladesin late summer. (Richard Nairn)

Copyright R. Nairn

Fritillary butterfly
Copyright R. Nairn

Fritillary butterfly

Silver-washed fritillary: This large butterfly is associated withold broad-leaved woodland. The eggs are usually laid on the bark of a mature tree in an area where the larval food plant, common dog violet, is available. The adults fly in sunny gladesin late summer. (Richard Nairn)

Copyright R. Nairn

Enlarge image

Wildlife: The woodlands are filled with birdsong in spring with the main sound coming from wren, robin, blue tit, chaffinch, great tit and blackbird. Watch out for treecreepers working their way up the trunks of trees.A few pairs of jays nest in the woodlands and their loud cries are very obvious in spring. Sparrowhawks fly through the trees using the element of surprise to hunt down small bird prey. Blackcaps breed near the roadside edge and in some springs the rare migrant wood warbler sings in the glen. Grey wagtails nest along the stream feeding their young on aquatic insects. Resident birds like robin, wren and blackbird remain on in autumn and winter but they are less obvious.

Red squirrels are the most likely mammals to be seen as they scavenge at picnic sites around the car-park. A few sika deer venture into the woodlands on the west of the road. Fox and badger are present in the woods but they are not likely to be seen during daylight. Several species of bats feed in the woods at dusk and longeared owls hunt here. Watch out for woodcock flying around the edge of the trees at dusk in spring, making their strange 'roding' call. A number of insect groups have been well studied at the Glen of the Downs and it is the only known site in Ireland for several species. Common butterflies include speckled wood and ringlet.