The second of the Blackwater CIS Bioblitz events took place on Saturday 12th September at Castle Leslie, Monaghan. 15 people attended along with representatives from Glaslough Tidy Towns for a day of guided walks and talks exploring the wildlife of the beautiful Castle Leslie Estate.
Ecologist Karl Hamilton and entomologist Paul Moore led the Group around the Estate to explore the birds, mammals, invertebrates and plants that call the Estate their home.
Highlights of the day were:
- numerous Swallows and House Martins, which put on a spectacular aerial display;
- glorious sunshine which attracted a good number of butterflies to late flowering plants such as Buddleia where we got a very close views;
- very obliging Common Hawker dragonflies who buzzed overhead as we ate our lunch;
- and a lively and funny talk from Paul who introduced us to many bizarre native and non-native invertebrates that have been found across Northern Ireland – including rat-tailed maggots, which live in cow pats and have a breathing tube so they can breathe fresh air!
A thoroughly enjoyable day meeting some real characters in a beautiful setting.
