Page 24 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Ireland

22  INTRODUCING IRELAND

The Landscape and The Fauna of Ireland
Wildlife of Ireland Many animals (including
snakes) did not
The landscape is one of Ireland’s greatest attractions. make it to
It varies from bogs and lakes in the central lowlands Ireland before
the Irish Sea
to mountains and rocky islands in the west. Between rose after the
these two extremes, the island has abundant lush, Natterjack toad Ice Age. Other
green pastureland, the result of plentiful rainfall, but surprising absentees
little natural woodland. Parts of the far west, where are the mole, weasel and common
the land is farmed by traditional methods, are havens toad (the natter jack, however, can
be seen). The wood mouse is the only
for threatened wildlife, including the corncrake, which small native rodent, but the once
needs undisturbed hayfields in which to nest. com mon red squirrel has now been
virtually taken over by the grey.

Rocky Coasts Lakes, Rivers and Wetlands
The Dingle Peninsula (see This watery landscape around
pp162–3) is part of a series of Lough Oughter is typical of the
rocky promontories and inlets lakelands of the River Erne
created when sea levels rose at (pp274–5). Rainfall is
the end of the Ice Age. Cliffs and high throughout
islands offer many sites for sea the year, which
birds, with some enormous Great crested grebe results in many
Chough colo nies, such as the gannets of wetlands, especially
Little Skellig (pp168–9). The chough along the Shannon (p189) and the Erne. The
still breeds on cliffs in the extreme west. Else- elegant great crested grebe breeds mainly on
where in Europe, this rare species of crow is the larger lakes in the north.
declining in numbers.

Thrift grows in Water lobelia grows in
cushion-like clumps, the shallows of stony
producing its papery lakes. Its leaves remain
pink flowerheads below the water, while
from spring right the pale lilac flowers are
through to autumn. borne on leafless stems
above the surface.

Sea campion is a
low-growing plant. Fleabane, once used to
Its large white flowers repel fleas, thrives in wet
brighten up many a meadows and marshes.
clifftop and seaside It has yellow flowers
shingle bank. like dandelions.

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