Horse Island

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 54.4307, -7.6974

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Fermanagh County

Habitats

Purple moor grass and rush pasture

Geology & landscape

Geological Feature: Drumlin

Landscape processes: Glacial

Birds & fish recorded

Birds

SpeciesSeason
common sandpiper Breeding
curlew Breeding
great crested grebe Breeding
lapwing Breeding
oystercatcher Breeding
redshank Breeding
snipe Breeding
tufted duck Breeding

Description

Horse Island Breeding wader assemblage Purple moor grass and rush pastures The area is of special scientific interest because of the numbers of breeding waders which it supports. Horse Island is a lightly-grazed drumlin island in Lower Lough Erne. The Erne Basin generally is one of the prime locations for breeding waders in the British Isles. Over 60 pairs of waders-including snipe Gallinago gallinago, curlew Numenius arquata, redshank Tringa totanus and lapwing Vanellus vanellus have been recorded breeding on the island, making it one of the most important areas in Northern Ireland. Furthermore, the density of nests, at over three per hectare, is one of the highest recorded. Other breeding birds include common sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos, oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus, great crested grebe Podiceps cristatus and tufted duck Aythya fuligula. The vegetation on the island is dominated by sharp-flowered rush Juncus acutiflorus, with a variety of grasses and sedges and in places is quite species rich. This provides cover for nests and young birds. other important factors for breeding birds are the heavy nature of the soils, which remain wet even in summer; with the adjoining lough shoreline, there is an abundance of food for adults and young birds. The island is also relatively free from disturbance and predation. https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/publications/horse-island-assi

Species mentioned

English name
search for this in other sites		 Latin name
search with Google		 IUCN / Red List Type Family
tufted duck Aythya fuligula LC (NonBreeding), LC (Breeding) bird-duck anatidae
great crested grebe Podiceps cristatus LC (NonBreeding), VU (Breeding) bird-grebe podicipedidae
snipe Gallinago gallinago DD (NonBreeding) bird-snipe scolopacidae
common sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos VU (Breeding) bird-wader scolopacidae
oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus LC (Breeding) bird-wader haematopodidae
curlew Numenius arquata EN (Breeding) bird-wader scolopacidae
redshank Tringa totanus EN (NonBreeding) bird-wader scolopacidae
lapwing Vanellus vanellus VU (NonBreeding), EN (Breeding) bird-wader charadriidae
sharp-flowered rush Juncus acutiflorus LC rush juncaceae

Plant communities

M22 — Coastal floodplain grazing marsh, Lowland fen, Purple moor grass and rush pasture

Juncus subnodulosus-Cirsium palustre fen-meadow

Salix cinerea, Solanum dulcamara, Carex acutiformis, Carex disticha, Carex elata, Carex flacca, Carex hirta, Carex lepidocarpa, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Carex rostrata, Cladium mariscus, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eleocharis palustris, Eleocharis uniglumis, Juncus articulatus, Juncus effusus, Juncus inflexus, Juncus subnodulosus, Luzula multiflora, Plagiomnium affine, Plagiomnium rostratum, Plagiomnium undulatum, Rhizomnium punctatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Cratoneuron filicinum, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Lophocolea bidentata, Angelica sylvestris, Berula erecta, Oenanthe lachenalii, Thyselium palustre, Hydrocotyle vulgaris, Achillea ptarmica, Caltha palustris, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium arvense, Cirsium dissectum, Cirsium palustre, Eupatorium cannabinum, Pulicaria dysenterica, Myosotis laxa, Myosotis scorpioides, Cardamine pratensis, Succisa pratensis, Valeriana dioica, Valeriana officinalis, Cerastium fontanum, Silene flos-cuculi, Stellaria palustris, Calystegia sepium, Equisetum fluviatile, Equisetum palustre, Lathyrus pratensis, Lotus pedunculatus, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Vicia cracca, Hypericum tetrapterum, Iris pseudacorus, Triglochin palustre, Ajuga reptans, Lycopus europaeus, Mentha aquatica, Lemna minor, Lythrum salicaria, Menyanthes trifoliata, Epilobium hirsutum, Epilobium palustre, Epilobium parviflorum, Dactylorhiza fuchsii, Dactylorhiza incarnata, Dactylorhiza praetermissa, Epipactis palustris, Pedicularis palustris, Rhinanthus minor, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica beccabunga, Polygonum amphibium, Rumex acetosa, Rumex conglomeratus, Rumex sanguineus, Lysimachia vulgaris, Primula vulgaris, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus flammula, Ranunculus repens, Thalictrum flavum, Comarum palustre, Filipendula ulmaria, Potentilla anserina, Potentilla erecta, Potentilla reptans, Galium palustre, Galium uliginosum, Scrophularia auriculata, Scutellaria galericulata, Agrostis stolonifera, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Briza media, Calamagrostis canescens, Cynosurus cristatus, Deschampsia cespitosa, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Molinia caerulea, Phalaris arundinacea, Phleum pratense, Phragmites australis, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus arundinaceus, Ophioglossum vulgatum, Thelypteris palustris

M23 — Coastal floodplain grazing marsh, Purple moor grass and rush pasture, Upland rush pasture

Juncus effusus/acutiflorus-Galium palustre rush-pasture

Carex demissa, Carex echinata, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Juncus acutiflorus, Juncus articulatus, Juncus bulbosus, Juncus conglomeratus, Juncus effusus, Luzula campestris, Luzula multiflora, Aulacomnium palustre, Brachythecium rivulare, Brachythecium rutabulum, Calliergon cordifolium, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Polytrichum commune, Calypogeia fissa, Lophocolea bidentata, Pellia epiphylla, Angelica sylvestris, Carum verticillatum, Hydrocotyle vulgaris, Achillea ptarmica, Caltha palustris, Cirsium palustre, Senecio aquaticus, Taraxacum officianalis, Myosotis laxa, Myosotis secunda, Cardamine flexuosa, Cardamine pratensis, Succisa pratensis, Valeriana officinalis, Cerastium fontanum, Silene flos-cuculi, Stellaria alsine, Stellaria graminea, Equisetum fluviatile, Equisetum palustre, Lathyrus pratensis, Lotus pedunculatus, Trifolium repens, Iris pseudacorus, Mentha aquatica, Scutellaria minor, Lythrum salicaria, Narthecium ossifragum, Epilobium obscurum, Epilobium palustre, Dactylorhiza maculata, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica scutellata, Polygonum hydropiper, Rumex acetosa, Primula vulgaris, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus flammula, Ranunculus repens, Comarum palustre, Filipendula ulmaria, Potentilla anserina, Potentilla erecta, Galium palustre, Viola palustris, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Cynosurus cristatus, Deschampsia cespitosa, Festuca rubra, Glyceria fluitans, Holcus lanatus, Molinia caerulea, Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis, Dryopteris expansa, Athyrium filix-femina

M24 — Coastal floodplain grazing marsh, Lowland fen, Purple moor grass and rush pasture

Molinia caerulea-Cirsium dissectum fen-meadow

Salix cinerea, Salix repens, Alnus glutinosa, Calluna vulgaris, Erica tetralix, Carex hostiana, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Carex pulicaris, Cladium mariscus, Eriophorum angustifolium, Schoenus nigricans, Juncus acutiflorus, Juncus articulatus, Juncus conglomeratus, Juncus effusus, Juncus subnodulosus, Luzula multiflora, Aulacomnium palustre, Brachythecium rutabulum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Kindbergia praelonga, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Thuidium tamariscinum, Sphagnum auriculatum, Sphagnum subnitens, Angelica sylvestris, Hydrocotyle vulgaris, Achillea ptarmica, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium arvense, Cirsium dissectum, Cirsium palustre, Eupatorium cannabinum, Leontodon saxatilis, Pulicaria dysenterica, Senecio aquaticus, Serratula tinctoria, Cardamine pratensis, Succisa pratensis, Valeriana dioica, Cerastium fontanum, Silene flos-cuculi, Drosera rotundifolia, Equisetum palustre, Lathyrus pratensis, Lotus pedunculatus, Trifolium pratense, Vicia cracca, Hypericum tetrapterum, Hypericum undulatum, Mentha aquatica, Scutellaria minor, Linum catharticum, Lythrum salicaria, Narthecium ossifragum, Dactylorhiza fuchsii, Dactylorhiza incarnata, Dactylorhiza maculata, Epipactis palustris, Gymnadenia conopsea, Pedicularis sylvatica, Plantago lanceolata, Polygala vulgaris, Rumex acetosa, Anagallis tenella, Primula vulgaris, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus flammula, Filipendula ulmaria, Potentilla anserina, Potentilla erecta, Potentilla reptans, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium palustre, Galium uliginosum, Galium verum, Viola palustris, Agrostis canina, Agrostis stolonifera, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Briza media, Danthonia decumbens, Deschampsia cespitosa, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Molinia caerulea, Phragmites australis

M25 — Blanket bog, Coastal floodplain grazing marsh, Lowland fen, Purple moor grass and rush pasture, Upland acid grassland

Molinia caerulea-Potentilla erecta mire

Salix cinerea, Calluna vulgaris, Erica tetralix, Myrica gale, Vaccinium oxycoccos, Ulex europaeus, Ulex gallii, Carex echinata, Carex flacca, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Eriophorum angustifolium, Schoenus nigricans, Juncus acutiflorus, Juncus articulatus, Juncus effusus, Juncus subnodulosus, Luzula campestris, Luzula multiflora, Aulacomnium palustre, Pohlia nutans, Calliergon giganteum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Hypnum jutlandicum, Kindbergia praelonga, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Polytrichum commune, Sphagnum auriculatum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum papillosum, Sphagnum subnitens, Calypogeia fissa, Cephalozia bicuspidata, Lophocolea bidentata, Lophozia ventricosa, Angelica sylvestris, Carum verticillatum, Hydrocotyle vulgaris, Achillea ptarmica, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium palustre, Eupatorium cannabinum, Pulicaria dysenterica, Serratula tinctoria, Cardamine pratensis, Lobelia urens, Succisa pratensis, Valeriana officinalis, Equisetum palustre, Lotus pedunculatus, Hypericum pulchrum, Hypericum tetrapterum, Mentha aquatica, Scutellaria minor, Menyanthes trifoliata, Narthecium ossifragum, Epilobium palustre, Dactylorhiza maculata, Rumex acetosa, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus flammula, Filipendula ulmaria, Potentilla erecta, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium palustre, Viola palustris, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis curtisii, Agrostis stolonifera, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Danthonia decumbens, Deschampsia cespitosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta, Phragmites australis, Dryopteris carthusiana, Osmunda regalis

M26 — Limestone pavement, Purple moor grass and rush pasture

Molinia caerulea-Crepis paludosa mire

Carex appropinquata, Carex disticha, Carex echinata, Carex flacca, Carex hostiana, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Carex pulicaris, Juncus acutiflorus, Juncus articulatus, Juncus conglomeratus, Aulacomnium palustre, Plagiomnium undulatum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Campylium elodes, Climacium dendroides, Ctenidium molluscum, Hylocomium splendens, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Thuidium tamariscinum, Lophocolea bidentata, Plagiochila asplenioides, Angelica sylvestris, Caltha palustris, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium palustre, Crepis paludosa, Leontodon hispidus, Serratula tinctoria, Succisa pratensis, Valeriana dioica, Silene flos-cuculi, Equisetum fluviatile, Equisetum palustre, Lathyrus pratensis, Trifolium repens, Menyanthes trifoliata, Rhinanthus minor, Plantago lanceolata, Rumex acetosa, Primula farinosa, Primula vulgaris, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus auricomus, Trollius europaeus, Comarum palustre, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum rivale, Potentilla erecta, Sanguisorba officinalis, Galium palustre, Galium uliginosum, Agrostis stolonifera, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Briza media, Deschampsia cespitosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Molinia caerulea, Phragmites australis