On Saturday 12^th August 2023 a group of 15 members (12 adults and 3 young people) visited a private wildlife garden at Waterfoot Ballymaguigan by kind permission of the owners Henry and Kathleen Walls.

This is a 20-acre site extending down to the western shore of Lough Neagh, containing a mixture of woodland, scrub, a large pond and extensive margins where wildflowers abound. The area is easily accessible with mown grass paths throughout. We were self-led on this outing with members each contributing their botanical knowledge.

Despite being late in the wildflower season this site was as always prolific in the number of species seen. This was especially so along the side of the lake with so many interesting species there, an hour had slipped past and we had not progressed beyond the pond!

Species seen on our tour included lots of Red Bartsia, lots of Yellow Rattle, Common Centaury, Water Horsetail, Common Mouse-ear, Selfheal, Water Mint, Gypsywort, Smooth Sowthistle,  Purple-loosestrife, Silverweed, Knapweed, Yarrow, St John’s-wort, Cut-leaved Crane’s-bill, Yellow Loosestrife, Red Dead-nettle, Shepherd’s-purse, Red Valerian, Colt’s-foot, Marsh Cudweed, Woody Nightshade, Field Forget-me-not, Marsh Woundwort, Hawkweeds, Greater and Lesser Bird’s-foot-trefoil, Yarrow, Greater Celandine, Fat-hen, Bulrush, Knotgrass, Greater Plantain (White man’s foot), Ribwort Plantain, Bogbean, Vetches, Lesser Stitchwort, Meadow Vetchling,  Wild Angelica, Meadowsweet, Great, Marsh and Rosebay Willowherb, Hedge Mustard, Common and Marsh Ragwort, Meadow and Creeping Buttercup, Hemlock Water-dropwort, Giant Hogweed and the inevitable Himalayan Balsam now so common in the Lough Neagh basin.

A Whooper Swan, some Mallard, Black-headed Gulls and a Little Egret took off from a sandy spit a few yards offshore. Moorhen, Little Grebe, Robin, Heron and Wren were heard. Apart from swallows overhead few other birds seen or heard as we were visiting in  August, a lot of birds are moulting and like to stay hidden. Furthermore, it was a little windy which is always the birdwatcher’s enemy.

Despite the wind Dragonflies were patrolling the edge of the pond. Without a net we could not identify the species. On the way round we regularly saw Speckled Wood butterflies as well as the occasional Peacock and Holly Blue. It has been a good summer for Holly Blues. A Cinnabar moth larva was seen on Ragwort.

Cookstown Wildlife Trust have visited this private wildlife area before. It never ceases to impress us. It is a truly remarkable wildlife resource and a credit to Henry and Kathleen Walls for conserving it in such great condition.

Field Trip Report written by Ernest Hunter

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