Wildlife and habitats

Habitats and Species

The Mournes have been home to species such as ravens, red grouse and peregrine falcons, as well as the Irish hare and on a winter's day you may be lucky enough to spot a beautiful snow bunting. Spring sees the arrival of wheatear and in particular two more scarce species, the ring ouzel, which is a very rare breading summer visitor to Northern Ireland and the red grouse, which had been recorded on Millstone Mountain in some years, though there is no proof of breeding. Wet springs and flushes are home to some unusual invertebrates, including the keeled skimmer, a nationally rare dragonfly. Eagle Rock is said to be the last known breeding site in Northern Ireland for white-tailed sea eagle in 1917 with both sea and golden eagles still common place in the Mournes until the mid-nineteenth century.

Heath

The Montane heath vegetation, a Northern Ireland Priority Habitat, on the summit of Slieve Donard with a small area also on Slieve Commedagh includes some interesting and first recordings for Northern Ireland of the dwarf willow, feeding sawfly and two predatory ground beetles.

Upland flushes, fens and swamps including extensive areas of wet heath and mire communities, pale butterwort, black bog-rush, bot asphodel and star sedge can be found along with notable and rare specimens such as starry saxifrage, and scarce beetles.

Butterflies

Several noteworthy butterfly species have also been recorded, including the green hairstreak, the dark green fritillary and the grayling. This area's dry heath habitat of western gorse and bell heather is recognised as being of European importance.