Fairy Water Bog

This proposed SAC comprises a series of four relatively intact, active raised bogs set in a drumlin landscape and somewhat intermediate in nature between raised bog and blanket bog. The intact area of the bog accounts for 123.5 ha, which is 55% of the total area of the site. Each of the component bogs have pool complexes. The site is considered to comprise one of the most important concentration of lowland raised bogs in Northern Ireland.

The raised bogs provide suitable sites for breeding waders. The Fairy Water Bogs were surveyed in 1986 as part of an overall study of the Tyrone bogs. Results of the survey indicated that the Fairy Water Valley held 166 pairs of breeding waders. It was established that Snipe  was the commonest species, being found in the wettest areas around the bog margins and on cut-over bog, where Purple Moor-grass and Rush tussocks provide cover for nesting. Numbers were fairly evenly distributed among the sites. Curlew and Lapwing were also found on the bogs, but in smaller numbers than the Snipe.

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