Duck and Dive

Is there anything more joyful than Ireland’s wildlife, asks Domhnall O’Donoghue

Last month, as I went for my daily stroll along the Royal Canal, I noticed five mallards soaring across the bright afternoon sky. Their dark, iridescent-green heads perfectly complemented the surrounding trees that framed the route while their synchronised V-shape called to mind an arrow, flung directly from the hands of Mother Nature.

Then, abruptly, one of the mallards broke off from the quintet and landed on the water some twenty metres before the intended destination. In Gaelic, there’s an old proverb, ‘Sciúrdann éan as gach ealta’ - ‘A bird leaves every flock’ - and I wondered why.

Had he tired of their brief excursion and needed to catch his breath - understandable, given the balmy spring conditions? Or had he suddenly remembered a dispute with one of the other chaps and decided he wanted space?

As I contemplated the possibilities, the rebellious mallard then turned on its webbed heels before returning the way he came, flapping over a picturesque lock along with the waterfall that cascaded through its mitre gates.

None the wiser about the cause of the estrangement, I tallied forth, passing a man enjoying a spot of fishing as well as a long-legged heron, also enjoying a spot of fishing. As I cleared the lock, I noticed my mallard descending onto the still waters in the distance and finally understood why he had so readily abandoned his winged comrades.

For there he was, swimming side-by-side with his lady friend! Complete with a black bill and orange-yellow tip, the mottled-brown duck swished across the surface, clearly aware of the allure she possessed! Since then, I have spotted these love birds daily and their seemingly impenetrable union never fails to lift my spirits.

Over the past year, with demand greater than ever, greenways and outdoor trails across the Emerald Isle are being developed and improved. My chosen bird-watching route is the Royal Canal, which starts in Dublin and continues for 145 kilometres to Cloondra in County Longford, passing Meath and Kildare - and 46 locks - en route.

Construction began in the late 18th Century but following a steep decline in fortunes - largely thanks to the arrival of rail - it closed in 1961. However, in recent years, the canal, along with its evenly surfaced towpath, has been transformed thanks to the tireless efforts from county councils, bodies such as Waterways Ireland, and, especially, volunteers. New trails include the National Famine Way and Royal Canal Greenway.

For me, the canal’s star attraction is its wildlife - from romantic mallards and graceful swans to secretive moorhens and even handsome Mandarin ducks.

“Canals play an important role as wildlife corridors, linking fragmented habitats together as well as allowing species to migrate from one area to another,” says Tim Clabon from Irish Wildlife Trust - a conservation charity committed to raising awareness of Ireland’s rich, natural heritage while also protecting it for future generations. 

He explains that the hedgerows and bankside vegetation make the canal well-positioned to accommodate a wide diversity of birds. In his opinion, the most spectacular winged creature here is the kingfisher.  

 “They’re often just noticed as a blue blur dashing by, but they do stop to feed by sitting on a perch and diving into water to catch fish such as sticklebacks or minnows - along with juvenile fish.”  

When we discuss other wildlife along the canal, Tim tells me to look out for bats, otters and aquatic species such as water beetles, may-fly larvae, caddis fly larvae, crayfish and water snails. He adds that there is also plenty on offer for plant lovers.

 “Reed canary-grass, common reed, meadow-sweet, purple-loosestrife and aquatic mint can be found along the canal margins. In the water, plants such as pondweed, milfoil, bur-reed, yellow water lilies and bogbean can be seen.”

Mick Flanagan from Midland Angling informs me that anglers have to contend with challenging conditions along the country’s coastlines due to climate change - as such, many are gravitating towards the canals instead.

 “This is where the Royal Canal comes into its own as you can shelter along the banks, and it does not get that much-discoloured water from rain and high floods,” he explains.

 David Byrne, the Angling Marketing Coordinator for Inland Fisheries Ireland, agrees that the canal is an excellent resource for anglers. 

 “The Royal Canal is generally regarded as a coarse and pike fishery - good stocks of fish can be found on many sections of the canal from Dublin to Longford,” he explains, noting that the main species here include roach, bream, hybrids, perch, rudd, tench and carp. 

With the summer waving at us on the horizon, now is the perfect time to enjoy Ireland’s natural riches, including our magnificent wildlife. And if you see me spying on loved-up mallards on the Royal Canal, be sure to say hello!