Mayo Naturalists’ Field Club

The Mayo Naturalists’ Field Club has recently been established. The general aim of the Field Club is to promote an interest in all aspects of natural heritage. The Field Club activities are intended to be both enjoyable and educational, and provide opportunities for people to share their interests in, and learn about Mayo’s natural history. To participate in any of the outings all you need is interest and enthusiasm!

All events are free of charge.

For details of events and outings planned for 2014 see the Mayo Naturalists’ Field Club Brochure below or download from http://www.mayococo.ie/en/media/Media,23819,en.pdf

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The third outing of the Mayo Naturalists’ Field Club will take place on Saturday 28th June, 2014 at 11.30 am:

Building Natures Sand Castles: The formation, growth, flora and fauna of sand dunes

At the Head of Portnafrankagh Bay north of Annagh Head is a wide shallow-sloped sandy beach where tide and wind provide conditions for young sand dunes and some machair grassland to form. The wildlife specialising in this extreme habitat are easy to find if the weather is even mildly cooperative, and we will hope to see a wide variety of plant and animal life, including butterflies, bees, creepy-crawlies and the flowering plants they use for food and shelter. This outing will be led by field botanist Gerry Sharkey and Sean Carolan.

Meet at 11.30am at Annagh, the beach at the head of Port na Francach Bay, Discovery Map Sheet 22, Irish National grid F 650 337.

Directions: In the centre of Belmullet town coming from the east, turn right off the Tór roundabout (signed An Fódh Dubh (Blacksod)). Cross the bridge and drive less than 0.5 km past Brogan’s Eurospar supermarket. Take the first left (signed An Fódh Dubh) at the crossroads, and after another 0.5 km, as the road swings to the left, take the first right-hand turn signed Dún na mBó and Ceann an Eanach (Annagh Head). After 1.8 km, pass a church on the left, and shortly after (1.5 km) take the somewhat hidden fork to the left, signed Eanach. Follow this narrow road for 3 km through farmland and sand dunes, past the gate to the Birdwatch reserve at Annagh Marsh. The reserve, where open water can be seen close to the road, is surrounded by an electric fence (to keep ground predators away from ground nesting birds). The fence (don’t try, it is live) can be identified by yellow warning signs attached every ten or twenty metres or so. Follow this fence for another 0.5 km or so past some animal-handling buildings, and take the sharp (unsigned) turn to the right. This bumpy track leads to the meeting place, with parking either on the beach or on the back-dune area. There will be someone there to help guide parking.

Unfortunately there are no toilet facilities on the beach.

Local people use the beach for recreation, so please take up as little parking space as possible, especially if it’s a sunny day. Also be aware that the farther end of the beach has soft deep sand that will trap your car if you drive into it!

Duration: 2-3  hours.