Ballyallia Lake John N Murphy

Ballyallia Lake is three miles north of Ennis just off the main Galway road.
In winter it is very good for wildfowl especially ducks and hosts many other
species of waders on its wet meadowed shores.

The lake holds breeding Great Crested and Little Grebes.
Coot and Moorhen are also plentiful.
Winter Birds include a feeding flock of approximately 40 Whooper Swans
which feed mainly on grassy fields at the Drumcliff graveyard end of the lake.
Ducks commonly found on the lake are, Mallard, Teal, Wigeon,
Tufted, Pochard, Pintail and Shoveler in National numbers of importance.
Waders seen in winter include Lapwing, Curlew, Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit,
Dunlin and Snipe.
Passerines found around the shores and tree lined areas include Jay, Raven, Kestrel,
Hen Harrier, Peregrine, Blackcap, Grey Wagtail and Brambling.  A Lesserr Whitethroat
was found over-wintering in the 1970's.

Rare or scarce birds found on the lake were Ring-necked Ducks, Ruddy Ducks, Little Egrets,
Great White Egret, American Wigeon, Little Gulls, Green-winged Teal and Jack Snipe.