2024 County Report for East Donegal

Oisín and Mairéad Duffy

County Report – East Donegal (H34) – Oisín and Mairéad Duffy

Another relatively quiet year with botanical recording in East Donegal as we are still currently based in Co. Waterford. However, that aside the highlight of this year was finding Hypopitys monotropa in its largest number since 2017 at Murvagh. Pyrola rotundifolia ssp. maritima is still also at the site and maintaining usually numbers after a few years of decreasing amounts.

During August we were lucky enough to have a small trip in East Donegal with Ralph Sheppard (West Donegal H35), Robert Northridge (Fermanagh H33) and Bridget Keehan (BSBI Ireland Officer) to check in on a site for Euphrasia heslop-harrisonii. While further visits are likely needed to find E. heslop-harrisonii the site itself was quite interesting with a new site for Parentucellia viscosa and a new hectad record for Chara vulgaris. We also undertook a search for Spiranthes romanzoffiana at Trusk Lough which was unfruitful, however a new hectad record for Elatine hexandra was found. All records were very promptly added to the DDb by Robert and are visible online at BSBI Maps.

As always, we are hoping for a few more opportunities for botanising in Donegal for the upcoming 2025 season.