Omagh is rich in wildlife throughout the district, characterised by its lowland raised bogs and wetlands, numerous river corridors, tributaries, small lakes and upland hillsides of heathland, blanket bog and coniferous forests.
The drumlin lowland landscape of Omagh Farmland, surrounding Omagh town, is unique to the district. The broad basin of rolling hills is interspersed with a rich tapestry of lowland raised bog and winding tributaries, rich in bog plants such as sundew and bogbean, insects such as many macromoths and butterflies and birdlife including the rare and wonderful lapwing and curlew.
In the north and east of the district, the Sperrin Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty protrudes south. This area taking in Bessy Bell and Gortin, South Sperrin, Beaghmore Moors and Marsh and the Carrickmore Hills holds great diversity of wildlife due to the intricate mosaic of heathland and rush pasture, home to the Irish hare, Hen harriers, red grouse and otters along the river valleys.
To the west of Omagh town, the Fairy Water Valley is home to an international wetland Ramsar site, Fairy Water Bogs. These hold great importance for Omagh’s breeding waders, lapwings, curlews, snipe and redshank, as well as many specialised bog plants such as round-leaved sundew and many sedges. This valley is overlooked by the rounded moorland summits of Lough Bradan and Pigeon Top, important upland habitats for many birds such as the red listed species, twite, which has only recently been recorded in Omagh.
Omagh’s rivers are a vital source of life for many species, however the Owenkillew holds special value as a Special Area of Conservation for salmon, otter and the rare but intriguing freshwater pearl mussel. This mollusc is threatened due to its slow growing nature and reliance on clean, undisturbed river beds and healthy salmon populations.
