Perfect catch as Derry photographer lands snap of rare thornback ray at Inch

Derry photographer Donal Dunn was perfectly placed to catch a shot of a rare thornback ray this week.

The thornback ray was a rather unusual visitor to the waters of the Inch Wildfowl Reserve.

While the thornback ray is generally found in the Atlantic coastal waters, their ventures to inlet waters are said to be rare.

However, keen wildlife enthusiast and snapper Donal, of North West Newspix, was in the right place at the right time.

The kite-shaped thornback ray, up to a metre long, is the most common around Ireland.

The common stingray, which shares its inshore waters, is said to be ‘near threatened’ as a species.

Thornbacks are a short-snouted ray with a similar general shape as other rays with the pectoral fins at almost 90-degree angles joining head and body

They like to hide and bury themselves in the sediment during the day and come out at dusk to hunt.

Inch Wildfowl Reserve is a popular amenity and is host to thousands of wintering wildfowl, including over three thousand greylag geese and hundreds of whooper swans.