Overview
This former RSPB reserve lies within an estate which is open to the public and overlooks Antrim Bay in Lough Neagh.
Habitats in the reserve include parkland and mature woodland of Beech, Lime and Sycamore as well as many exotic pines. Closer to the lough shores are marshy areas with dense willow and Alder scrub. Rhododendron forms a dense understorey in much of the woodland.
Birds
Notable Species
In summer a wide range of birds can be seen including Grey Heron, Great Crested Grebe and Common Kingfisher, Common Teal and Common Shelduck.
The woodlands have breeding Long-eared Owl, Common Buzzard and Eurasian Sparrowhawk with various warblers, most notably the Blackcap which is very common here.
Sedge Warbler and Reed Bunting nest in reedbeds on the lakeshore and Common Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail and Common Dipper along the streams.
In winter the area attracts waterfowl such as Greylag Goose, Whooper Swan and Bewick's Swan, a range of duck species, and Eurasian Coot.
Rarities
Rarities are occasionally seen and in the past have included American Wigeon, Red-crested Pochard and Ring-billed Gull.
Check-list
Birds you can see here include:
Great Crested Grebe, Great Cormorant, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Bewick's Swan, Whooper Swan, Greylag Goose, Common Shelduck, Eurasian Wigeon, Gadwall, Common Teal, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Common Pochard, Tufted Duck, Greater Scaup, Common Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Water Rail, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Northern Lapwing, Eurasian Woodcock, Eurasian Curlew, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Long-eared Owl, Common Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail, Common Dipper, Common Wren, Dunnock, Eurasian Robin, Eurasian Blackbird, Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Redwing, Sedge Warbler, Blackcap, Common Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, Spotted Flycatcher, Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Common Treecreeper, Common Magpie, Eurasian Jackdaw, Chaffinch, European Greenfinch, Eurasian Siskin, Lesser Redpoll, Reed Bunting
Other Wildlife
Mammals present include Otter Lutra lutra, Red Squirrel Sciurus vulgaris, Badger Meles meles and Fallow Deer Cervus dama and among the butterflies recorded are Silver-washed Fritillary Argynnis paphia and Wood White Leptidea sinapis.
Plants include the unusual Adder's Tongue Fern Ophioglossum vulgatum, Yellow Rattle Rhinanthus minor, a range of Allium species and Giant Bellflower Campanula latifolia. Orchids such as Common Spotted Dactylorhiza fuchsii and Broad-leaved Helleborine Epipactis helleborine also occur.
Site Information
Areas of Interest
The ruins of the castle are an ideal spot for viewing waterfowl on Lough Neagh.
Access and Facilities
The reserve can be visited during the times the estate is open to the public, or during the winter by prior arrangement with the warden. The estate has a funfair, steam railway, cafe and toilets and there are hides and a nature trail on the reserve.
The estate is reached on the M2 from Belfast, turning off on the A26 towards Antrim and then Randalstown.
Guest-house accommodation is plentiful in Antrim and local villages and there are also lakeside caravan sites in the area.
Contact Details
Tel: 028 9442 8216
External Links
Content and images originally posted by Steve
