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Overview
Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland is a vast body of water and the largest freshwater lake in the British Isles.
Birding over such a large area can be difficult but there are several sites where a good selection of birds can be guaranteed and one of the best of these is Oxford Island on the south-eastern shore. A National Nature Reserve, Oxford Island is a peninsula rather than a true island with shores of willow and alder scrub and reedbeds.
Offshore are small islands important for breeding birds and much of the surrounding land is pasture used by wintering waterfowl.
Birds
Notable Species
Black-headed Gull and Common Tern nest on islands off the peninsula and excellent numbers of Great Crested Grebe breed in the reedbeds.
Breeding ducks include Mallard and Gadwall, Ruddy Duck, Tufted Duck and Common Pochard and other resident species include Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Water Rail and Common Kingfisher.
A range of passerines occurs including Reed Bunting, Grasshopper Warbler and Sedge Warbler in the reeds and Willow Warbler, Blackcap and Common Treecreeper.
Passage birds seen at Lough Neagh include waders such as Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover and Ruff and Black-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel and Common Sandpiper. Black Tern and Little Gull are regular on passage in small numbers.
Winter is the best time for birding at Oxford Island and waterfowl are present in good numbers and variety. Both Whooper Swan and Bewick's Swan can be seen in the nearby fields and large numbers of diving ducks winter on the lough.
Common Pochard, Tufted Duck and Common Goldeneye are numerous and other ducks present include Common Teal, Mallard and a few Greater Scaup.
Goosander and Smew may be present in severe winters.
Rarities
Rarer species recorded here have included Lesser Scaup, Ferruginous Duck and Ring-necked Duck.
Birds
Birds you can see here include:
Red-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Slavonian Grebe, Manx Shearwater, European Storm Petrel,Great Cormorant, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Bewick's Swan, Whooper Swan, Pink-footed Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose, Greylag Goose, Brent Goose, Common Shelduck, Eurasian Wigeon, Gadwall, Common Teal, Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Common Pochard, Tufted Duck, Greater Scaup, Common Goldeneye, Smew, Red-breasted Merganser, Goosander, Ruddy Duck, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Water Rail, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Eurasian Golden Plover, Northern Lapwing, Ruff, Black-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, Common Sandpiper, Little Gull, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Common Tern, Black Tern, Common Cuckoo, Common Kingfisher, Common Wren, Dunnock, Eurasian Robin, Eurasian Blackbird, Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Redwing, Common Grasshopper Warbler, 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
The hay-meadows adjacent to this part of the lough are rich in wild flowers with Yellow Rattle, Ragged Robin and Common Spotted Orchid among the most colourful. Among the mammals present are squirrels and foxes.
Site Information
History and Use
To do
Areas of Interest
To do
Access and Facilities
The Oxford Island National Nature Reserve lies about 7km from Lurgan and can be reached on the M1 from Belfast turning off at Junction 10.
There are various hard-surfaced paths around the peninsula and several hides overlooking the lough.
The Lough Neagh Discovery Centre has an exhibition displaying the history and wildlife of the area, a restaurant, shop and even a childrens' play area. Two of the hides are wheelchair-accessible. Guided birdwatching boat-trips are available.
Contact Details
Tel: 028 3831 1672
External Links
Content and images originally posted by Steve
