A Guide to the Birds of Lough Neagh and Lough Beg

There are many excellent locations to birdwatch around Lough Neagh and Lough Beg
shores. Sites that you can visit around the north shoreline to view the great variety of
bird species are indicated with a red dot.
To find out more go to www.antrim.gov.uk/biodiversity or contact the Biodiversity officer on
9446 3113 ext 1371 or email biodiversity@antrim.gov.uk
● A large gull with a distinctive white head and dark grey
upper parts.
● Scavenger of fish and rubbish dumps.
● Nest on the islands in the Lough.
Lesser Black-backed Gull + Y
● A distinctive bird with bold black and white markings and
a neat crest at the back of the head.
● They form large flocks in winter but are commonly seen
throughout the year.
● They dive for insect larvae and molluscs.
Tufted Duck * Y
● A winter visitor to Lough Neagh from Iceland, often seen
grazing in fields near Toomebridge from October to
March.
● It is different from the Mute Swan in that its beak is
black with a large yellow patch close to the head.
● Makes a trumpeting call.
Whooper Swan * W
● A delicately marked, attractive, surface-feeding duck
that is an abundant winter visitor feeding on fields and
flooded grassy shoreline areas.
● Distinctive whistle call.
Wigeon + W
● Found in wet vegetation, but has spread into farmland
and in winter into gardens.
● This wetland and farmland bird has suffered serious
declines, making it a Red Listed Species.
● A small duck with a glossy green head (male) which
looks black from a distance.
● The eyes are golden but the most distinct feature is the
large white spot on the face of the male.
● This bird also feeds on insects, molluscs and
crustaceans.
● Thousands arrive in winter from Scandinavia.
● Y
Reed Bunting
Goldeneye * W
(Male)
(Male)
(Female)
(Female)
A Wetland of International Importance
Lough Neagh and Lough Beg support bird species of national and
international importance. Species migrate to the area because of the
mild winter months and the large expanse of unfrozen water. Many
different species of wildfowl come from countries such as Iceland,
Greenland, Norway, Sweden, Russia, Poland and other countries
around the Baltic Sea.
Lough Neagh and Lough Beg are relatively shallow bodies of water
supporting aquatic vegetation fringed by associated species-rich damp
grassland, reedbeds, islands, fens, marginal swampy woodland and
pasture. They support priority plant species such as Irish Lady’stresses
orchid and fish species like Pollan and Eel.
A special place for wildlife
A Guide to the Birds of
Lough Neagh and Lough Beg
Lough Neagh and Lough Beg are designated as Areas of Special
Scientific Interest (ASSI), Special Protection Area (SPA) under the EU
Birds Directive and also a RAMSAR site, to recognise its importance as
a wetland of international significance especially as waterfowl habitat.
Use the circles to tick which birds you can see.
● Most widespread and familiar of our gulls, being as
common inland as it is on the coast.
● In summer it has a very obvious chocolate brown hood
which disappears to a small smudge in winter.
● Nest on islands and on the Torpedo Platform in
Antrim Bay, along with the Common Tern.
▲ Y
Black-headed Gull
● A common sighted diving duck in winter forming flocks
of many thousands of birds.
● The male has a very distinctive grey body and reddishchestnut
head.
● They arrive in October and are present through to
April. (Some remain all year).
Pochard * W
● A scarce winter visitor to Lough Neagh from Siberia.
● It has a distinctive yellow and black beak, though with
less yellow that the Whooper Swan.
● Less commonly seen than the Whooper Swan, it too
grazes in fields in winter, often amongst flocks of
other swans.
Bewick’s Swan + W
● Winters in Africa, south of the Sahara Desert.
● Song is noisy, rambling warble.
● Found near reedbeds and damp meadows, heard
particularly at dawn and dusk.
Sedge Warbler S
● A dabbling duck found on flooded areas of grassy
shoreline.
● It is a small duck with a distinctive green and chestnut
head pattern.
● It sometimes forms large flocks.
Teal + W
● Around 4,000 spend the winter on the Lough.
● Similar in appearance to the Tufted Duck but male has a
grey rather than black back.
● Feeds on molluscs and invertebrates.
● Normally a seabird.
It’s in our Nature
Scaup * W
(Female)
(Male)

(Female)
(Male)
Cormorant * Y
● A large black seabird that breeds at coastal locations but
can be seen regularly on the Lough.
● It dives for fish and swims low in the water taking on a
strange serpentine look.
● Often spotted standing on rocks and on the Torpedo
Platform in Antrim Bay, wings wide open.
Ruddy Duck Y
● This is very distinctive with a bright blue beak and stiff
pointed tail (male in breeding plumage).
● It is an escaped species, originally from North America
and is now resident.
Great Crested Grebe + Y
● Beautiful aquatic species that displays a great crest of
orange and black feathers during the summer months.
● From March these birds can be seen performing their
elaborate courtship displays.
● Many pairs nest around the shoreline of Lough
Neagh, especially in reedbed areas.
● Y
Tree Sparrow
● Very like male House Sparrow but smaller.
● Rich chestnut brown head, white cheeks and black
cheek-spot.
● It eats seeds and insects, especially freshwater
invertebrates.
● Found on farmland close to water
Little Grebe + Y - also known as a Dab Chick
● A small aquatic bird that can dive under water for nearly
15 seconds at a time in search of food and reappears
some distance away.
● Distinctive when breeding with its chestnut cheeks and
throat.
● A distinctive song, a whinney trill.
Shelduck
Mallard
Golden Plover
Snipe Y
+ Y
+ S
● A boldly marked white, black and chestnut duck of
goose-like proportions.
● Head dark green, breast-band chestnut, bill and legs
pink.
● It has a unique crèche system of guarding its young,
where an ‘aunt’ could be in charge of 50-60
youngsters.
● Probably one of the best known of all our ducks.
● The bottle-green head of the male makes it easy to
identify and it can be seen around much of the
shoreline of Lough Neagh and along our rivers.
● A long billed wader with creamy stripes on the back and
crown.
● It is found in wet fields and bogs where it feeds in
shallow water and damp or muddy areas.
● Hard to observe on the ground. Has a zig-zag
escape flight and a rasping call.
Common Tern
Water Rail Y
+ W
● Thousands of Golden Plover winter on fields around the
shoreline of Lough Neagh.
● These birds feed on insects and seeds.
● They fly in large flocks of 200+ birds and are often seen
with Lapwing.
+ S
● A summer visitor to Ireland, this graceful bird with long
wings and elegant tail streamers can often be seen
diving for small fish.
● It has a distinctive black cap, red legs and red bill with
black tip.
● The disused Torpedo Platform in Antrim Bay, is home to
the largest breeding colony in Lough Neagh.
● A secretive marsh dwelling bird that is more often heard
than seen.
● Its cry is likened to a screaming pig.
● Both resident and a winter visitor.
Other wetland birds that may be seen around the Loughs
Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Ruff, Black-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, Common
Sandpiper, Greylag Goose, Common Gull and Pintail.
Other notable migrants that are common around the shore during the summer months
include, Willow Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler, House Martin, Swift and Swallow.
(Male)
(Female)
(Male)
(Female)
Coot
+ Y
● A dumpy, all black bird, with a highly visible white beak
and frontal shield.
● It walks well amongst shoreline vegetation due to only
semi-webbed toes.
● Flocks of coot can be seen from much of the shoreline
during the winter months.
● Coots are renowned for their aggressiveness in
Summer.
Moorhen
Grey Heron
Red-breasted Merganser Y
● A member of the sawbill family, so called because of
their long serrated bills, used to catch fish.
● Their diet is fish.
● Small numbers on Lough Neagh.
Curlew
● Y
● This is the largest of our waders.
● Easily identified with it’s ‘coor-lee’ call and very long,
decurved bill.
● Curlew can form flocks in fields and grassy shoreline
areas during the winter months.
● Breeding birds restricted to wet fields and bogs.
Redshank
+ Y
● Smaller than the Coot, it has a highly visible red beak
and a distinctive white patch on its tail.
● It is a secretive bird which nests in sheltered areas.
● Swims with jerky forward movement, dives to hide.
Shoveller
● Y
+ Y
● The largest, and only resident species of Heron.
● It spends much time standing hunched up and
motionless in shallow water waiting for fish.
● Nests in trees, known as ‘Heronries’ and can be seen
nest building from early February at a number of
locations around the Lough.
● A slim, brown wader with long orange-red legs.
● It feeds in wetland areas by probing for worms and
insects in the soft mud.
● Breeds at Lough Beg in wet grassland.
Lapwing
+ W
● Easily identifiable by its large spatulate bill, used to filter
large quantities of small crustaceans and molluscs.
● It dives more than other surface feeders.
● Numbers have declined on Lough Neagh in recent times.
Mute Swan * Y
● The commonest swan.
● It’s size, white plumage and orange bill make it one of
the most familiar of all water birds.
● Weighing up to 18 kilos, this is one of the world’s
heaviest flying birds.
Gadwall
+ Y
● Can easily be mistaken as a female Mallard, even in call.
● It is a surface feeder, feeding by up-ending or dabbling
for aquatic plants and seeds.
● Generally, it is found in small numbers and widespread,
Rams Island is an important breeding site.
+ ● Y
Key to the importance of bird species
* Internationally important species 1
+ 1
Nationally important species
▲ 1
Significant concentrations
● 2
Northern Ireland Red Listed Species
S Seen mainly in Spring/Summer
W Seen mainly in Autumn/Winter
Y Seen year round
● A commonly sighted bird especially in winter.
● It has a distinctive black breast band which extends over
the head to thin crest feathers.
● Lapwing are found in fields around Lough Neagh and
Lough Beg’s shoreline forming flocks.
● Recognisable ‘pee-wit’ call.
● Major decline in breeding population.
1
Crowe, Olivia / Merne, Oscar J. / Colhoun, Kendrew / BirdWatch Ireland. 2005. Ireland's wetlands
and their waterbirds : status and distribution.
2
Northern Ireland Biodiversity Strategy 2004