Trip away from SS15 - Northern Ireland

From 23rd to 29th November 2025, I had my very first trip to Northern Ireland.

I travelled by train up to Liverpool Lime Street and then the short journey to Birkenhead for the overnight Stena Line ferry crossing to Belfast. I returned via the same route.

I rented a car from Belfast City (George Best) Airport for 4 days.

I stayed for 3 nights at Premier Inn Belfast Titanic Quarter and a single night at Premier Inn Londonderry.

In addition to birding, I had a full and final day in Belfast when I visited the brilliant and highly recommended Titanic Belfast plus the Ulster Museum. Given that I only had a single day, I also had an overview of Belfast by taking a hop on-hop off bus tour provided by Belfast City Sightseeing.

Photo: Titanic Belfast

Photo: Titanic Belfast

With regard to birding, I focused on the coast in Counties Down, Antrim and Londonderry.

I had a very successful trip with the abundance of Light-bellied Brent Geese, Whooper Swans, waders and ducks being particularly noteworthy.

I recorded 84 species during my trip including 7 additions to my 2025 UK year list: Red-throated Diver, Light-bellied Brent Goose, Common Scoter, Purple Sandpiper, Bar-tailed Godwit, Black Redstart, Hooded Crow

I used "Finding Birds in Ireland" and its excellent site guides to plan my itinerary.

The only mammal that I saw was a single Atlantic Grey Seal.

Monday 24th November 2025

County Antrim: north shore of Belfast Lough 

Belfast Lough is a large sea inlet on the east coast of Northern Ireland. At its head is the city and port of Belfast, which sits at the mouth of the River Lagan. The lough opens into the North Channel and connects Belfast to the Irish Sea. It is a long, wide and deep expanse of water, virtually free of strong tides. The inner part of the lough comprises a series of mudflats and lagoons. The outer lough is restricted to mainly rocky shores with some small sandy bays. 

Carrickfergus marina: Black Guillemot (4), Shag (1), Grey Heron (1), Common Redshank (1), Herring Gull, Black-headed Gull

Whitehead: Purple Sandpiper (1-2), Turnstone (c.20), Oystercatcher (5), Dunlin (2), Common Redshank (2), Guillemot (1), Shag (4), Herring Gull, Common Gull, Black-headed Gull, Rock Pipit (5), Pied Wagtail, White Wagtail (1), Hooded Crow

County Antrim: Islandmagee 

Islandmagee is a peninsula on the east coast of Northern Ireland located between the towns of Larne and Whitehead. 

Browns Bay: Oystercatcher (c.30)

Ballylumford: Eider (1), Shag (2)

County Antrim/Down: Belfast Harbour

Belfast "Window on Wildlife" is an urban nature reserve managed by RSPB Northern Ireland situated along the shores of Belfast Lough.

RSPB Belfast Harbour: Curlew (c.100), Lapwing (c.30), Black-tailed Godwit (c.10), Shelduck (c.100), Mallard (c.30), Teal (c.30), Wigeon (4), Moorhen (2), Coot (1), Great Black-backed Gull (1), Herring Gull, Marsh Harrier (1), Common Buzzard (1), Hooded Crow, Pied Wagtail

Tuesday 25th November 2025

County Down: Ards peninsula and Strangford Lough

The Ards Peninsula is a peninsula on the north-east coast of Northern Ireland, separating Strangford Lough from the North Channel of the Irish Sea.

Strangford Lough is a large sea lough or inlet, the largest inlet in Ireland and the wider British Isles, covering 58 square miles. The lough is almost fully enclosed by the Ards Peninsula and is linked to the Irish Sea by a long narrow channel at its south eastern edge. The main body of the lough has at least 70 islands along with many islets, bays, coves, headlands and mudflats. Strangford Lough was designated as Northern Ireland's first Marine Conservation Zone in 2013 and has been designated a Special Area of Conservation for its important wildlife, especially large numbers of wintering birds.

WWT Castle Espie is located on the western shore of Strangford Lough and provides a mix of estuary mudflats, tidal lagoons, eel-grass mats, salt marshes, reed beds and woodland. 

Strangford Lough (east side) - Kirkubbin: Light-bellied Brent Goose (c.10), Red-breasted Merganser (4), Eider (3), Oystercatcher (c.50), Curlew (1), Black-tailed Godwit (1), Cormorant (c.10), Herring Gull, Common Gull

Portavogie: Light-bellied Brent Goose (c.20), Red-breasted Merganser (2), Eider (1), Little Egret (1), Oystercatcher (c.20), Turnstone (10), Curlew (2), Common Redshank (2), Black-tailed Godwit (1), Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Common Gull, Cormorant (2), Common Buzzard (1), Hooded Crow, Black Redstart (1), Pied Wagtail, Rock Pipit (2)

Ringboy: Eider (6), Red-breasted Merganser (4)

Portaferry: Light-bellied Brent Goose (c.15), Grey Heron (2)

Photo: Light-bellied Brent Geese

Photo: Light-bellied Brent Geese

Photo: Light-bellied Brent Goose

Photo: Light-bellied Brent Geese

Photo: Light-bellied Brent Geese

Photo: Light-bellied Brent Geese

Strangford Lough (east side) - Greyabbey to Newtonards: Light-bellied Brent Goose (c.250+), Eider (c.150+), Red-breasted Merganser (c.50+), Goldeneye (c.50+), Shelduck (6), Great Crested Grebe (c.10+), Black-tailed Godwit (c.1000+), Golden Plover (c.500+), Lapwing (c.200+), Common Redshank (c.100+), Oystercatcher (c.100+), Knot (c.50+), Curlew (c.20+), Dunlin (5), Little Egret (1), Herring Gull, Hooded Crow

Strangford Lough (west side) - WWT Castle Espie: Light-bellied Brent Goose (c.500+), Shelduck (c.100+), Teal (c.30), Eider (c.25+), Mallard (2), Gadwall (2), Tufted Duck (1), Mute Swan (3), Little Grebe (7), Oystercatcher (c.500+), Common Redshank (c.100+), Curlew (c.100+), Knot (c.100+), Dunlin (c.50+), Greenshank (20), Turnstone (10), Golden Plover (1), Black-tailed Godwit (1), Little Egret (2), Herring Gull, Common Buzzard (1), Sparrowhawk (1), Reed Bunting (3), Pied Wagtail, Hooded Crow

Photo: Eiders

Photo: Oystercatcher

Photo: Eiders

Photo: Little Grebe

Photo: female Tufted Duck

Photo: female Mallard

Photo: female Mallard

Photo: female Tufted Duck

Photo: Robin

Photo: Robin

Photo: female Tufted Duck

Wednesday 26th November 2025

County Antrim: RSPB Portmore Lough

RSPB Portmore Lough comprises freshwater Portmore Lough itself plus adjacent lowland wet grassland, fens and reedbeds.

RSPB Portmore Lough: Whooper Swan (14), Mute Swan (4), Common Pochard (c.1000+), Teal (c.100), Shoveler (c.50), Mallard (c.20), Tufted Duck (c.10), Wigeon (c.10), Greylag Goose (15), Great Crested Grebe (c.20), Cormorant (1), Common Buzzard (1), Hooded Crow, Stonechat (2), Tree Sparrow (at least 1), Coal Tit (at least 1)

County Down: Newcastle 

Newcastle is a small seaside resort town in Northern Ireland. It lies by the Irish Sea at the foot of Slieve Donard, the highest of the Mourne Mountains.

Newcastle: Gannet (3), Light-bellied Brent Goose (25), Common Scoter (c.10), Oystercatcher (c.10)

County Down: Dundrum Bay

Dundrum Bay is located next to the village of Dundrum on the north east coast of Northern Ireland, roughly midway between Carlingford Lough and Strangford Lough. It is divided into the Outer Bay and the almost entirely landlocked Inner Bay.

Dundrum Bay (inner and outer bay): Light-bellied Brent Goose (c.250+), Wigeon (c.100+), Shelduck (c.30), Red-breasted Merganser (8), Mallard (2), Teal (1), Lapwing (c.250+), Oystercatcher (c.200+), Knot (c.100+), Common Redshank (c.100+), Black-tailed Godwit (c.70+), Dunlin (c.50+), Curlew (c.30), Greenshank (c.15), Grey Plover (c.10), Turnstone (5), Common Snipe (1), Great White Egret (1), Grey Heron (7), Cormorant (6), Mute Swan (7), Little Grebe (1), Great Crested Grebe (4), Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Common Gull, Black-headed Gull

Photo: Lapwing

Photo: Curlews and Lapwings

Photo: Light-bellied Brent Geese

Photo: Light-bellied Brent Geese and Wigeon

Photo: Light-bellied Brent Geese and Wigeon

Photo: Light-bellied Brent Geese

Photo: Light-bellied Brent Goose

Photo: Light-bellied Brent Goose

Photo: Light-bellied Brent Geese

Photo: Light-bellied Brent Geese

Photo: Light-bellied Brent Geese

Photo: Light-bellied Brent Geese

Thursday 27th November 2025

County Antrim: Ballycastle

County Antrim: Causeway Coast - Portrush

Portrush is a small seaside resort town on the Causeway Coast route in County Antrim.

Portrush: Turnstone (c.150+), Oystercatcher (c.20), Cormorant (2), Shag (1), Rock Pipit (1), Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull

County Londonderry: Magillican Point

Magilligan is a peninsula at the mouth of Lough Foyle in County Londonderry. It is an extensive 79,000 acre coastal site, part military firing range and part nature reserve, The tip of the peninsula, which lies less than a mile from Greencastle in County Donegal, is known as Magilligan Point.

Magillican Point: Red-throated Diver (1), Stonechat (1), Greenfinch (c.50+), Linnet (c.10+), Atlantic Grey Seal (1)

County Londonderry: Lough Foyle

Lough Foyle is the large estuary of the River Foyle on the north coast of Ireland. It lies between County Londonderry in Northern Ireland and County Donegal in the Republic of Ireland. It is the second largest area of intertidal habitat in Northern Ireland and the stretching mudflats, sandflats and salt marsh and sandflat welcome vast numbers of wintering and passage wildfowl and waders throughout the year.

Lough Foyle - Myroe Levels: Light-bellied Brent Goose (c.50+), Red-breasted Merganser (1), Bar-tailed Godwit (c.200+), Curlew (c.200+), Oystercatcher (c.200+), Dunlin (c.30), Common Redshank (c.10), Greenshank (2), Common Snipe (1), Little Egret (3), Grey Heron (1)

Photo: Bar-tailed Godwits

Photo: Light-bellied Brent Geese

Photo: Bar-tailed Godwits, Dunlin and Oystercatcher

Photo: Bar-tailed Godwits and Dunlin

Photo: Bar-tailed Godwits and Light-bellied Brent Geese

Photo: Bar-tailed Godwits and Dunlin

Photo: Light-bellied Brent Geese

Photo: Light-bellied Brent Geese

Photo: Bar-tailed Godwits and Oystercatcher

Photo: Bar-tailed Godwits, Dunlin and Oystercatcher

Photo: Bar-tailed Godwits and Dunlin

Photo: Bar-tailed Godwits and Dunlin

Photo: Bar-tailed Godwits and Dunlin

Photo: Bar-tailed Godwits 

Photo: Bar-tailed Godwits

Photo: Bar-tailed Godwits 

Photo: Bar-tailed Godwits 

Photo: Bar-tailed Godwits

Photo: Light-bellied Brent Geese

Photo: Bar-tailed Godwits

Photo: Grey Heron

Photo: Curlew

Photo: Bar-tailed Godwits 

Photo: Oystercatcher

Photo: Oystercatchers

Lough Foyle - Roe Estuary: Whooper Swan (5), Lapwing (c.200+), Bar-tailed Godwit (c.100+), Knot (c.100+), Oystercatcher (c.100+), Curlew (c.30), Little Egret (1), Common Buzzard (1), Hooded Crow

Lough Foyle - Burnfoot Drain: Whooper Swan (c.200+), Curlew (c.100+), Common Redshank (c.15), Oystercatcher (c.10), Bar-tailed Godwit (4), Little Egret (1), Skylark (3)

Photo: Whooper Swans

Photo: Whooper Swan

Photo: Whooper Swan

Photo: Whooper Swan

Photo: Whooper Swan

Photo: Whooper Swan

Photo: Whooper Swans

Photo: Whooper Swans

Photo: Whooper Swans

Photo: Whooper Swans

Photo: Whooper Swans

Photo: Whooper Swans

Photo: Whooper Swan

Photo: Whooper Swan

Photo: Whooper Swan

Photo: Whooper Swans

Photo: Whooper Swans

Photo: Whooper Swans

Photo: Whooper Swans

Photo: Whooper Swans

Photo: Whooper Swans

Friday 28th November 2025

Whilst this was my full day in Belfast, I did visit the Swift mural in Bruce Street following a recommendation from another birder whilst visiting WWT Castle Espie. This remarkable artwork on a flank wall also includes Swift bricks to attract nesting birds.

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