birdwatching lough neagh

Lough Neagh is the largest freshwater lake in the British Isles. With Lough Beg and associated wetlands, it is a designated Ramsar Site - a wetland of international conservation importance. Its western shore, between the Ballinderry and Blackwater rivers, is in county Tyrone. Access points are few. Offshore in winter, enormous rafts of birds include the largest concentration of diving duck in Britain and Ireland. Species wintering waterfowl number up to 100,000, including 6% of the world total of whooper swan; internationally signifcant numbers of Bewick's swan, pochard, tufted duck, scaup, goldeneye; nationally significant numbers of great-crested grebe.

These grebe make up an eighth of the British breeding population., Inland Sperrin Mountains: breeding golden plover, red grouse; buzzard, hen harrier, long-eared owl, peregrine, sparrowhawk, raven, plus crossbill, siskin in upland forests - Drum Manor, Gortin Glen, Knockmany, Lough Bradan, Seskinore. In the south of the county Greenland white-fronted geese graze by the Blackwater.