We're staying on the east coast near Larne Declan. Thanks to you and Paul for the tips. I don't think I'll be doing much birding at the weekend, as we're at a wedding on the Saturday and I've been warned that Irish weddings take a day or two to recover from so my first outing will probably be on Moday when everybody has hopefully gone back to work.
At the risk of inciting Mr McK for mentioning another forum, Birdforum has an active N Ireland thread on the local patch section which may have more up to date info on sites and sightings.
The mentioning of minor, insignificant forums such as that mentioned is fine, especially as it contains atleast some useful information and bears no competition to the might of the all-powerful Manchester Birding forum, they don't even have an all-encompassing website either
I can reccommend a few places in Antrim. Which part of the county will you be staying in?
Rathlin is excellent -a fantastic seabird colony plus moorland species and chance of shearwaters and petrels from the ferry across.
anywhere on the Antrim Plateau can be good for upland species e.g. Hen Harrier and other raptors, few Red Grouse, Whinchat, Crossbill, Gropper etc but its a big area and I can't rememebr specific sites. only a few roads through, so just driving through could be producitve. Avoid weekends as it tends to be popular with tourists.
anywhere along the north coast can be good, but might be a bit quiet in June. Giants causeway sometimes has Chough but again, it gets very busy in the summer months.
Craigagh Wood is a bit hit and miss for Wood Warbler, but probably ok for commoner woodland species. Breen Wood is also good, and has had Wood Warbler in the past.
Portmore Lough is an RSPB reserve but as far as I can remember, there's no visitor centre there. I've always struggled to find any good birds there but might be worth a try... Perhaps a better access point for Lough Neagh is at Shane's castle, near Antrim town which is good for woodland and wetland species.
The RSPB reserve in Belfast is generally worth a visit - breeding terns, passage waders etc. The nearby Strangford Lough area is also excellent but is in county Down.
At the risk of inciting Mr McK for mentioning another forum, Birdforum has an active N Ireland thread on the local patch section which may have more up to date info on sites and sightings.
Enjoy your trip - its a great wee place (but I am biased having lived there most of my life).
Taking my first trip to Ireland in June. Has anybody got any tips on good birding sites in Antrim?
I ordered a copy of Where to Watch Birds in Ireland thinking that may enlighten me but its 14 year's old and only lists Rathlin, Shane's castle, Ramore head, Belfast Lough and Fair Head.
