Lough Neagh is famous for being the largest lake in the UK and with five of Northern Ireland’s six counties surrounding this huge water body, it is pretty central for many of us. It is an important resource. Around 40% of our population rely on the Lough for drinking water, while others like fishermen make their living directly from its waters.
As well as being a valuable resource for Northern Ireland’s human population, Lough Neagh and surrounding habitats have been awarded a number of national and international designations because of its importance to a multitude of species. (You can read more about this here).
But why is Lough Neagh, a freshwater lake relevant for the “Healthy Oceans Healthy Minds” project?
Six main rivers flow into the Lough: the Ballinderry, Blackwater, Maine, Moyola, Six Mile Water and the Upper Bann. The Lower Bann is the only river flowing north out of the Lough and connecting it with the Atlantic Ocean.
One of the Lough’s most famous inhabitants relies on this connection: the critically endangered European Eel (Anguilla Anguilla). Eels begin life 4000km away in the Sargasso Sea, near Bermuda. They use the Gulf Stream to help them on their long journey towards the European seaboard and enter the Lower Bann at the Barmouth travelling upstream to the Lough itself. They will remain in the Lough until they have reached sexual maturity before making their amazing migration journey all the way back to the Sargasso Sea to breed.
During lockdown many of us realized how important the natural world is for our mental health and well-being. As we face a winter potentially dominated by Covid-19 restrictions, we should take comfort in what the natural world, and Lough Neagh has to offer. This doesn’t have to be a bleak winter. Nature is all around us and winter can be a time of adventure and discovery. We just need to connect with our amazing natural world and the wildlife around us.
Each season has its own highlights but winter on Lough Neagh is pretty special. At the beginning of Autumn we waved goodbye to summer migrants like the Swallow, Sand Martin and Common Tern. Now we have welcomed winter migrants back to our shores. Thousands of wildfowl overwinter on Lough Neagh every year.
One of my favourite species to look out for over the winter season is the Whooper Swan. At first glance they appear quite similar to our resident Mute Swan, but there are a few ways to tell the two species apart. Whoopers have a yellow bill tipped with black and lack the “knob” so conspicuous above the orange bill on Mute Swans. Also take body shape into consideration, Whoopers are sleeker bird than the more familiar Mute Swan and do not hold their wings arched over their backs. Their beautiful trumpeting calls make them much louder than our relatively quiet resident Mute Swan.
Whoopers migrate all the way from Iceland to Northern Ireland and tend to travel in family groups. They are herbivorous, feeding on aquatic plants, and can often be seen grazing in large groups in fields along the Lough Neagh Shoreline.
The Whooper Swan is just one of the many different species of migrating bird that come to visit us during the winter months . We can consider ourselves very lucky to have them. Why not venture out into the brisk winter air and see how many others you can spot?
If you would like to know more about the work of the Lough Neagh Partnership or if you’re interested in volunteering opportunities visit our website or follow our Facebook page:
Here are just a few places to get started in exploring the Shoreline
· Oxford Island- National Nature Reserve on Southern shore near Lurgan- there are a number of birdwatching hides.
· Reas Wood- Special Area of Conservation. Parking available at Antrim Marina
· Cranfield Church and Holywell- Ruins of a 13th century church on the Northern Shore.
· Brookend Nature Reserve- National Nature Reserve. South of Ardboe
· Maghery Country Park- Located on Southern Shore. Great Views of Coney Island.
· Toome Canal Walk
· Ballyronan Marina and Woodland walk