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Northern Ireland - County Armagh

Stonechat Saxicola torquata ŠNigel Blake http://www.nigelblake.co.uk/

Armagh stretches from the south shore of Lough Neagh down to the shores of Carlingford Lough, with high ground at Slieve Gullion. For birders most of the attraction is centered in the north of the county around Lough Neagh.

top sites

Craigavon Lakes

Map Ref: J050570 Although artificial attracts wildfowl, and in winter good finch flocks in the area.

Lurgan Park Lake

Map Ref: J080580 Wildfowl.

Oxford Island NNR

Map Ref: J040610 The most accessible part of Lough Neagh with hides and Information Centre. Wildfowl and extensive woodland and wet meadows.

Reedy Flats

Map Ref: H980340 Wildfowl, waders and rarities

contributor

George Gordon
gordon@ballyholme2.freeserve.co.uk

useful reading

Where to Watch Birds in Ireland

by Clive Hutchinson - Paperback - 272 pages (17 March, 1997) Christopher Helm
ISBN: 0713638273
Buy this book from NHBS.com

useful information

BTO Local Rep

DWA Knight, 20 Mandeville Drive, Tandragee, Craigavon, Co Amargh BT62 2DQ 028 3884 0658

museums

Armagh County Museum

http://www.armaghcountymuseum.org.uk/collections/natural_history/
There are birds of prey and birds grouped by habitat, including water birds, farmland birds and those found in woodland and garden...

reserves

Brackagh Moss Nature Reserve

http://armagh.goireland.com/
The flocks of duck that often accompany the floods are ever watchful for wandering birds of prey...

Lough Neagh Discovery Centre

http://www.craigavon.gov.uk/tourism/loughneagh.asp
The Centre enjoys a unique and beautiful setting on the edge of the Lough where visitors can learn all about the history, the culture and wildlife in and around Lough Neagh...

Oxford Island National Reserve

http://www.craigavon.gov.uk/environment/eOxfordIsland.asp
Oxford Island, a National Reserve on the shores of Lough Neagh, offers excellent opportunities for people to get close to nature. It is a peninsula today but was an island prior to 1850`s before the lough was successively lowered. The reserve consists of 270 acres with 8km of walks and nature trails accessible in all seasons, five birdwatching hides, picnic areas, a paddling pool and Kinnego Marina close by. The Reserve has won awards for its exhibitions, disabled access and haditat development...

Oxford Island Nature Reserve

http://www.goireland.com/
Oxford Island is a peninsula on the south-east shore of Lough Neagh. The nature reserve supports a wide range of habitats including wet meadows, reedbeds, woodlands and shoreline scrub, all of which are typical of the lake shore. Sheltered bays provide a refuge for large numbers of wintering wildflow, especially diving ducks that can be easily seen from birdwatching hides overlooking the lough...

trip reports

Travelling Birder
http://www.travellingbirder.com
The Travellingbirder.com birding trip report search engine guides you to 7,000+ birding trip reports on the Internet. You can search for trip reports from a specific country and time of year. Not all these reports are in English. So, if you cant find the trip report you want on this Fatbirder page give them a try!

places to stay

Ballinderry Station House

http://www.ballinderrystationhouse.co.uk/
Being the original Station ` to the 1900s with significance to the Northern Ireland Railway Service and widely known throughout the local community...

Camping & Caravaning - Gosford Forest Park

http://www.countyarmagh.com/armagh_hotel.htm
Some of the broadleaved and coniferous trees in the forest park are over 200 years old. Gosford Castle belongs to a rare architectural style - Norman revival. Estate has associations with Dean Swift. Walled garden, deerpark, poultry collection, ornamental pigeons in dovecote. Nature trail, barbecue site, café. Off A28, near Markethill. Armagh 7 miles, Newry 12 miles. Open all year.

Dundrum House

http://www.dundrumhousehotel.com/
3 spacious ensuit rooms. Early 18th century farmhouse set in 80 acres of privately owned land with Callen River running through it. Located 6 miles from Armagh City and 18 miles from Newry. An ideal location for golf, angling, walking, cycling, equestrian or just relaxing.

Fairylands Country House

http://www.fairylands.net/
This family run purpose built B&B is situated in a quiet countryside 1 mile outside Armagh City, just off the main Armagh-Enniskillen Road. It is also within walking distance of the Navan Heritage Centre, the Palace Stables and the Cathedral City. It is Northern Ireland Tourist Board (N.I.T.B.) Approved.

Birdwatching in County Armagh

http://www.geographia.com/northern-ireland/ukibrd01.htm#Armagh
List of sites e.g. Lough Neagh`s south shore is the focus: vast numbers of winter diving ducks, including rare ferruginous and ring-necked ducks, red-crested pochard, smew. Great-crested grebe breed in high density near Oxford Island. Inland: blackcap and grasshopper warblers nest in old estates.

Birdwatching Lough Neagh

http://www.goireland.com/
Ornithologists from Britain and Western Europe come to study the birds of Northern Ireland every year, and with good reason...