Birds at RSPB Portmore Lough Reserve

Eileen and I were sorry we had to leave Broad Water but as we headed for Portmore Lough, we stopped at a place behind a pub at Gauley's Gate where very often there were quite a number of ducks but none was present.  However we did see the Grey Wagtail as well as a Pied Wagtail.  This  is the view for this little jetty as we walked up to the Lough.

 Grey Wagtail

 We arrived at Portmore just in time to have a coffee and speak with the wardens.  This reserve is trying to attract more Lapwings to breed here and so far each year there are more and more breeding.

Viburnum opulus - Guelder Rose

  While we sipped coffee, we watched the beautiful Tree Sparrow

 on the feeder.

Then we headed down the boardwalk to the hide which is on the Lough shore.  In the summer time the meadows are full of wonderful wild flowers and the reeds have lots of Warblers.  The tree in the first part had lots of small birds such as Finches and Tits.

Like the RSPB Reserve in Belfast, they have these ponies on site to keep the meadow right.  In fact this was the first place in Northern Ireland to introduce them and they have bred so well that they now have exported some to other Reserves on the Mainland. 

When we were at the hide we heard Whooper Swans and then saw them flying in to land on the lough.  We discovered later from the wardens that these were to first 3 to come into Northern Ireland this year.  In the previously few days a female Marsh Harrier had been seen, however we didn't see it there.  There were ducks and quite a lot of Mute Swans.

Then back up to the centre where they have a wonderful meadow that we walked around and saw all the small birds.  This pond above would attract Dragonflies in the summer and the whole area would be wonderful for butterflies.  

Wonderful Red Kaffir lilies lite up the whole area.

 

There were quite a number of places for little animals and insects to hide and go to sleep.

 
While I was videoing the Tits and Greenfinch, Eileen was watching another feeder with about 10 Tree Sparrows on it but when I went to video it, they disappeared!  However below you might like to see what I did video with one surprise visitor!

The video can be accessed at

http://youtu.be/xFo7kaFOtcI

If the space below is black, cliick it and the video will appear.

I hope you enjoyed seeing some of the things that Portmore Lough has on the reserve.

Many thanks for visiting. 

Tomorrow, Eileen and I will travel on to another reserve called Oxford Island which is on the shores of Lough Neagh.