Wildlife at Strangford Lough

Light-bellied Brent Geese resting on Strangford Lough, County Down, Northern Ireland — Light-Bellied Brent Geese overwinter on Strangford Lough | © Philip Magowan

Strangford Lough is one of only three designated Marine Nature Reserves in the United Kingdom and home to a variety of wildlife unrivalled in Europe. Spot marine animals including porpoises, seals, and otters. Look up to watch flocks of sea birds arriving to nest, or head inland to glimpse red squirrels, find rare flora and fauna.

Strangford Lough is a unique place to visit at any time of the year and in winter there's always a wide variety of wildlife to be found by the shore or in the wider countryside.

What you can see: December - February

Waterbird assemblage on Strangford Lough – 80,000 wintering birds including internationally important numbers of brent geese, knot, and redshank
Raptors such as peregrine, merlin, and short-eared owl
Large flocks of linnet and skylark at Ballyquintin

Winter birdwatching at Strangford Lough

The mild winter climate, sheltered shores and rich feeding grounds all combine to make Strangford Lough the perfect wintering location for more than 70,000 seabirds that migrate here from northern latitudes. This includes over 75 per cent of the entire population of light-bellied brent geese that make the journey from Arctic Canada. Internationally important numbers of knots and redshanks also arrive here for winter.

At this time of year, you can spot raptors such as peregrines, merlins and the short-eared owl, as well as large flocks of linnets and skylarks.

Marine life to look out for

There are over 2,000 different types of marine creatures living in Strangford Lough. If you venture down to the shore at low tide, you will be amazed at the diversity of life you can discover lurking in the rock pools. Some of the best shorelines to explore include Ballyhenry Island and Kearney Village.

Marine mammals at Strangford Lough

Both common and grey seals can be seen here all year round. The best places to spot them are at Cloughy Rocks and Granagh Bay; on either side of the entrance to the lough. Other marine mammals to keep an eye out for are porpoises and otters. Previously, a humpback whale has even been spotted swimming through the Narrows at Portaferry.

Large mature trees with overhanging branches creating a tunnel on a woodland pathway through Nugent's Wood, County Down. — Woodland tunnel at Nugent's Wood | © National Trust Images/David Armstrong

Exploring the woodland

We care for a number of interesting woodlands around the shores of the lough. Killynether, below Scrabo Tower, has a terrific display of woodland flowers every spring. Nugent’s Wood at Portaferry is a mixed woodland on the shores of Strangford Lough and one of the last refuges for the native red squirrel.

There’s a 1.5-mile path through the 13-hectare woodland with views across Strangford Lough to the Castle Ward Estate. New seating and sculptures have been installed – pull on your wellies, get exploring and see how many of the carvings of woodland and magical creatures you can find.