Location:
Larne Lough on Northern Ireland’s east coast provides an important refuge for breeding seabirds owing to a small number of significant factors. The sheltered sea lough provides conditions that are relatively free from the worst of the coastal weather; offshore locations for ground-nesting birds mean that the effects of disturbance and predation are less than at other more vulnerable sites; finally, proximity to productive feeding areas allows breeding adults the best chance to raise chicks to fledging. The site is designated as a Special Protection Area, Area of Special Scientific Interest and a Ramsar site.
Swan Island in Larne Lough is a small, low-lying natural island that used to be the sole component of the RSPB Reserve here. However, its tiny (0.14 ha) size and low-lying nature limited the capacity and success of the colony through competition for space and vulnerability to tidal excesses.
Blue Circle Island (c.0.6 ha) was artificially created through depositing quarry spoil from Magheramorne Quarry by Blue Circle Cement (now Tarmac). Construction was completed in 1990 and consisted of placing a ring of basalt blocks on the (shallow) seabed to above the mean high-water mark, before lining with a heavy geotextile, and infilling with two materials that were locally available in large amounts: dredged seabed sediment and inert kiln dust.
Larne Lough on Northern Ireland’s east coast provides an important refuge for breeding seabirds owing to a small number of significant factors. The sheltered sea lough provides conditions that are relatively free from the worst of the coastal weather; offshore locations for ground-nesting birds mean that the effects of disturbance and predation are less than at other more vulnerable sites; finally, proximity to productive feeding areas allows breeding adults the best chance to raise chicks to fledging. The site is designated as a Special Protection Area, Area of Special Scientific Interest and a Ramsar site.
Swan Island in Larne Lough is a small, low-lying natural island that used to be the sole component of the RSPB Reserve here. However, its tiny (0.14 ha) size and low-lying nature limited the capacity and success of the colony through competition for space and vulnerability to tidal excesses.
Blue Circle Island (c.0.6 ha) was artificially created through depositing quarry spoil from Magheramorne Quarry by Blue Circle Cement (now Tarmac). Construction was completed in 1990 and consisted of placing a ring of basalt blocks on the (shallow) seabed to above the mean high-water mark, before lining with a heavy geotextile, and infilling with two materials that were locally available in large amounts: dredged seabed sediment and inert kiln dust.
Blue Circle Island (pre-restoration work)
Breeding Bird Species:
The number of species breeding in 2018 on the two islands was 12, the same as in 2016 and 2017, and included: greylag goose, mallard, tufted duck, red-breasted merganser, oystercatcher, black-headed gull, common gull, Mediterranean gull, Sandwich tern, common tern, roseate tern and black guillemot.
The number of pairs of each of three of the key species reduced for the second year running. Black-headed gull has declined by 9.6% since 2016 (now at 2,895 AON), Sandwich tern has declined by 40.4% since the high of 2016 (now at 732 AON), and common tern has declined 7.8% since 2016 (now at 307 AON). None of these declines are particularly worrying individually, but together they could be significant. Fortunately, roseate terns have bred again, but again there is only one pair.
The number of species breeding in 2018 on the two islands was 12, the same as in 2016 and 2017, and included: greylag goose, mallard, tufted duck, red-breasted merganser, oystercatcher, black-headed gull, common gull, Mediterranean gull, Sandwich tern, common tern, roseate tern and black guillemot.
The number of pairs of each of three of the key species reduced for the second year running. Black-headed gull has declined by 9.6% since 2016 (now at 2,895 AON), Sandwich tern has declined by 40.4% since the high of 2016 (now at 732 AON), and common tern has declined 7.8% since 2016 (now at 307 AON). None of these declines are particularly worrying individually, but together they could be significant. Fortunately, roseate terns have bred again, but again there is only one pair.
Breeding figures of common and Sandwich tern at Larne Lough
Partnership:
This SPA is mainly used for nature conservation and quiet recreation (e.g. sailing). The main landowner is the Crown, but Swan Island is owed by the RSPB. Blue Circle is owned by Tarmac and leased to the RSPB. It is used exclusively for nature conservation.
Presence of the LIFE Project:
Funding has been secured for the repair of a damaged external breakwater on Blue Circle Island. It is also being used to fund a range of monitoring and management work on both Swan and Blue Circle Islands. This project will allow RSPB to gain a better understanding of the site, will set a detailed baseline for assessing the success of future intervention, and will help inform future management work.
This SPA is mainly used for nature conservation and quiet recreation (e.g. sailing). The main landowner is the Crown, but Swan Island is owed by the RSPB. Blue Circle is owned by Tarmac and leased to the RSPB. It is used exclusively for nature conservation.
Presence of the LIFE Project:
Funding has been secured for the repair of a damaged external breakwater on Blue Circle Island. It is also being used to fund a range of monitoring and management work on both Swan and Blue Circle Islands. This project will allow RSPB to gain a better understanding of the site, will set a detailed baseline for assessing the success of future intervention, and will help inform future management work.
Blue Circle Island restoration completed by Daniel Piec
Anti-predator fencing at Larne Lough by Shane Wolsey
Bibliography:
Wolsey, S. 2018. RSPB Larne Lough Islands Management Report. Shane Wolsey Consulting. August 2018.
LIFE (2015) LIFE Nature and Biodiversity Technical Applications Forms. Part A - Administrative information. EU LIFE Roseate Tern Recovery Project
Wolsey, S. 2018. RSPB Larne Lough Islands Management Report. Shane Wolsey Consulting. August 2018.
LIFE (2015) LIFE Nature and Biodiversity Technical Applications Forms. Part A - Administrative information. EU LIFE Roseate Tern Recovery Project