Site description A sea lough containing mudflats, mussel-beds and a small area of saltings. The IBA includes the small, vegetated Swan Island, and the man-made `Blue Circle' Island. The mudflats are important for wintering Branta bernicla hrota from the Canadian/Greenland breeding population, while Swan/Blue Circle Islands support an important mixed tern colony.
Populations of IBA trigger species
Protected areas
| Protected area |
Designation |
Area (ha) |
Relationship with IBA |
Overlap with IBA (ha) |
|
| Larne Lough |
Area of Special Scientific Interest |
396 |
is identical to site |
394 |
|
| Larne Lough |
Birds Directive |
398 |
is identical to site |
394 |
|
| Larne Lough |
Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar) |
396 |
is identical to site |
394 |
|
Habitats
| IUCN habitat |
Habitat detail |
Extent (% of site) |
| Wetlands (inland) |
Mud flats and sand flats; Salt marshes |
- |
| Sea |
Sea inlets and coastal features |
- |
| Coastline |
Rock stacks and islets |
- |
Land use
| Land-use |
Extent (% of site) |
| agriculture |
- |
| fisheries/aquaculture |
- |
| nature conservation and research |
- |
| tourism/recreation |
- |
| urban/industrial/transport |
- |
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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Larne Lough. Downloaded from
http://www.birdlife.org on 25/05/2013
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
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