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LIVE STREAM

Lough Neagh Tern/Black-headed Gull Live Stream

Lough Neagh Partnership has installed a live stream camera on the old Torpedo Platform at Antrim Bay in Lough Neagh. This enables closer monitoring of two Amber listed species – the Black-headed Gull and Common Tern which nest on the platform every year. This live stream means that everyone can follow the birds and everything that happens throughout the breeding season. The Torpedo Platform is one of several breeding sites around the Lough, all of which are surveyed and monitored on a regular basis by the Lough Neagh Partnership team.

In addition to the installation of the live stream, Lough Neagh Partnership has installed a replacement barrier around the perimeter of the platform to help reduce chick mortality and improve productivity at the site. The Partnership has also funded Antrim Boat Club to purchase three new marker buoys allowing them to set a new racecourse and reduce disturbance during the breeding season. Boat users are requested to stay at least 100m from the site during the breeding season (15 March – 31 July).

NOTE: The live stream only operates during the breeding season

Notice: Apologies, to anyone who has been following our Torpedo Platform livestream coverage of the breeding Common tern and Black-headed gull colony. Many of you may have noticed that it is not working. We believe the transmitter on the Torpedo Platform has moved position on its stay and that this has affected the quality of the signal. Unfortunately, we are unable to go onto the platform to fix it until the end of the breeding season as this would cause too much disturbance to the birds many of which are on nests or with chicks.

Common Tern (Sterna Hirundo)

UK Conservation Status: Amber

The Common Tern has a black cap, long red-orange bill with a black tip. A summer migrant – the first Common Tern arrives from West Africa in April. They create a thin scrape in sand, gravel or short vegetation into which they lay 2-3 eggs. The Common Tern often nests among other species like the Black-headed Gull, because of the aerial protection they provide from predators. They depart our shores for West Africa in late August/early September.

Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)

UK Conservation Status: Amber

The Black-headed Gull is a resident species and can be seen all year round. Inaccurately named, it has a chocolate brown coloured head during the summer months and a white head with a dark ear mark in winter. Adults have a thin red bill and red legs. Their nests are built on the ground and are comprised of dry grass and other vegetation. An average of 2-3 eggs are laid and the young birds fledge around 34 days old.