Portmore Lough is a beautiful wetland reserve situated just 25mins drive from Belfast, near Aghalee village.
Portmore Lough Reserve now boasts a set of new and improved visitor facilities. A new building was unveiled back in June, housing a new community room, kitchen, and office and adjoining toilet block. The new viewing platform sits almost 14 ft above the wet meadows and gives a panoramic view of the reserve . An all weather boardwalk and pathway across the meadows vastly improves access to the bird hide. We have been experiencing a bit of flooding on site, so wellies/waterproof boots are advised for access to the hide.
An ever-expanding herd of 18 Konik ponies, a wild hardy breed that came to Portmore from Holland back in 2008, grazes the reserve. They are extremely well suited to grazing wetland systems and thrive here at Portmore on the fen and wet meadows.
The lough is alive with wildfowl at this time of year, wigeon, teal, pochard and tufted duck can be seen floating together in large duck rafts. Other highlights include a male smew and a pair of pintail are seen regularly and other more unusual visitors including a red-necked grebe and three bean geese.
A juvenile female Marsh harrier has been roosting in the reedbed for the last couple of months. The best time to get a good view is between 3-4pm when she comes back to roost in an area of reedbed easily viewed from the platform near the car park.
The whooper swans and greylag geese come to roost at Portmore just as the last light of day has almost faded away. If you are lucky, they might fly straight overhead across the car park trumpeting as they go.
The reserve is a fantastic place to get excellent views of tree sparrows, a little bird that is not too commonly seen across Northern Ireland. There are many bird feeders positioned around the reserve to give the best views of these charming little characters and all your usual garden visitors too.
So why not drop in and check out all Portmore Lough has to offer. You will not be disappointed!