Strangford Lough Part 3 ASSI

The Strangford Lough Part 3 area is an integral part of the Lough as a whole. It contains a great diversity of intertidal habitats, with The Dorn being an area of exceptional note. Extensive mudflats, saltmarsh and other types of shoreline habitat occur, including The Dorn (NNR), a unique and exceptionally important site for intertidal flora and fauna.

Extensive areas of mudflats are found on both the east and west shores of the Lough. The mudflats in the sheltered areas around Black Neb have large concentrations of dwarf Eelgrass. The mudflats are rich in invertebrate fauna and provide important feeding grounds for large numbers of wading birds and wildfowl. [picture of a king or greater scallop] The fauna of the upper shore around Saltwater Bridge and Ardmillan Bay reflect a degree of estuarine influence. This type of habitat, with freshwater influence, is rare within Strangford Lough.

The under-boulder and cobble fauna in Strangford Lough Part 3 is particularly well represented at a number of sites where the boulder zone extends to extreme low water spring tide mark.

A great diversity of shore types occurs within the short distance between Ballywadden Bay and Lady's Port, ranging from coarse sand through gravel and sand, to boulders and bedrock.

The Dorn is an area of Strangford Lough which is unique both in its hydrological dynamics and in the diversity of its flora and fauna. It is exceptionally sheltered from wave action and the tidal movement is restricted by a number of rock sills.

The duration of "effective" low water lasts for nearly 3 hours as compared with the normal 30 minutes elsewhere in the Lough. Areas of reduced salinity, due to the freshwater input of a number of small streams, have flourishing brackish water species communities. [a picture of knotted wrack floating on the water surface] In the region of the sills, a combination of rapid water flow, permanent water cover and a good detrital (particles of rock derived from pre-existing rock through processes of weathering and erosion) food supply results in a rich lower shore and shallow sub-littoral fauna.

Within the Lough there are a number of important saltmarshes at the uppermost limit of the intertidal zone which contain a characteristic assemblage of saltmarsh plants. The most extensive areas of saltmarsh are along the southern shores of the Comber estuary, at Saltwater Bridge and at the innermost region of The Dorn.

In places, notably at Doctor's Bay to the south of Gransha Point, a complex topography of rocky headlands and muddy inlets forms a mosaic of interrelated habitats which grade from saltmarsh to freshwater fen, maritime heath and scrub. Similar transitions exist at other localities and contribute to the diversity of both habitats and species.
A considerable range of uncommon vascular plants occurs in the area, ranging from plants of intertidal mudflats, to species of saltmarsh and freshwater. Terrestrial species reflecting maritime influences are also found.

The smaller islands in the area have not been intensively farmed and contain examples of unimproved neutral grassland, scrub and woodland. In addition to their botanical interest, these areas provide undisturbed habitats for wildlife, and are particularly valuable as feeding, roosting and nesting sites for large numbers of bird species.

The Lough provides very important over wintering feeding grounds for large numbers of waterfowl, including species such as the Slavonian Grebe. The numbers of Light-bellied Brent geese are of international importance, arriving in early winter at the northern end of the Lough. The mudflats on the south side of the Comber estuary are one of the most important sources of eel grass for the geese. The small bays, particularly on the western shore, are important in late winter. The many muddy and sandy shores provide excellent feeding grounds for large numbers of waders. The Lough is the most important breeding site in Ireland for common seals. Approximately 30% of the total adult population of the Lough is found on a number of small islands and pladdies.