It is summer, and humans and birds flock to the lough to enjoy its unspoilt beauty and unique habitats.
At Slievemoyle farm, Mark McCormick from the RSPB is camping out for a dawn chorus survey. Coming home and working with nature has helped him get over PTSD from witnessing the Westminster Bridge terror attacks. He is hoping he will hear the distinctive call of the endangered yellowhammer.
Summers on Strangford Lough mean long evenings stretching into glorious sunsets. The Crawford family enjoy an evening picnic, while in Portaferry, four generations of the Murray family take the St Brendan out for an evening of fishing.
Summer is regatta season on the lough, and a big moment for Kenny Smyth and his River-class sailing boat Laragh. It's 100 years since the Rivers were built, and Kenny is hoping to wrestle the series race trophy from his brother Graham.
Away from the buzz of summer activities, Katy Bell is hoping to find healthy barn owl chicks. Wet and extremely hot weather has meant most of the sites have failed this year, but a new site may have some healthy chicks.
Out on the lough, wildfowl expert Kerry Mackie is counting greylag geese. It is important to monitor the populations as they can cause problems for farmers. Carrying out the counts reminds him of his deep family connections to the lough and a lifetime of memories.
Kieron Black is also out, snorkeling and remembering his father Brian. He would try to fill every day with experiences, something Kieron also tries to do as he loses himself in the otherworldly surroundings of the lough's sea bed.
Feb. 7, 2022
