大象传媒

Every day, passenger ferries and other ships arrive in the heart of Belfast, but few realise they are so close to Ireland's richest bird reserve. The stats about the reserve are phenomenal, especially when you take its docks and nearby airport into account. Nearly 200 different species of bird have been seen on Belfasts Lough, including waders, gulls, raptors and ducks. There is a wealth of other wildlife too, butterflies, plants, fish and mammals - it really is an oasis in the middle of the city. The wetland itself has only been here for 25 years when it was enclosed from the sea and became a dumping ground for silt dredged from the lough. The wildlife has taken full advantage of this new area and it provides everyone, including Chris Packham, with incredible views. In winter, this area is good for seeing black-tailed godwits, a bird once wiped off the UK birding map. Their return is a great sucess story and at this reserve you can get the ultimate view: they are so close Chris can even see their eyelashes.