Marine Biodiversity Data Portal - NI

Kilclief Point, Strangford Lough.

[Site list for year 1986]

Survey number: 555 Event number: 19860522/22 Date: 1986-05-22 GPS: 54.33800,-5.54000. Depth: 3.5 to 0.2 m. [ View map ]

Site Description: A mixture of hard fissured sandstone ridges with very sharp ridges of irregular breaking rock and sandy areas between. The latter has boulders and stones on the sand surface. The sand is medium and has a black layer beneath the surface. Areas of sand without boulders occur which have Arenicola and some Lanice in abundance. Occasionally water occurs on top of the sand with some gravel and boulders forming 'rock pools' which continue to empty at low water between ridges forming small tidal rapids. The ridges form most of the lower shore. The water appears quite turbid and sand covers the flora on the ridges. The upper shore has a small lichen zone with saltmarsh backing the shore. Grassland occurs behind. The sediment in the extreme upper shore is mud and muddy sand. The site is a seal haul out with terns. Black headed gulls and oystercatchers seen feeding. The shore is sheltered and Ascophyllum dominated with the normal fucoid zonation being extensive and has a good coverage.

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