Sheep Island, County Antrim

Sheep Island is an island off the north coast of Northern Ireland, close to Ballintoy, County Antrim. It has an area of 3.5 hectares, is located 0.5 km off the coast and is known for its steep cliffs (one of which is near-vertical and more than 20m in height) and rocky shores. The top of the island is domed and covered with soil.[1][2]

The island has an owner, however, sheep Island is designated as a Special Protection Area and an Area of Special Scientific Interest.[2] This is because it contains a number of a particular species of cormorant, which is known as Phalacrocorax carbo carbo.[3] This population amounts to more than 5% of the population in the whole of Ireland.[4] The island also contains shag, fulmar, kittiwake, greater black-backed gull, razorbill, black guillemot and guillemot.[3]

References
  1. JNCC entry
  2. SPA entry Archived 2014-04-01 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ASSI entry Archived 2014-06-20 at the Wayback Machine
  4. VAM entry Archived 2014-07-14 at the Wayback Machine


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