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On 14 June 2011 the Bangor Boat Link had arranged an evening trip to the Gobbins cliffs at Islandmagee. The boat’s owner considered the adverse wind unsuitable for a trip across Belfast Lough. Instead he made the journey, around the Co Down coast, to Lighthouse Island. This proved to be a wise decision since it included a sighting of a humpback whale, a landing on the island and a guided tour by the warden of the Copeland Islands Bird Observatory Link with over an hour ashore. Not being a birdwatcher I made an independent trip around part of the island. With grateful thanks to Brian Meharg MBE of the Bangor Boat who knows exactly how to please his passengers.

Lighthouse Island is one of the Copeland Islands, off the north eastern coast of Co Down, close to Donaghadee and the entrance to Belfast Lough. The following is a condensed version of a Wikipedia article: in 1671 James Ross obtained a fee farm grant of these. In 1770 David Kerr bought the islands from the Earl of Clanbrassil. A light beacon was established circa 1715 on what is now Lighthouse Island followed by a permanent lighthouse in 1813. In 1884 the lighthouse, which still exists, was replaced by one on nearby Mew Island. No longer inhabited, Lighthouse Island is now home to the Copeland Bird Observatory. This is the link to the full Wiki article Link. Also useful – Irish Lights Link and the Copeland Islands Bird Observatory Link.