Spectacular numbers of birds feed along the coast between Belfast and Whiteabbey, many on the mudflats and others immediately offshore. The whole area of Belfast Lough has been designated as having special scientific interest.

Some of the more notable species are Great Crested Grebes, Redshanks, Oystercatchers, Dunlins, Curlews and Black-tailed Godwits which feed on the mudflats and roost on favoured parts of the shoreline during high tide. Whitehouse lagoon is an excellent place to view shorebirds, and Grebes and other wintering wildfowl can be seen from Macedon Point, Hazelbank and Loughshore Park.