Five incredible creatures you might spot at the Causeway Coast this summer

Peacock butterfly on a flower

If you are wild for wildlife, the National Trust properties at the stunning Causeway Coast are the perfect species spotting sites for you to explore this summer. The Giant’s Causeway UNESCO World Heritage Site and Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge are home to hundreds of fascinating species including colonial seabirds such as the Razorbill, coloured Cinnabar Moths and breath-taking botanical beauties like the flowering Orchids that brighten the coastline.

We have compiled a list of five local species you might come across when visiting the Causeway Coast this summer.

Red Campion wildflower

The dazzling displays of the bright red wildflowers, the Red Campions don the Causeway Coast during the summer. The Red Campion blooms from spring right through summer and is an excellent source of food for the variety of bee, butterfly and moth species that call the Causeway Coast home. Take a closer look on your next visit - you can identify this popular species by their five petals and hairy stems.

Peacock Butterfly

You are most likely to come across this beautiful butterfly in July through to September. The Peacock Butterfly is large, and although it will generally hide in woodland and hedgerows it is relatively easy to spot because of its predominant red wings and brightly coloured, large eyespots. These eyespots not only make this species captivatingly beautiful, but they also keep the peacock butterfly safe as they tend to scare off predators. 

The peacock is one of our most beautiful butterflies
Peacock butterfly on a flower
The peacock is one of our most beautiful butterflies

Stoats


Stoats have been making more appearances at the Giant’s Causeway and Carrick-a-Rede during the spring and summer months. Stoats are small carnivorous mammals belonging to the weasel family. They have brown coats with a cute white underbelly. They move quickly but try your best to snap a photo if you spot one!

Playful Stoat spotted at the Giant's Causeway
A close up shot of a stoat spotted in grass at the Giant's Causeway
Playful Stoat spotted at the Giant's Causeway

Kittiwake


As a leading conservation charity, the National Trust works hard to maintain Carrick-a-Rede as a home and a breeding site for five different species of seabirds. The perfect location for birdwatching, this special site is home to the Kittiwake (from the gull family) in the summer. Unlike other gulls the Kittiwake’s beautiful black wing-tips show no white, and look like they are dipped in ink.

Skylark


The skylark, also found all year round at the Causeway Coast, is a small brown bird only 16-18 centimetres long. They have a reputation as one of the finest songsters in the bird world.  Their singing invariably starts before dawn, so their voice is the first to be heard in the dawn chorus.  These cute little birds also make a definite impact in the bright summer skies, with their white rear edged wings and vertical display flight. With its short and sturdy legs, the skylark also spends a lot of time on the ground rummaging for seeds and insects - keep an eye out while taking a walk around our sites this summer!