bird watching wexford

These island off the south coast of Wexford are a haven for sea birds. Great and Little Saltee together form Ireland's largest bird sanctuary, nurturing an impressive array of birds, from gannets and gulls to puffins and Manx shearwaters. Great Saltee is particularly famous for its colonies of cormorants. It also has more than 1,000 pairs of guillemots and is a popular stopping-off place for spring and autumn migrations. A bird monitoring and research programme is in progress, and a clo...

Closed naturally since 1972, with a barrier of dunes. The White Hole and the Island Marsh at the western ends are the most productive. Very noteworthy numbers of waterfowl during winter. These include brent geese, curlew, lapwing, golden plover and oystercatchers....

This is a shallow lagoon which is separated from the open sea by a shingle bank. There is a good variety of passing waders in autumn. Breeding guls and terns are to be found on the islands. The lagoon is a notable waterfowl side for wintering ducks and swans. The islands are home to Irelands largest mixed tern colony, including the rare roseate tern....

This area is excellent for Brent Geese and wader species, with international numbers of bar-tail godwit. The highest numbers are to be found in winter, but they are present all year. Thousands of other wader species present....

Hook Head is a long, low rocky peninsula, ideal for seawatching in spring and autumn.
The Hook Head and Baginbun areas are top class diving sites in the south east. Visibility is excellent in the clear water here. At the nearby Naomh Seosamh Hotel in Fethard-on-Sea, it is possible to get a compressor. The hotel also has a drying room facility for divers.
Baginbun Head is associated with the first landings of the Normans in 1169.
The famous expression 'By Hook or...

Cliff-nestling birds. Depending on the time of the year, fulmar, cormorant, peregrine, herring gull, guiilemot and chough are to be seen....

A major location for wintering waterfowl, brent goose, shelduck, wigeon, teal, oystercatcher, golden plover, curfew and redshank....

A dyke, built in the 1840's, created over 1,000 hectares of mudflats and islands which now form a world renowned wildfowl reserve. Nearly half the world's population of Greenland white-fronted geese winter here where the reeds and shallows harbour over 190 species of water-fowl and waders.
There's an information centre where illustrations of the main species to be seen in this natural wonderland are displayed. Along the entrance driveways are 'hides' from which the wild fowl can be v...

The reserve is part owned by the Irish Wildbird Conservancy, and run by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. One third of the world's population of Greenland white Fronted Geese over winter here.

International figures of Brent Geese are to be seen, and thousands of other duck and wader species winter here too. Excellent viewing facilities with hides and observation tower. Visitor centre open daily, free admission. Guided tour on request....

Being in the warmer, milder south east corner of Ireland, it is not surprising to find that County Wexford has much to offer the birdwatcher. Many birds which breed in the arctic regions of Greenland, Iceland and Canada can be seen here in winter....