BIRD-Watching in Ireland’s county WEXFORD

County Wexford, located in southeast Ireland, is one of Ireland’s premier birdwatching destinations due to its extensive coastal habitats, estuaries, wetlands, and islands. Sites like Wexford Wildfowl Reserve and the Saltee Islands are internationally renowned, attracting vast numbers of migratory waterfowl, waders, seabirds, and rare vagrants.

Wexford Wildfowl Reserve (North Slob, near Wexford Town, Y35 X2K8)

Greenland White-fronted Goose: Large winter flocks (up to 10,000), November–March, a globally significant site.
Brent Goose: Abundant winter visitor, feeding on eelgrass.
Wigeon, Teal, Pintail, Shoveler: Common wintering ducks on wetlands.
Lapwing, Golden Plover, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Redshank: Waders in large numbers on mudflats, peak in winter.
Little Egret, Grey Heron: Common in marshes and channels.
Hen Harrier, Merlin: Raptors hunting over wetlands, especially in winter.
Water Rail: Secretive, heard in reedbeds, occasionally seen. Managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), this reserve on the North Slob is part of the Wexford Slobs and Harbour SPA and Ramsar site. Hides and the Pat Walsh Tower provide excellent views of waterfowl and waders. Winter (November–March) is peak season, with high tides concentrating birds. The visitor centre offers guided tours and information.

South Slob and Wexford Harbour (South of Wexford Town)

Brent Goose, Wigeon, Teal: Winter flocks on mudflats and fields.
Bar-tailed Godwit, Knot, Dunlin: Waders common in winter on intertidal areas.
Little Egret: Abundant along shores and channels.
Kingfisher: Resident, seen in quieter estuarine areas.
Mediterranean Gull: Rare but increasing, often among gull flocks. The South Slob and Wexford Harbour, part of the SPA, complement the North Slob for wintering waterfowl and waders. Viewing points along the harbour and near Raven Point are accessible via local roads. Winter (November–March) is best, with spring good for resident species.

Saltee Islands (Off Kilmore Quay, Y35 XW63)

Puffin: Large breeding colony (thousands of pairs), visible April–August.
Manx Shearwater, Storm Petrel: Breeding colonies, active April–September, best at night for petrels.
Gannet: Large breeding colony on Great Saltee, visible year-round.
Guillemot, Razorbill, Kittiwake: Breeding on cliffs, common spring/summer.
Shag, Cormorant: Resident, nesting on rocky outcrops.
Chough: Common on coastal grasslands, year-round. The Saltee Islands, an SPA, are one of Ireland’s most important seabird colonies. Boat trips from Kilmore Quay (booked in advance, weather-dependent) provide access to Great Saltee. Spring and summer (April–August) are peak seasons for breeding seabirds. Seawatching from Kilmore Quay can yield shearwaters and petrels in autumn (August–October).

Lady’s Island Lake and Tacumshin Lake (Near Carnsore Point and Rosslare)

Little Tern, Roseate Tern, Common Tern: Breeding colonies on shingle banks, April–August (Lady’s Island Lake).
Whooper Swan, Wigeon, Teal: Winter visitors on lakes, November–March.
Lapwing, Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit: Waders in wetlands, best in winter.
Water Rail: Secretive, heard in reedbeds, occasionally seen.
American Wigeon, Green-winged Teal: Rare transatlantic vagrants, recorded at Tacumshin. Both lakes are SPAs, with Lady’s Island Lake renowned for tern colonies and Tacumshin Lake for wintering waterfowl. Hides and paths at both sites offer good views. Summer (April–August) is best for terns, with winter (November–March) ideal for waterfowl and waders. Tacumshin is a hotspot for rare vagrants.

Hook Head and Peninsula (Near Fethard-on-Sea, Y34 XK83)

Chough: Common along cliffs and coastal grasslands, year-round.
Peregrine Falcon: Breeds on cliffs, often seen hunting seabirds.
Raven: Frequently soaring over coastal areas.
Fulmar: Resident, gliding along cliffs.
Gannet, Manx Shearwater: Seen offshore, especially during autumn migration.
Stonechat, Wheatear: Summer migrants in coastal scrub. Hook Head, with its lighthouse and cliffs, is excellent for coastal birds and seawatching. Paths around the peninsula offer views of Chough and Peregrines. Autumn (August–October) is best for seawatching, with spring/summer good for breeding species.

River Slaney and Enniscorthy (Near Enniscorthy, Y21 X6P2)

Dipper, Grey Wagtail: Resident along fast-flowing river sections.
Kingfisher: Common in quieter stretches, especially near Enniscorthy.
Mute Swan, Mallard: Resident along riverbanks.
Little Egret: Increasingly common along the river.
Common Sandpiper: Summer visitor, breeding along gravelly shores. The River Slaney supports riverine birds, with viewing points near Enniscorthy and bridges offering good access. Spring and summer (March–August) are best for breeding species like Dipper, with winter good for egrets and waterfowl.

Raven Nature Reserve (Curracloe, near Wexford Town)

Skylark, Meadow Pipit: Common in dunes and grasslands, singing in spring/summer.
Stonechat, Wheatear: Summer migrants in coastal scrub.
Sanderling, Dunlin, Ringed Plover: Wintering waders on nearby beaches.
Merlin, Short-eared Owl: Winter visitors, hunting over dunes. The Raven Nature Reserve, with its dunes and woodlands, is ideal for coastal and grassland birds. Trails and the nearby Curracloe Beach provide access. Spring and summer (March–August) are best for breeding birds, with winter good for waders and raptors.

Rare and Notable Sightings (Various Sites)

American Wigeon, Green-winged Teal: Rare transatlantic vagrants, frequently seen at Tacumshin Lake.
Ring-billed Gull, Little Gull: Rare, recorded at Wexford Harbour and Tacumshin.
Forster’s Tern, Sabine’s Gull: Rare, spotted during autumn migration at coastal sites.
Corncrake: Rare, occasionally heard in grasslands near Tacumshin. Wexford’s wetlands and coastal sites, especially Tacumshin and North Slob, are hotspots for rare vagrants, particularly during autumn migration (September–November). Check www.irishbirding.com for recent records.

Seasonal Tips:

Spring (March–May): Summer migrants (Wheatear, terns) arrive. Seabirds (Puffin, Gannet) breed on Saltee Islands.
Summer (June–August): Breeding season for terns at Lady’s Island Lake and seabirds on Saltees. Coastal birds like Chough are active.
Autumn (September–November): Peak migration for waders and rare vagrants at Tacumshin and North Slob. Seawatching at Hook Head is productive during storms.
Winter (December–March): Best for waterfowl (Greenland White-fronted Goose, Brent Goose) and waders at Wexford Slobs and Tacumshin.
Conservation Context: Wexford Slobs, Lady’s Island Lake, Tacumshin Lake, and Saltee Islands are SPAs, critical for wintering waterfowl, breeding terns, and seabirds. Species like Greenland White-fronted Goose and Corncrake are conservation priorities. Report rare sightings to Irish Birding (www.irishbirding.com) (www.irishbirding.com) or BirdWatch Ireland.

Access and Resources:

Binoculars and a telescope are essential for wetland and coastal birdwatching, especially at North Slob and Tacumshin.
Check www.irishbirding.com or BirdGuides (www.birdguides.com) (www.birdguides.com) for real-time sighting updates.
Wexford Wildfowl Reserve and Tacumshin have excellent hides and facilities. Saltee Islands require boat bookings from Kilmore Quay.
Waterproof clothing and sturdy boots are recommended for coastal and wetland areas.
BirdWatch Ireland’s Wexford Branch offers guided walks, particularly at the Wildfowl Reserve.

Wexford:

Wexford combines coastal beauty with historic sites, with the Hook Lighthouse, one of the world’s oldest, offering scenic coastal views. The Irish National Heritage Park recreates ancient and medieval settlements, while Wexford’s beaches, like Curracloe, provide sandy shores for walking. Other attractions include the historic town of Enniscorthy and its castle. Wexford is Ireland’s 13th largest county by size (2,351 square km) and 14th largest by population (163,919). Population peaked at 202,033 in 1841 and reached its lowest point, 83,308 in 1961. In terms of hospitality, Wexford is Ireland’s eighth most visited tourist county with around 229,000 international visitors per year.

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