Welcome to the

Wexford Wildfowl Reserve Website

 

Wexford Wildfowl Reserve

Wexford Harbour and its Slobs, by their location and geomorphological structure, are natural havens for birds. Situated on the south-east coast of Ireland, they are the closest point for birds migrating into or out of Ireland from Britain and the Continent from a southerly direction.

Waders and wildfowl in particular are attracted to the area where the flat landscape and the wide shallow harbour with its sandbars and mud banks provide safe areas to feed, loaf, roost and breed.

Wexford Harbour opening to the Irish Sea to the east, is partially protected by Rosslare Point to the south, the Raven sand dune system to the north and the Fort and adjacent sandbars in the middle. From the west, the harbour is fed by the meandering River Slaney which, in its lower reaches, is tidal.

The Slob lands were reclaimed from the sea in the 1840's, with the building of the sea wall and the pump house. For more information on the history of the area please visit our history section.

From early October through to the middle of April, the North and South Slobs and the Harbour are home to thousands of ducks, geese, swans and waders making this a site of major international importance for wildfowl and waders. In addition, during spring and autumn, large numbers of birds on migration stop to feed in these rich areas.

 

 

 

Visitor Facilities

Click here to see what's on offer for visitors

 

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Recent sightings

A few Sedge Warblers, Reed Warblers, Swallows and many more may be seen from our hides.

Along the sea wall Sandwich, Little, Common and Arctic Terns have been spotted.

A Kestrel has been patrolling the sea wall for the past month or more.

Also seen in May:

Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier, Yellow Wagtail (Adult male), Whitethroat.

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From the start of March we have been back and running our Education Programmes for Spring 2013. June is booking up fast so call us soon to ensure we can accommodate you this school year.

Any school wishing to book activities in 2013 please contact the centre at 076 100 2664 & 087 2646433. We have posted our 2013 brochure out to schools in Wexford and Carlow, if your school did not receive one please inform us so we can send you one each year.

Check out our DPS+M video here

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Upcoming Events:

Summer 2013 Family Activities:

Soon we will be running our summer activities here at the reserve and at the Raven Wood. These activities will consist mainly of bug hunts in the ponds, fields and dunes. Keep an eye here to see the summer schedule soon. Watch this space.

 

 

 

Any group wishing to visit over the summer that would like to partake a guided event please contact the Education Officers at

087 2646433 or 076 100 2664.

August 17th - 25th is National Heritage Week.

Click the link for details

 

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The Geese are gone for another summer, but they will be back!! While they are away you can still come and visit to see our summer birds including the swallows who are raising their chicks in our hides.

We had our tadpole tank set up in the centre until the 13th of June when we released the last of the froglets to our ponds (well away from the hungry ducks).

 

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Winter Season 2012-2013 Updates

 

The first of last winter seasons Greenland White-fronted geese and Whooper swans arrived on Saturday 29th September. The latest and last count for the season from 16th April is 403 Greenland White-fronts. Unfortunately the percentage of juveniles in the population is at a record low of only 4.86% with an average brood size of 2.63 young per breeding pair. Of the many other species there are over 1000 light-bellied Brent Geese. Greenland White-fronted geese pairs don't breed every year and no two years are the same, read all about them here

Along with these there were many other birds to be seen in the fields and ponds around our tower including Curlew, Teal, Oystercatcher, Snipe, Lapwing, Black and Bar-tailed Godwit, Moorhen and many, many more.

Our winter visitors are gone but will be back this coming autumn and winter.Our new sightings to the reserve can be found here