Bird Watching Dingle
A huge estuary with large numbers of wildfowl, especially Brent Geese and Wigeon, and high numbers of waders and gulls, in autumn and winter. The only regular site for Pintail in Kerry. This whole area can host up to a thousand or more Brent Geese, hundreds of Wigeon and thirty or so Pintail each autumn and winter, along with many other wildfowl and waders, but the birds are often distant. Try to time your visit to about two hours before high tide, especially Inch and Rossbehy. On the seaward side, there can be hundreds of Common Scoter, and many divers and other sea duck present in autumn and winter.
An estuary 3km east of Dingle, with a good variety of wildfowl, waders and gulls, especially in autumn. One of the best sites in Kerry to see Kingfisher, especially at the eastern end of the estuary.
A sheltered woodland and estuary site, just west of Dingle, good for Little Egret and waders outside the summer months, and woodland birds, especially in May and June, when Spotted Flycatcher and Blackcap breed.
A very good site for gulls and small numbers of Brent Goose, Wigeon and waders throughout winter. Little Egret and Black Guillemot are present all year (the latter breed in the harbor walls), and large numbers of gulls often gather, especially when trawlers are offloading their catch.
A large bay attracting small numbers of Brent Geese, divers, gulls and some waders, notably Golden Plover, in autumn and winter. Mediterranean Gull is often seen here in autumn and winter.
Seabirds can be seen throughout the summer, and Black Guillemot is commonly seen from the ferry. Occasional rare migrants are recorded in spring and autumn and the scenery is truly unforgettable. Ferries go from near Dunquin and from Dingle, from May to mid-September. There are no ferries in winter.
Two adjacent sites, good for migrants in autumn and a good area for Chough all year. Some very rare European and North American migrant birds have been recorded here, especially in September and October.
A good seawatching location in south-west, west or north-west winds from late July to October. Gannets, Kittiwakes and Fulmar can be seen year round, and dolphins and even whales are sometimes seen offshore.
The eastern half of Smerwick Harbour has sandy beaches and a large reedbed which attracts small numbers of waders, gulls and duck throughout the year. This area is particularly good in autumn and winter, and with a reputation for attracting rare birds.
With suitable winds, one of the finest seawatching locations in Europe. Pick an autumn day with a strong west or north-west wind and you may be lucky to see thousands of seabirds passing, including shearwaters, petrels, skulls and the rare Sooty Shearwater from the South Atlantic. Chough, Kestrel and Peregrine can be seen soaring along the cliffs in summer and Fulmars are present all year.
A large coastal bay, particularly good in winter for divers, seabirds and scoter flocks, with over 700 Common Scoter usually present. Auks, waders and gulls are often present in large numbers, and Gannets are often seen fishing offshore.
A large freshwater lake and reedbed, good from late autumn to early spring for Whooper Swan, Scaup, Teal, Wigeon and other wildfowl. In summer, Reed Bunting and Sedge Warbler are common. View the lake from the east side, signposted from the outskirts of Castlegregory.
A large, shallow coastal bay, very good outside the summer months for Great Northern and Red-throated Divers and wildfowl, including large numbers of Brent Geese in mid-winter. A good site to see the rare Slavonian Grebe offshore, and Black Guillemot and Red-breasted Merganser can also be easily found.
The peninsula north of Castlegregory is good for waders in autumn and winter, and occasionally attracts large numbers of gulls. Several hundred Ringed Plovers and Sanderling can often be seen on the sandy beaches and the rocky, seaweed covered shore is one of the best places in Kerry to see Purple Sandpipers.
