The Best Guide to Ireland’s Birds and Birdwatching
Ireland’s birds are absolutely incredible. Since Ireland is an island, the country gets many seabirds, migratory birds, and some birds that live here full time. There have also been some very rare birds spotted on this island, like the Yellow-crowned Night Heron that was seen in County Mayo for 7 weeks starting in May, or the Egyptian Vulture that was seen in Counties Donegal, Wicklow, and Mayo in July 2021. Needless to say, Ireland is an absolute dream for birdwatchers. If you are interested in starting this hobby, or if you just need a list of the best spots to see birds in Ireland, keep reading to learn everything you need to know about the birds and birdwatching on this island.
The Birds
Gulls and Seabirds
If you are a fan of birds, one of the first things you will notice when it comes to Ireland’s birds are the seagulls, at least, they were one of the first things I noticed. I, honestly, quickly fell in love with them. They are huge (by far the biggest gulls I have ever seen), and they are honestly hilarious. I live in Dublin, and it truly feels like they run this city. Many Dublin residents hate them for stealing their food and for squawking loudly in the early morning, but if you can laugh at these inconveniences, you may fall in love with them as I have. Some of the gulls you can find in Ireland are the Common Gull, the Herring Gull, the Great Black-backed Gull, and the Iceland Gull.
Gulls are not the only seaside birds you will encounter in Ireland. You can find other birds like Grey Herons, Oystercatchers, Razorbills, different kinds of Geese, and, of course, Puffins. Grey Herons are gorgeous, statuesque birds with gray plumage commonly found in wetlands, but they have been seen in Dublin city near the river.
Oystercatchers are larger birds with a black head, chest, and upperparts and white underparts. They also have very distinctive long orange bills that help them eat oysters and mussels. They visit the Irish coast in the winter months, particularly the months between September and March.
Razorbills are mostly marine birds that you will really only catch on land during breeding season. They have black and white plumage with a distinct white line on their black bills. They look very similar to Guillemots, which also frequent Ireland’s coasts, but they are a little smaller and are more blackish, while Guillemots are more brownish. Unfortunately, this gorgeous bird has red conservation status according to BirdWatch Ireland, a charity dedicated to conserving and protecting Ireland’s wild birds.
There are also several different kinds of Geese that live in or visit Ireland. There are classic Canada geese, but there are also Barnacle Geese, Greylag Geese, and Snow Geese. Barnacle Geese visit the island between October and April, and they have small rounded heads with short black bills. Their coloring is black, white, and grey.
Greylag Geese visit Ireland in the winter months, from November to April. They are large, bulky, birds with a pinkish orange bill and dull pink legs. Their plumage is greyish brown. There are many other goose breeds that resemble Greylag Geese, so you need to take special care when it comes to identifying these birds.
Snow Geese are gorgeous white geese that are a little smaller than the average goose. They visit Ireland from October to March. They have orange bills, white bodies with black primary feathers in the back. As they get older, they gain more brown feathers on their wings and bodies.
We cannot conclude talking about seabirds in Ireland without talking about the Puffin. These birds are well loved by many because they are simply adorable. They are rather small, with black upperparts and white underparts and faces. They also have rather large multi-colored bills and orange legs. You can find them in the summer from March to September in sea stacks and cliffs on the west coast of Ireland. Unfortunately, these beloved birds are also have red conservation status according to BirdWatch Ireland
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Garden Birds
While the island has many different kinds of seabirds, Ireland’s birds can be found throughout the country, even in gardens. The island hosts Robins, Blackbirds, Blue Tits, Magpies, Goldfinches, and more.
Robins are one of the most widespread of Ireland’s birds, so you will definitely find one if you look out for them. They have bright orange breasts and faces, with brown grey upper parts and white bellies. They also have dark, pointed bills and black legs, and are small, round, and plump.
Blackbirds are permanent residents in Ireland, so you are almost guaranteed to spot one. The males have a very distinct look, with their black plumage and bright yellow bills and eyes. The females are more brownish and speckled, making them resemble Song Thrushes.
Blue Tits are very common residents in Ireland, and they are very easy to spot. They are super colorful with almost entirely blue bodies and yellow bellies. They also have white cheeks framed with a dark blue line. They have super short, stubby bills, and light blue legs and feet. They are surprisingly acrobatic and tend to hang upside down from branches to peck at buds and look for insects.
Magpies are a species of crow, and they are permanent residents of the island. They have black heads, chests, backs, and tails, and white bellies and flanks. Their wings are very striking with black and white coloring. Since they are a species of crow, they are extremely intelligent and social, and they have sturdy legs and bills.
Another resident of Ireland, Goldfinches are commonly spotted in gardens across the island. They have a very striking coloring, with black and yellow wings, a red face, and black and white head markings. They also have a brown back and white underside. Considering how common and striking they are, even a novice birdwatcher will be able to spot them.
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Best Places to Bird Watch
Ireland has plenty of gorgeous spots that are perfect for birdwatchers. You should be able to spot at least one of Ireland’s birds in all of these places. Even if you don’t go for the bird watching, these places are absolutely beautiful regardless.
Dublin City
If you want to be close to Dublin city, there are multiple good spots in the county. Bull Island is one of the most popular bird watching spots in Ireland. When the tide is low, you will be able to see waders and wildfowl in the mudflats. You can also find finches, warblers, and skylarks in the dunes in the back, and you should be able to find birds of prey as well.
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Another great bird watching spot close to the city is the Great South Wall. This is a pier wall that goes from Dublin Port to the Poolbeg Lighthouse. The wall is a great place to see terns and other seabirds, including Black Guillemots in the summer. In the winter, you can find different kinds of divers and gulls here as well. There have also been some rare bird sightings here, making the wall a must see for bird watchers.
Skellig Islands
While they can be hard to get to, the Skellig Islands is a great spot to see all kinds of birds, including Puffins. They are famous for their iconic monastery ruins built into the island, and you may recognize them from the last two episodes of Star Wars, as it’s where Luke and Rey Skywalker hid and trained.
Many bird watchers come to these islands to see their Puffins, but other kinds of birds call these islands home as well. On these islands, you can find Gannets, Arctic Terns, Black Guillemots, and Razorbills. There are a limited number of licensed boats that take people to the islands, so make sure you book this visit in advance!
The Cliffs of Moher
The Cliffs of Moher are one of the most famous visitor attractions in Ireland, and they always have incredible birds fly through. While most people stay close to the parking lot, if you take a walk away from the crowds you can see some gorgeous birds. At the cliffs, you can see many of Ireland’s birds: Puffins, Guillemots, Razorbills, Fulmars, Peregrines, and more.
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Glenveagh National Park
If you do not want to see seabirds, check out Glenveagh National Park. In this park, you can find bogland, mountains, waterfalls, and the gardens of Glenveagh Castle, so you will be able to see many different kinds of birds: Red-Throated Divers, Wrens, and Golden Plovers just to name a few. The park also has great hiking and biking trails, if you are interested in that as well!
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Wexford Wildfowl Reserve
This wildlife reserve is a prime spot for bird watching. There are 200 hectares of land in this reserve, and over 250 species, including almost 40 rare ones, have been seen here. The reserve conserves many different kinds of geese, waders, swans, and ducks. You can also find hares, foxes, badgers, and squirrels.
Ireland is a gorgeous country with plenty of great bird watching opportunities. Ireland’s birds are very diverse since the country is an island. You will be able to find many different kinds of birds, from sea birds to garden birds. Whether you are an experienced or novice bird watcher, you will have an incredible time visiting these different sites and seeing as many different kinds of Ireland’s birds as possible.
