saltee islands

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 close watch is also kept on the colony of grey seals. The two uninhabited islands are privately owned, but visitors are welcome. Boat trips are run in fine weather from Kilmore Quay. These leave in late morning and return mid-afternoon.