Saltee Islands Wexford
The Saltee Islands off the south Wexford coast of Ireland are the most important seabird breeding site in Ireland, two uninhabited islands rising from the sea south of Kilmore Quay whose cliffs and rocky shores support over three million seabirds from over twenty breeding species during the spring and summer season. The combination of the enormous bird numbers, the possibility of close approach on the islands without disturbing nesting birds, and the spectacular marine setting make the Saltees one of the finest seabird watching destinations in Britain and Ireland. Great Saltee, the larger of the two islands, is the principal seabird site, its southern cliffs providing nesting habitat for gannet, puffin, guillemot, razorbill, kittiwake, shag, fulmar and several other species in concentrations that create one of the most spectacular and most dramatic wildlife spectacles available in Ireland. The puffins in particular, which nest in burrows in the turf of the island slopes and can be observed at very close range during the breeding season, are the most popular attraction for the boat trips from Kilmore Quay that provide the only practical access. Great Saltee was owned by the Prince of the Saltees, Michael Neary, who purchased the island in 1943 and crowned himself its prince in a ceremony whose eccentric charm has become part of the island's folklore. The stone throne on which the self-styled prince sat for his coronation remains on the island and is a popular photographic subject. The autumn migration passage through the Saltees, when large numbers of migrant birds from across Europe pause on the islands during their southward migration, provides a different and equally rewarding wildlife watching experience from the spring seabird season.