Wexford Wildfowl Reserve

Wexford Wildfowl Reserve, North Slob, Wexford, is Ireland's Premier Wildfowl Reserve.The Wexford Slobs and Harbour are, by their very location and geomorphological structure, a natural haven for birds. Situated on the coast, and in sight of the south east corner of Ireland, it is the closest point to Britain and the continent for birds that are migrating into or out of Ireland from a southerly direction.

Waders and wildfowl in particular, are attracted to the area where the flat landscape is accentuated by a number of complementary characteristics that create a safe place to feed, loaf, roost and breed. These features are dominated by the wide shallow harbour with its sandbars and mud-banks. The harbour is open to the sea from the east, though 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 slow moving, meandering River Slaney which, in its lower reaches, is tidal. To the north and south of the harbour are the large areas of reclaimed lands known as the Slobs.

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