Wexford Wildfowl Reserve

Wexford Wildfowl Reserve is located on the North Slob near Wexford town: a 1,000 hectares of low lying flat polder land situated on the north side of Wexford Harbour. It was originally an area of mudflats, reclaimed from the sea in 1847 behind a 2.5 mile long dyke (the term 'slob' comes from the Irish word 'slab', which means mud). The slob is semi-circular in shape and is drained by a shallow channel which runs through the reclaimed area. As the water levels rise, the channel is drained to lower levels via a pump station.

The reserve takes up some of the slob, with the remainder employed as farmland. The reserve is Irelands premier Wildfowl sanctuary, most famous as a wintering ground for up to half the population of the Greenland White-fronted Goose (about 10,000 birds). The channel adjacent farmland also hold important wintering flocks of Brent Geese, Bewicks Swans and Wigeon and the reserve is also a sanctuary for the Irish Hare.

A number of bird species have been recorded in Ireland for the first time at the reserve including Lesser White-fronted Goose (1969), Paddyfield Warbler (1982), Western Sandpiper (1992), Pine Bunting (1995) and Isabelline Shrike (2000).

Wexford Wildfowl Reserve
http://www.slaneyrivertrust.ie/north%20slobs.htm

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Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Ireland
• Irish
• County
• Wexford
• Wildfowl
• Reserve
• Preserve
• North
• Slob
• Polder
• Agriculture
• Ornithology
• Birdwatching
• Birdwatch
• Birding
• Nature
• Wetlands
• Brent
• Mallard
• St Patricks Day
• Anas platyrhychos.

[myjugsarehuge]

Reminds me of the Peter Scott Wildfowl reserve at Slimbridge in Gloucestershire. I used to visit there regularly, I so miss sitting in hides and drinking soup out of a flask. I love the peat bogs and mountains here but no actual "reserves"

[jratt2]

I think Peter Scott had something to do with advising on or suggesting the development of the reserve on the North Slob way back when. WWR is the nearest thing to Slimbridge we have in Ireland, and we have nothing like the number or quality or reserves you have in the UK. Mores the pity.

[bigbeninjax]

Figures! You tell us all about the bloody birds and mud, but say nothing about the interesting looking building with the tribute to Bill Clinton standing beside it!!!!

[jratt2]

Haw! Haw! Haw!

Actually it IS an interesting building in its own right, come to think of it. Its the pump house for the slob that manages the water levels and I remember reading years ago that it housed an original James Watt steam engine in it - I think Watt was the guy who invented the stream engine.

As for the Clinton tribute, shame on you Ben...lol.

[Paulmanorbier]

Da Iawn - Hyfryd!

I've watched wild-fowl from the Rosslare Strand side of the Slobs, but looks like the north-side gives you the better view. - and the music's great there too!

[jratt2]

That would be the South Slob, which is not really geared up for visitors. The North Slob has the reserve and the visitors centre, and there's a real 'birdy-buzz' about the place in winter time.

The quality is better on this video for some thankfully - I'll probably try re-loading the Mullaghmore video when I get a chance.

[Hamburg4U]

really nice pictures!

greetings from germany :o)

[myjugsarehuge]

Its the buildings that jogged my memory, the shot at 1.26 very reminiscent of the Slimbridge Visitors centre, I was over 18 months ago, fabulous place.

[bigbeninjax]

Well, it IS a pump house! Would be great to see that Watt steam engine, tho. ;-)

[poitinstill]

Bigbeninjax, I don't think Bill Clinton could put up a show like that tower, even on a good day! But I bet he'd be flattered!

[poitinstill]

As usual, another job well done, John! I've been there a few times, the view from the upper windows are great. Another triumph for jratt2 productions!