Wildlife
GUIDES
Wildlife
As one of Ireland’s premier seabird sanctuaries, you will be awed by the variety and numbers of birds that make their home here. Over 200 species have been recorded on the Saltee Islands.
There are breeding seabirds and resident land birds, as well as migrant birds passing through.
The gannet colony on the cliffs at the southwest corner of the island, is one of the three main colonies found in Ireland.
More information Saltee island’s wildlife can be found at salteeislands.info
The Atlantic Puffin is often called the clown of the sea.
The Atlantic Puffin.
The Saltee Islands most famous visitor, the Atlantic Puffin, arrive in numbers during April. This is their breeding grounds. From April until August, when they leave, this is their sole task.
April – May: Puffins arrive and build their burrows. Between each puffin pair, a single precious egg is laid. Both parents then take turns to incubate the egg.
June-Mid July: Chicks have hatched in the burrows and are fed by the parents until ready to fledge.
August: All puffins leave the islands by mid-August heading out to sea where they will spend the winter not returning to land again until the following April.
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