Data Zone
Country/territory: Ireland
IBA criteria met: A4iii, B1ii, B2, B3, C3, C4 (2009)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 153 hectares (1.53 km2)
Site description (2000 baseline)
The Saltee Islands (Great Saltee and Little Saltee) lie 5 km offshore from Kilmore Quay in County Wexford. Both islands have exposed rocky cliffs and boulder beaches. The islands have not been farmed since the 1940s.
Key biodiversity
The Saltees are internationally important for breeding seabird colonies. Species occurring in numbers of national importance are: Fulmarus glacialis (350 pairs, 1996), Larus argentatus (500 pairs, 1996), Rissa tridactyla (2,500 pairs, 1996) and Uria aalge (15,000 birds, 1996). Great Saltee is also a notable site for spring and autumn passerine migration.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Saltee Islands (Ireland). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/saltee-islands-iba-ireland on 23/12/2024.