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A small island built up over 200 years as a result of the construction of the north
harbour wall
of Dublin Port, it has an adjoining foreshore of sandy beaches, dunes, saltmarshes and
mudflats.
It is connected to the land by a wooden bridge and a more recently constructed causeway.
The site is unique in Ireland because it supports well-developed saltmarsh and dune systems
displaying all stages of development from the earliest phase of colonisation to full maturity.
Its location as
a UNESCO Biosphere reserve within a capital city is also unique and it is classified as a
Wetland of International importance under the Ramsar Convention.
Wintering Waterbirds and Waders
The area is important for numerous species of wintering waterbirds and waders. For the
birdwatcher the most interesting areas are the tidal flats and salt marsh between the island and the
mainland. It hosts internationally important numbers of Brent Geese which can
often be found grazing on the
grass alongside the coast road. In recent years they have spread to parklands and
football fields back in from the coast.
There are large flocks of Shelduck, Widgeon and Teal. The north-east end of
the causeway is good for Pintail, while Shoveler usually stay south of the
causeway. The deeper water at either end of the island has Goldeneye and
Red-breasted Merganser.
Waders
Knot and Golden Plover sweep across the
sky while the mud flats and marsh teem with Dunlin, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Curlew,
Black-tailed Godwit and Snipe.
Scarcer but always about are Greenshank and Grey Plover. Lapwing
seem to like the flats around the wooden bridge. On the seaward beaches look for
Sanderling.
Predators
The area south of the causeway and along the edge of the golf course can usually produce
a Kestrel, whereas a Peregrine can appear out of the blue, causing
consternation on the mudflats. Look
for them and sometimes Merlin perched on poles out on the mudflats north of the causeway. A Sparrowhawk
straying from the park is not uncommon.
The salt marsh area east of the causeway has Short-eared Owl.
Herons, etc
Grey Heron are very plentiful, they nest in the trees of St Anne's Park across
the road. The
more exotic Little Egret is now often seen as they expand northward.
The landward
end to the north of the causeway often has a Kingfisher on the outlet of the Santry
River. The outlet of another small river, the Naniken, just south of the causeway is also a congregation point for duck and waders.
Rarer species have included Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank, Avocet, Spoonbill, Long-tailed Duck, Ring-billed Gull, etc.
Dublin City Council run an interpretative centre open 10.15-16.30 accessible across
the causeway.
Books
"An Irish Sanctuary - birds of the North Bull" by P.G.Kennedy, published 1953,
Three Candles Press, Dublin.
Long out of print and now a collectable item, but Dublin C.C. libraries have a copy.
Fascinating account of the struggle to establish a bird sanctuary against competing proposals
for an airport and/or a Coney Island type resort! Full list of the birds to that date coming
to 147 species - it must now be closer to 200.
"North Bull Island Dublin Bay-a modern coastal natural history" D.Jeffrey, 1977 RDS.
I-WeBS counts in Dublin Bay
Dublin Bay hosts five species in numbers of international importance
(Brent Goose, Knot, Black-tailed & Bar-tailed Godwit and Redshank)
and twelve species in numbers of national importance. See
I-WeBS project.
SPA & SAC designations in Dublin Bay
Getting there ...
Bull Island lies on the northern side of Dublin Bay, about 7 km northeast of
Dublin City centre.
It is served by Dublin Bus (01-8734222) #130 to Prospect Avenue from Abbey Street.
The DART (01-8366222) serves Raheny, about 1km inland from the causeway.
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