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Lady's Island Lake

County Wexford  >  Ireland

A brackish lagoon that holds the second largest colony of Roseate Tern in Europe and a small colony of медитерански галеб. Excellent for waders in autumn.

Added* by Simon Collins
Most recent update 23 мај 2023

Description

Lady's Island Lake is a large brackish lagoon. Though there is no natural outlet to the sea, an exit to the sea is cut annually to reduce water levels to avoid flooding in the local area. Two flat islands in the lake host tern and gull colonies in spring and summer, which can be viewed from the shore. These include Roseate Tern, тенкоклуна чигра, Arctic Tern, речна чигра and медитерански галеб and езерски галеб.

When the water level drops, particularly in autumn, the lake attracts a large variety of waders to the exposed mud, mainly in the northeast corner and on the northernmost island, including црноопашна блатарка, обичен свиркач, црвенонога тринга and обична бекасина , rarer migrants such as шумска тринга, мал свиркач, белокрстен свиркач and бојник , as well as occasional vagrants such as Long-billed Dowitcher, White-rumped Sandpiper and Semipalmated Sandpiper.

Rare terns such as белокрила рибарка and Elegant Tern are also seen occasionally mixing with the larger tern colonies in the spring and summer, and the reedy fringes of the lake attract various herons including rarer species such as голема бела чапја, ибис and чапја лажичарка, particularly in the spring and winter. Winter is the best time to look for ducks such as морски кожувар and црвеноглав кожувар, and grebes on the open water.

Details

Access

By road, the area is best accessed off the main N25 road between Wexford and Rosslare, turning off in the village of Tagoat onto the L3060 signposted Lady's Island and Broadway. Follow this minor road for 4 km until you come to the village of Lady's Island, where there is plenty of parking space at the northern end of the lake.

The 378 bus from Wexford town will bring passengers to Lady's Island village. A cycle ride from Rosslare Harbour (which is serviced by ferries to/from the UK, France and Spain) would take about 30 minutes.

The southern end of the lake is a little more difficult to access and only by car or bicycle. The southeast corner can be accessed by continuing through Lady's Island village, taking a right at the Lobster Pot pub and continuing along this narrow road until the road eventually turns into a dirt track. Cars can park just beyond here with views of the lake and access to the beach though larger vehicles are restricted at this point from proceeding any further. The southwest corner of the lake can be accessed by returning along the L3060 from Lady's Island village, taking the first left to Broadway, and then another left shortly after signposted to Tacumshin. Follow this road for about 3.5 km until you come to a wide crossroads and take a left to Rostoonstown. Follow this road until the end. Click on a P in the map to get directions.

Terrain and Habitat

Lake , Mud flats , Reedbeds , Sea , Beach

Conditions

Flat

Circular trail

Yes

Is a telescope useful?

Yes

Good birding season

All year round

Best time to visit

Autumn migration , Summer

Route

Wide path

Difficulty walking trail

Easy

Accessible by

Foot , Bicycle , Car

Birdwatching hide / platform

No

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