Bird Watching Dublin

Sandymount Strand stretches from Sean O’Casey Park near the village of Sandymount, to the Merrion Road at Merrion Gates on the south side of Dublin. It is part of the Dublin Bay Biosphere Reserve and one of the best bird watching sites in Dublin. At high tide the sea comes right up to the road. Low tide exposes a flat sandy beach that extends for almost 2 kilometres to the sea. The area attracts a large variety of gulls and waders. In summer time it is a popular roosting area for Terns and it is not unusual to see thousands of terns roosting along the beach at low tide.

There are 3 public car parks at the following co-ordinates: 53.328438, -6.208788 and 53.324327, -6.206746 and 53.321747, -6.206218.

At the south end of the beach you can get back onto the road and walk as far as the Merrion Gates railway crossing. Here, you can access the beach at Merrion Strand where there are mudflats and some grassland. NOTE: Be careful if you walk all the way out on the exposed sand to watch for the incoming tide! At the North end of the beach is the entrance to Sean Moore Park which offers different opportunities for birding. There is a path along the shoreline that takes you all the way to the Poolbeg Lighthouse at the end of the Great South Wall. Allow yourself plenty of time if you want to take this walk as it is a 10 Kilometre round trip. Alternatively, you can drive to the Great South Wall parking area.