A Goosander hunts for fish on the Castletown River in Dundalk, Ireland

Bird Watching Dundalk

 

Dundalk is highly regarded as a superb bird watching site in Ireland. The Castletown River enters the sea at Dundalk Harbour.  There is an extensive tidal bay that makes this one of the best bird watching locations in Ireland. There are several birding sites worth visiting, especially a couple of hours either side of high tide. A path runs along the river from the Newry Road to the Tain Bridge. Here you will see a large variety of waders, ducks and gulls. From Tain Bridge, you can follow the road to Dundalk Docks where the mudflats are exposed at low tide. Finally, you can walk from the docks to Navvy Bank Walk. This follows the estuary all the way to Soldiers Point. This area is good for birds in flight. A Forsters Tern has been spending summer here for several years.

There is a large carpark at the Long Walk shopping centre which is located here: 54.006090, -6.404064 . Turn left when you leave the carpark and keep going until you get to the river. It is less than 10 minutes away. You can also park in Dundalk Docks which is located here 54.009071, -6.391311 .

Soldiers Point lies at the tip of the estuary of the Castletown River in Dundalk. This is a large tidal estuary and a great place to continue your bird watching. You will see gulls, terns, waders, ducks, and geese. Search Google Maps for Soldiers Point, Dundalk. This will take you to the end of a cul-de-sac where you can park and take the pathway at the end of the road. The path takes you back up along the estuary towards Dundalk. Sat Nav co-ordinates are 54.008275, -6.349086 .

Dundalk is only a 35 minute drive from Mornington