SITE SYNOPSIS
 
SITE NAME:  WEXFORD SLOBS AND HARBOUR    

SITE CODE:  000712
 

Below Wexford the Slaney river opens out into an extensive shallow estuary which dries out considerably at low tide.  The eaward 
side is protected by the Raven and Rosslare Points and behind these the North and South Slobs, consisting of two empoldered 
areas of farmland behind nineteenths century sea-walls.  The reclaimed land is predominantly pasture and arable; flat, large, 
treeless fields give the area an open quality which many of the waterfowl species are dependant on.  Extensive marshes occur 
around the inner northern part of the harbour, to the west of Castlebridge. 

The original NNR on the North Slob of 110 ha., now a Ramsar site and an SPA, has been extended by a further 84 ha.  The Raven 
(589 ha.) has been separately designated as a NNR and Ramsar site.  Recently the whole site has been proposed as one SPA 
and Ramsar site. 

The primary interest of the Slobs and Habour is its wintering birdlife.  Counts for the late eighties (Grimmet and Jones 1989) show 
internationally important numbers of Cygnus columbianus (3-yr. av. max. 168; max. 700), Anser albifrons flavirostris (5-yr. av. max. 
7581; max. 11,000; most important wintering site inthe world), Branta bernicla hrota (4-yr. av. max. 1245; max. 2000) and nationally 
important numbers of Anas penelope (3-yr. av. max. 4842), A. platyrhynchos (2500), Pluvialis apricaria (8400), Vanellus vanellus 
(22,000) and Limosa limosa islandica (3-yr. av. max. 816; max. 2400).  More recent counts of the site are available but, except for 
the goose species, coverage of the three major subsites has not been synchronised (Sheppard 1993) and count totals for the entire 
site have not therefore been produced.  In general the status of individual species has probably not changed significantly in the 
interim, with the exceptions of L. limosa and A. penelope which may now qualify as internationally important and ducks which as a 
group have decreased since the 1970s (Sheppard 1993).  The protected flora species, Borrer's Salt-marsh Grass, Puccenellia 
fasceculata, which is confined to S.E. Ireland, is found along the channels of the North Slob NNR.

The Raven NNR is important for its large number of dune slacks and as a site for four species of rare vascular plants (Pyrola 
rotundifolia ssp. maritima, Centaurium pulchellum, Epipactis phyllanthes, Monotropa hypopitys).   

A rich invertebrate fauna occurs onthe beach and in the dunes, including species sensitive to disturbance that have disappeared
elsewhere.
 

15th February 1995.