The Dingle Peninsula is a natural haven for nature lovers and particularly Bird Watching.

With the spectacular backdrop of the Slieve Mish Mountains, Brandon Mountain Range, Tralee Bay, Brandon Bay, Dingle Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, the range of flora and fauna, time spent enjoying identifying the variety of birds is relaxation time well spent!

Bird Watching
The major focus of birding interest in the area are the Seabird colonies, both of cliff and flat islands. The high islands and cliffs – the Blasket Islands, the Skelligs, Puffin Island – have major pelagic seabird colonies, including the main world population of the European Storm Petrel. Inishtooskert in particular has a very significant Auk colony.

The low lying island of Beginish in the Blasket Islands and the Maharees Islands are unusual in that they are important in having both wintering and breeding species of great interest. In the winter these islands hold significant numbers of Barnacle Geese from the Nearctic. Most of Ireland's wild fowl come from the Nearctic. In the summer these same islands are important breeding grounds for Terns, and some years have all five species of Ireland's breeding Terns.
In trips around the islands the most exciting birds are Puffins which are predated by Great Blackbacks. The breeding Manx Shearwaters can be seen around these same islands. On passage great rafts of Sooty Shearwaters and occasional Great Shearwaters can also be sighted. The best site for observing Great Shearwaters in autumnal passage is Brandon Point. It's the most consistent such site in Europe. The Great Shearwater breeds only on Tristan Da Cunha in the South Atlantic.

Especially rewarding sites for birdwatching are the saltmarshes and mudflats of Inch and the fresh water lagoon of Lough Gill near Castlegregory. They hold large populations of waders and wild fowl. Lough Gill is particularly famous for its wintering population of the Gadwall Duck, and Whooper and Bewick Swans. In the open surf zones of the great beaches can be seen wintering Scoters. Tralee Bay and Castlemaine Harbour also hold a major population of Pale-bellied Brent Geese.