Much of the Copper Coast's clifftop habitat is covered by the Mid-Waterford Coast SPA. This (SPA) is a European designation under the EU Birds Directive, designed to protect rare and vulnerable bird species.
The SPA Mid-Waterford Coast stretches from Newtown Cove in the east to Ballyvoyle in the west, covering around 937 hectares of high coast and sea cliffs across the entire length of the Geopark.
The chough is a member of the crow family with glossy black plumage, a curved red bill and bright red legs. It is one of our rarest breeding birds with less than 900 breeding pairs estimated to live in Ireland.
Choughs need coastal grassland for feeding (they probe the turf for insects and larvae) and cliff crevices or caves for nesting. The craggy cliffs of Copper Coast are thus perfect for supporting a breeding population, but they are sensitive to disturbance and habitat loss.
The fastest animal on the planet, capable of diving at speeds over 300 km/hr. Peregrines nest on hidden cliff ledges along the Copper Coast. After decades of persecution and pesticide-related decline, peregrines have made a strong recovery in Ireland and can often be seen around the coast and inland.
Cormorant’s are large, dark seabirds often seen standing on rocks with their wings spread to dry. Cormorants nest in colonies on the cliffs and feed by diving for fish near the shore. They can dive up to 45 metres.
The herring gull is a familiar sight and sound along the Irish coast. Despite their abundance, herring gull populations have declined significantly across Europe, earning them protected status.
The tide pools at the base of the cliffs are rich in marine life: anemones, crabs, starfish, and various molluscs. These intertidal zones provide feeding grounds for wading birds and are fascinating to explore at low tide.
Inland from the coast, the heathland and grassland habitats support species like the Marsh Fritillary butterfly, one of Ireland’s most threatened butterflies and protected under EU Fenor Bog is a great place to see these.
The Ann Valley, which runs from Dunhill down to Annestown beach, is one of Ireland’s best examples of community-led biodiversity restoration.
In the early 1990s, the Annestown Stream was described by Inland Fisheries Ireland as a “dirty drain.” Agricultural runoff from dairy, beef and tillage farms, combined with sewage from Dunhill village, had severely polluted the water.
The turnaround came through a project led by scientist Dr Rory Harrington, working with 12 local farmers and supported by Waterford County Council, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, and EU funding.
Instead of expensive engineered treatment plants, they built a network of Integrated Constructed Wetlands (ICWs). These are a series of interconnected ponds planted with reeds and sedges that naturally filter and purify farmyard runoff and sewage before it reaches the stream.
The results have been remarkable and water quality in the Dunhill sub-catchment has improved from “Poor” to “Moderate” status. Otters (once unheard of) now use the wetland while Herons and kingfishers hunt along the stream. Trout and even salmon have come back.
For visitors, the Ann Valley Walk follows the stream for 5km between Dunhill and Annestown, passing through the restored wetlands. The walk is fully accessible and is popular with locals and visitors alike
Pollution and Pressure On Our Biodiversity
The Copper Coast and the wider southeast of Ireland face real environmental pressures.
The southeast is one of Ireland’s most intensively farmed regions and dairy, beef, sheep and tillage farming place pressure on coastal water quality.
Excess nitrogen and phosphorus from fertilisers and animal manure wash into streams and coastal waters, causing algal blooms and reducing oxygen levels.
According to EPA monitoring, nitrate concentrations in the south and southeast remain too high, and the region has seen little improvement despite various action programmes.
What Visitors Can Do
If you are visiting the Copper Coast and want to help protect its biodiversity, here are a three simple things you can do:
- Take 3 for the Sea. Whenever you leave a beach, take three pieces of litter with you.
- Keep your distance from nesting birds. If you see birds on the cliffs showing signs of agitation (head bobbing, loud calls, flying off) you are too close. Choughs and other cliff-nesting birds are easily disturbed, and disturbance during nesting season can cause eggs to be knocked from ledges or chicks to be abandoned.
- Leave no trace. Take all your rubbish home with you. There is no excuse not to.
