Coastal Habitats

County Meath has the second shortest coastline in Ireland; 21km, all of which is classified as soft coast. An example of a coastal habitat is the Boyne Estuary.

The Boyne Estuary

This area is a wildfowl sanctuary and a Special Protection Area (SPA). Some examples of species found in this area, as set out in the National Parks and Wildlife Service site synopsis, are as follows;

Eelgrass (Zostera spp.)
Seapurslane (Halimone portulacoides)
Common Saltmarsh-grass (Puccinelliamaritima)
Sea Plantain (Plantago martima)
Lax-flowered sea-lavender (Limonium humile)
Glasswort (Salicoma spp)
Common Cord-grass (Spartina anglico)

The following wintering birds are found at this site;

Shelduck
Oystercatcher
Golden Plover
Grey Plover
Lapwing
Knot
Sanderling
Black-tailed Godwit
Redshank
Turnstone

Further information on this site is available from the National Parks & Wildlife Service.