Doonbeg Bay and adjacent lake is one of Ireland's few coastal wildlife preserves. The bay is the only one of its type on the West coast of Ireland. Doonbeg Bay is a sheltered cove with seaweed shores, making it an ideal breeding ground for a variety of bird species as well as providing ample feeding for native and migratory birds.

Flocks of visiting waders, such as dunlins, godwits, redshank, oyster catchers and turnstone roost and

shelter in the area and feed in the seaweed river estuary. The shoreline fields and lake swamplands are home to lapwing golden plover, ringed plover, curlew, a variety of gulls, cormorants, divers, whooper swans, duck and the elusive kingfisher.
Other great places to watch a variety of birds are Poulnasherry Bay and Loophead.