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County Sligo

Common Redshank Tringa totanus ©Ashley Beolens Website

County Sligo (meaning Shelly River) is a small county in the province of Connacht in the west of Ireland. Covering an area of just 1,838 km2 (710 square miles) it is bordered to the west by Mayo, to the south by Roscommon, and the east by Leitrim. It has just over 70,000 residents. The county town is Sligo which houses almost a third of the county’s people.

It is noted for Benbulben Mountain, one of Ireland’s most distinctive natural landmarks (where the poet Yeats is buried). Its rivers include the Ballisodare River, Duff River, River Garavogue, River Moy and Owenmore River and the largest lakes are Lough Arrow, Lough Cloonacleigha, Lough Easky, Lough Gara, Lough Gill, Lough Glencar, Lough Skean, Lough Talt and Lough Templehouse.

The Sligo Coast is part of the scenic Wild Atlantic Way with rocky coastal areas, dunes, unspoiled sandy beaches and dramatic flat-topped Benbulben Mountain and the Knocknarea Mountains.

Ben Bulben – ©Jon Sullivan Public Domain via Wikimedia

It’s no wonder the county inspired the likes of Yeats and Sally Rooney author of Normal People and the filmmakers who shot the television series in Sligo too.

Sligo Coastline – ©Aonghus Flynn CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Birding County Sligo

Ballygilgan (Lissadell) Nature Reserve is best known for its goose spectacle during the winter months. In Summer the pasture is grazed by cattle and sheep, but in winter it becomes essential grazing flock of around 3,000 Barnacle Geese, which arrive in late October and leave during April. They usually roost o0vernight on Inishmurray Island. The freshwater pond also attracts other waterfowl and waders, and a cereal patch at the east end of the reserve attracts wintering finches and buntings. It is one of the best sites in Ireland for seeing these geese in winter.

Ballygilgan  – ©Racheldavis23 CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Lough Arrow is a freshwater lake that holds number of duck species during winter at including Mallard, Wigeon, Teal, Red-breasted Merganser, Tufted Duck, Pochard and Goldeneye. Other bird species found at the lake include Great-crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Cormorant and Mute Swan.

Easkey Bog Nature Reserve is one of the few extensive areas of intermediate blanket bogs in the country. It stretches between lowland and mountain blanket bog; the area grades into mountain blanket bog to the south while an extensive area of lowland blanket bog occurs about 2 km to the west. It is one of the few places in the county where all three blanket bog types are more or less juxtaposed. Red Grouse and Curlew can be found and Golden Plover are present during the winter when they visit from Iceland. The Irish Hare also makes its home there.

Lough Gill – ©Niallio77 CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Part of Union woods belongs to the National Parks and Wildlife Service and is designated a nature reserve. It contains one of the largest remaining native Oak Woodlands in the area. Much of Union wood is managed for timber, as well as biodiversity and recreation. Mammals that live here include a recovering population of Pine Marten, Red Squirrel, Badger, Fox, several bat species and Fallow Deer. Birds include Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Jay, Raven, Goldcrest, Treecreeper, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk. Buzzards are occasionally seen soaring over the trees. A good insect population live on the dead wood, native trees and the nearby wetlands, lakes and river, including a good variety of butterflies and dragonflies. and bat boxes have been installed on some trees to provide nesting and roosting places.

Top Sites

  • Lough Arrow

    InformationSatellite View
    Lough Arrow is a freshwater lake in the northwest of Ireland. A number of duck species winter at the lake including mallard, wigeon, teal, red-breasted merganser, tufted duck, pochard and goldeneye. Other bird species found at the lake include great crested grebe, little grebe, cormorant and mute swan.
Number of Species

  • Number of bird species: 245

    (As at March 2026)
Checklist

  • Avibase

    PDF Checklist
    This checklist includes all bird species found in Sligo , based on the best information available at this time. It is based on a wide variety of sources that I collated over many years. I am pleased to offer these checklists as a service to birdwatchers. If you find any error, please do not hesitate to report them.

  • eBird

    PDF Checklist
    This checklist is generated with data from eBird (ebird.org), a global database of bird sightings from birders like you. If you enjoy this checklist, please consider contributing your sightings to eBird. It is 100% free to take part, and your observations will help support birders, researchers, and conservationists worldwide.
Useful Reading

  • Birds of Ireland - A Field Guide

    | By Jim Wilson | Gill Books | 2024 | Edition 2 | Paperback | 288 pages, 1600+ colour photos, colour distribution maps | ISBN: 9781804580721 Buy this book from NHBS.com

  • Finding Birds in Ireland - The Complete Guide

    | By Eric Dempsey & Michael O'Clery | Gill Books | 2014 | Edition 2 | Paperback | 389 pages, 300 colour photos, colour maps | ISBN: 9780717159253 Buy this book from NHBS.com
Organisations

  • BirdWatch Ireland - Sligo Branch

    Facebook Page
    @birdwatch.sligo - BirdWatch Sligo is the Sligo branch of BirdWatch Ireland, dedicated to the conservation of Irish birds and the rich biodiversity that supports them. It holds a monthly talk and Outing. Both are free and non-members of BirdWatch Ireland are welcome. Here is the list of upcoming events scheduled for the next couple of months. This page is updated frequently, so check back often to stay up to date… Also see the Twitter Page.

  • Birdwatch Sligo

    Xfeed
    BirdWatch Sligo is the Sligo branch of BirdWatch Ireland, dedicated to the conservation of Irish birds and the rich biodiversity that supports them
Reserves

Abbreviations Key

  • NR Ballygilgan (Lissadell)

    WebpageSatellite View
    A large grass field sloping south-westwards from the public road from Carney to Lissadell to the shore of Drumcliff Bay. About 3000 Barnacle Geese arrive in October to spend the winter in North Sligo. The Ballygilgan Nature Reserve is one of the best sites in Ireland for seeing these geese in winter. The geese breed in Greenland in the summer and spend the winter in Ireland. They graze in Lissadell – Maugherow area every winter until April, spending every night on the island of Inishmurray.

  • NR Easkey Bog

    WebpageSatellite View
    This is one of the few extensive areas of intermediate blanket bogs in the country. It stretches between lowland and mountain blanket bog; the area grades into mountain blanket bog to the south while an extensive area of lowland blanket bog occurs about 2 km to the west. It is one of the few places in the county where all three blanket bog types are more or less juxtaposed. Red Grouse and Curlew can be found and Golden Plover can be found here only during the winter when they visit from Iceland. The Irish Hare also makes its home here.

  • NR Union Wood

    WebpageSatellite View
    Part of Union Wood belongs to National Parks and Wildlife Service, and contains one of the largest remaining native Oak Woodlands in this area. Much of Union Wood is owned by Coillte and managed for timber, biodiversity and recreation. Mammals that live here include Pine Marten, Red Squirrel, Badger, Fos, Bats and Fallow Deer. Birds include Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Jay, Raven, Goldcrest, Treecreeper, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk. Buzzards are occasionally seen soaring over the trees. A good insect population live on the dead wood, native trees and nearby wetlands, lakes and river, including beautiful butterflies and dragonflies.
Sightings, News & Forums
Guides & Tour Operators

  • Ewing's Sligo Boat Charters

    Boat Trips
    Sligo Bay is a mecca for birdwatchers, and visitors can pick up one of the on-board identification guides and try to spot some of the local birds such as the common tern, guillemots, cormorants, black-backed gulls, herring gulls, black-headed gulls, razorbills, Brent geese, herons, gannets, puffins, corncrakes, great and artic skuas. The trip also includes live commentary by the skipper.

  • Wilderness Ireland

    Tour Operator
    Counties Sligo & Donegal, on the northwest of the Wild Atlantic Way, are one of Ireland secret hidden gems. Remote and off-the-beaten-path, Sligo and Donegal are world-renowned for surfing, recognised as the coolest place on Earth by National Geographic, and a mecca for outdoor adventures.
Places to Stay

  • Mount Edward Lodge

    Accommodation
    Mount Edward Lodge is located in one of the best mainland areas to watch wintering Barnacle Geese. They are most regularly seen from October to April each year at Lissadell, Raghly and Cloonagh.

  • Sligo Sea Barn

    Accommodation
    Experience the ultimate luxury getaway in our exquisite self-catering villa, nestled in the heart of the enchanting Sligo, Ireland. Exclusively yours. Barnacle Geese visit us every year from Greenland from mid-October to late April. A walkway provides direct access to view the geese.
Photographers & Artists

  • Artist - Michael O'Clery

    Gallery
    Last updated 2013

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