Ballygilgan (Lissadell) Nature Reserve
Longitude: -8.549
The Goose Field!In Summer an ordinary improved pasture grazed by cattle and sheep, managed by NPWS. In Winter essential grazing site for a large flock of Barnacle Geese (c. 3000), the winter freshwater pond also attracts other waterfowl and waders, and a cereal patch at the east end attracts wintering finches and buntings. |
Machaire na nGéanna!Sa Samhradh bíonn eallach agus caoirigh ag innilt ar an talamh féaraigh feabhasaithe seo atá a riarú ag an NPWS. Sa Gheimhreadh is suíomh riachtanach é do scuaine mhór géanna giúrainneacha (timpeaall 3000). Bíonn éanlaith uisce eile agus lapairí ag tarraingt ar uisce úr an locháin agus meallann an leadhb thalún coerce glasáin agus gealóga. |
WelcomeAbout 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. |
FáilteTagann thart ar 3000 gé ghiúrainn I mí Dheireadh Fómhair chun an gheimhrid a chaitheamh anseo I dtuaisceart Shlighigh. Tá Tearmann Dúlra Bhaile Uí Ghiollagáin ar cheann de na suímh is fearr in Éireann chun na géanna seo a fheiceáil sa gheimhreadh. Poráionn na géanna sa Ghraonlainn sa samhradh agus caitheann said an geimhreadh in Éirinn. Bíonn said ag innilt I gceantar Lios an Daill – Mhachaire Rua gach geimhreadh go dtí mí Aibreáin. Caitheann said gach aon oíche ar oileán Inis Múírigh. |
Where is the ‘Goosefield’?The goosefield or Seafield, as it’s known locally, is 30 hectares of improved pasture beside Lissadell, about 10 kilometres north-west of Sligo town. The Reserve is west of the village of Carney on the shore of Drumcliff Bay, Special Area of Conservation, between the road and Lissadell Strand. “At dawn and dusk, large skeins (V shape) of geese fly from and to Inishmurray.“ One of the most spectacular sights imaginable on a fine winter’s evening”. The Ballygilgan Nature Reserve was created for the protection of Barnacle Geese which have wintered in the area for centuries, but whose numbers had dwindled. These strikingly handsome “black and white” geese breed in eastern Greenland and migrate each autumn (via Iceland) to winter in Ireland and Scotland, returning along the same route back to Greenland in the spring. Sometimes up to 100 Brent geese, usually coastal feeders, join their ‘cousins’ on the goosefield. There is a seasonal pond in the Goosefield Nature Reserve, which is used for bathing and drinking by the Barnacles. In addition, the ponds attract a large flock of Teal and Wigeon, as well as regular Shoveler and Pintail. A wide range of waders use the ponds and field, such as Redshank, Greenshank, Oystercatcher, Bar-tailed Godwits, Golden Plover, Lapwing and Dunlin. At the eastern end of the Goosefield, a small areas has been planted with seed-bearing crops for wild birds such as oats & linseed, as well as brassicas and wild flowers. One October, around 600 Chaffinches, 50 Brambling, 100 Greenfinches and Goldfinches were counted. |
Cá bhfuil ‘Machaire na nGéanna’? . . .Is 30 heicteár talaimh féaraigh feabhsaithe in aice Lios an Daill 10 gciliméadar ó bhaile Shligigh Machaire na nGéanna nó ‘Seafield’ mar a ghlaotar air go haitiúil i mBéarla. Tá an Tearmann suite taobh thiar de shráidbhaile Fhearann Uí Chearnaigh ar chladach Bhá Dhroim Chliabh. Is limistéar speisialta caomhantais é suite idir an bother agus Trá Lios an Daill.“Le breachadh an lae agus ag titim na hoíche eitlíonn scataí móra géanna i bhfoirm V ó agus go Inis Muirígh. Ceann de na radharcanna is suntasaí le feiceáil ar tráthnóna breá geimhridh.” Cruthaíodh Tearmann Dúlra Bhaile Uí Ghillagáin mar chosaint do ghéanna giúrainneacha a bhíonn ag caitheamh an geimhridh sa cheantar se oar feadh na gcéadta bliain ach bhí a n-uimhreacha ag dul I léig de réir a chéile. Poraíonn na géanna áille dubha agus bána seo in oirthear na Graonlainne. Déanann said imirce tríd an Ioslainn go hÉirinn agus go hAlbain gach fómhar chun an gheimhridh a chaitheamh san tíortha seo. Déanann said an turas céanna ar ais go dtí an Ghraonlainn san earrach. Uaireanta bíonn suas go 100 gé dhubh a fhaigheanna a gcuid bia ar an gcosta le feiceáil lena gcolceathracha ar mhachaire na ngéanna. Tá lochán séasúrtha ar Thearmann Dúlra Mhachaire na nGéanna, a n-úsáideann na géanna giúrainneacha le folcadh agus le hól. Chomh maith le sin, tarraingíonn an lochán scuaine mhór praslachan, agus lachain rua, chomh maith le spadalaigh agus gnáth-bhiorearraigh. Bíonn réimse leathan lapairí ag baint úsáisw as na locháin agus as an Mhachaire. Ina measc siúd bíonn glúinigh dearga, laidhríní, roilligh, guibnigh, feadóga sléibhe, pilibíní agus cearca gainimh (breacóga). Ag an taobh thoir de Mhachaire na nGéanna, cuireadh barraí ar limistéar beag I gcóir na n-éan fiáin. Tá coerce, ros, maraon le brassicas agus bláthanna fiáine. I mí Dheireadh Fómhair amháin comhraíodh thart ar 600 gealbhán cátha, 50 breacán, 100 glasán darach agus Iasair choille. |
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Farm ManagementThe Barnacle geese which winter in north Sligo from October to April is Ireland’s biggest mainland flock. It increased from a vulnerable low of 250 around 1970 to over 3000 today, due to improved winter nutrition and protection from hunting, and possible climatic changes on the ecology of the breeding grounds in Greenland. The improved pasture is grazed by cattle and sheep in summer. Good grassland management ensures the sward is in optimal condition for the geese when they arrive. The grazing livestock are removed in autumn and the geese have the Reserve to themselves for the winter. There is a bird hide for viewing them in the Coillte Woodland at the West (Lissadell) end of the field. The flock generally spends the early winter at the goosefield and some of the later winter in the Ballyconnell/Ballintemple Special Protection Area for birds 6 km to the west, north-east of Raghly Point. |
Bainistíocht feirmeIs iad na géanna giúrainneacha a chaitheann an geimhreadh I dtuaisceart Shligigh ó Dheireadh Fómhair go Aibreán an scuaine mórthíre is mó in Éirinn. Mhéadaigh said ó lion íseal 250 sa bhlian 1970 go níos mó ná 3000 sa lá atá inniu ann. Tharla seo de bharr cothaithe geimhridh feabhsaithe, de bharr cosanta ó shealgaireacht agus b’fhéidir athraithe aeráide ar éiceolaíocht na gceantracha poraíthe sa Ghraonlainn. Bíonn eallach agus caoirigh ag innilt ar an talamh féaraigh feabhsaithe sa samhradh. Má bhíonn bainistíocht mhaith ar an talamh féaraigh is fearr leibhéal an fhéir do theacht na ngéanna. Cuirtear an eallach innilte amach san fhómhar agus bíonn an Tearmann oscailte do ghéanna amháin i rith an gheimhridgh. Tá bothán folacháin ar Thalamh Coille de chuid Coillte ag taobh thiar (de Lios an Daill) den mhachaire chun breathnú ar na géanna. De ghnáth caitheann an scuaine tús an gheimhridh ar Mhacaire an nGéanna agus ag deireadh an gheimhridh ar Limistéar Speisialta Cosanta d’éanlaith i mBaile Chonaill/Baile an Teampaill, 6 chiliméadar siar agus soir aduaidh ó Ghob Reachla. |
| Please remember that they are wild geese, and easily disturbed or flushed. For Further information contact National Parks & Wildlife Service Office Tel: 071 9666700. | Cuimhnigh le do thoil gur géanna fiáine iad seo agus is furasta cur as díobh nó iad a scanrú chun siúil.Chun tuilleadh eolais a fháil dean teagmháil le Oifig Sheirbhíse Páirceanna Náisiúnta agus Fiadhúlra. Fón: 071 9666700. |
Easkey Bog Nature Reserve
Longitude: -8.811
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.
Union Wood Nature Reserve
Longitude: -8.4833
Welcome - Sligo’s Oak WoodsPart of Union woods belongs to National Parks and Wildlife Service, and contains one of the largest remaining native Oak Woodlands in the area. Much of Union wood is owned by Coillte and managed for timber, biodiversity and recreation.
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Fáilte - Coillte Darach ShlighighIs le Seirbhís Páirceanna Náisiúnta agus Fiadhúlra cuid de Choill na hInneona agus is inti a bhfuil na Coillte Talaimh Darach Dúchasach is mó sa cheantar. Is le Coillte cuid mhór de Choill na hInneona agus déantar bainistíocht uirthi ó thaobh adhmaid, ilghnéitheacht beatha agus caitheamh aimsire.
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Who lives in the woods?Mammals that live here include Pine Marten, Red Squirrel, Badger, Fox, 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 the nearby wetlands, lakes and river, including beautiful butterflies and dragonflies. |
Cé a mhaireann sna Coillte?I measc na sineach a mhaireann anseo tá an cat crainn, an t-iora rua, an broc, an madra rua, an sciathán leathair agus an fia buí. I measc na n-éan tá an ceolaire sailí, an tiuf-teaf, and screáchóg choille, an fiach dubh, an cíorbhuí, an snag, an pocaire gaoithe agus an spéirsheabhac. Feictear clamháin ó am go ham ag éirí ar an aer os cionn na gcrann. Maireann daonra mór feithidí chomh maith le feileacáin agus snáthaidí móra ar an adhmad marbh, ar na crainn dhúchasacha, ar na taillte fliucha in aice láimhe, ar na lochanna agus ar an abhann. |
Trees and PlantsApart from Sessile Oak, other trees include native Ash, Scots Pine, Downy Birch, Holly, Rowan, Hazel, Hawthorn and Blackthorn. The ground flora is characteristic of an acidic woodland: Greater woodrush is abundant, and Bilberry, Wood sorrel, Bluebell, Ramsons (Wild Garlic) and numerous lichens and ferns are present. |
Crainn agus plandaíTaobh amuigh den dair neamhghásanach tá crain eile mar an fhuinseog dhúchasach, an péine Albanach, an behith chlúmhach, an cuileann, an caorthann, an coll, an sceach gheal agus an draighneán donn. Tá an fásra talon mar aon dul le talamh coille aigéadaigh: Ta an giúnach mór flúirseach maraon le fraochán, seamair choille, cloigíní gorma, creamh (gairleog fhiáin) agus tá go leor léicean agus raithní ann freisin. |
Oak Wood RegenerationThe National Parks and Wildlife Service have carried out a series of conservation works:
This will allow the regeneration and continuation of our fantastic Oak Woods for the future. |
Athghiniúint Coille DaraíTá sraith oibreacha caomhantais déanta ag Seirbhís Páirceanna Náisiúnta agus Fiadhúlra:
Ligfidh an obair seo athghiniúint agus fás leanúna ár gCoillte Darach iontacha san am atá le teacht. |
WildlifeTread quietly! You might be lucky to see a deer or red squirrel. Bird and bat boxes are on some trees to provide nesting and roosting places. Jays – Oak Tree Culitivators! Did you know that Jays collect and bury acorns for the winter hungry months? The ones they forget, grow into Oak Trees! Pine Martens (The ‘Tree Cat’ – Cait Crann – in Irish) have come back from the verge of extinction and are now plentiful in Sligo and Leitrim. |
FiadhúlraSiúil go ciúin! – b’fheider go mbeadh an t-adh ort fia nó iora rua a fheiceáil. Chuireadh suas boscaí d’éin agus do sciatháin leathair ar chrainn áirithe I gcóir neadacha nó chun dul ar fara. Scréachóga Coille – Saothraí Crann Darach! An raibh a fhios agat? Bailíonn na scréachóga coille garbháin agus cuireann said sa talamh iad do mhíonna ocracha an gheimhridh. Fásann na cinn a ndéanann said dearmad orthu ina gcrainn darach. Tá na cait chrainn (Pine Martins) fliúirseach arís i gContaetha Shligigh agus Liatroma cé go raibh said are tí imeacht in éag. |
| For Further information contact National Parks & Wildlife Service Office. Tel: 071 9666700. | Chun tuilleadh eolais a fháil dean teagmháil le Oifig Sheirbhíse Páirceanna Náisiúnta agus Fiadhúlra. Fón 071 9666700. |
