Where
Drumcliff Estuary is to be found about 10 Kilometres north of  Sligo town.

When
Between late August and April


Introduction
Drumcliffe Estuary is the northernmost of the complex of estuaries  which comprise Sligo Harbour. Flowing into the bay from the east, the Drumcliffe River forms a muddy estuary bordered by a long sand spit at the seaward  end.


Birds
The best place to start is at the bridge  of the N15 over the Drumcliff River. Kingfisher,  Dipper and Grey Wagtails are frequently seen here. The main estuary holds a diverse range of birds: a  small flock of Brent Geese, Teal, Wigeon,  a few Goldeneyes and Red-breasted Mergansers in the deeper channels, Oystercatcher, Ringed  Plover, one or two Grey Plovers, Knot, Dunlin, Redshank,  Greenshank, Bar-tailed Godwit, Curlew  and large numbers of Black-headed and Common Gulls. In late summer and early autumn a Curlew Sandpiper or Ruff may be seen with the flocks of Dunlin. The Lissadell goose field is situated  in the north west of the estuary. As mentioned in the Ballyconnell site guide, around  1,800 Barnacle Geese spend their winters in County Sligo, moving between Ballyconnell and Lissadell. There is a small pond,  which attracts a large flock of Teal and Wigeon, as well as regular Shoveler and Pintail. Near the  goose field there is a field that has been sown with wild flowers, and these attracted a very large flock of finches in 2003;  around 600 Chaffinches, 50 Brambling, 100 Greenfinches  and Goldfinches were counted there in October  of that year. In winter, Redwing and Fieldfare can also be seen on these fields. In summer, the nearby broadleaf woodland  surrounding Lissadell House holds Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Spotted  Flycatcher. South of Lissadell House, a sandspit stretches north of Rosses Point  for around 2 kilometres. Most of the waders and terns occurring in Drumcliff Estuary roost here and occasionally attract a  Peregrine. The dunes themselves can hold up to  50 Snow Buntings in winter. A few Sanderling feed along the surf at the seaward side of the sandspit.


Access by Car
Lissadell is reached by taking the N15 north from Sligo town to the village of Drumcliff and taking the turn for Carney here. In Carney, take a left turn to  Raghly. Continue on this road for around 2 Kilometres, parking at the entrance to the Lissadell estate. Kintogher is reached  by taking the R291 towards Rosses Point  for 4 kilometres from Sligo town. Take the signposted turn for Cregg House. Continue on this road  for 600 metres, taking a right hand turn at the T-junction. Follow this road for a further 1 kilometre, taking a left at the  T-junction and another left after around 50 metres. The sandspit at the end of Drumcliff Estuary is reached by going to Cregg  House, but taking a left turn instead of a right (as for Kintogher). Follow this road for 4.5 kilometres, taking a right turn  down a small track past a house. This track continues down to the shore, but it is best to park near the house.


Access by Public Transport
There are two daily bus services on weekdays to Lissadell. See  Bus Eireann's website for departure times. Several daily buses serve Drumcliff and it is around 3 kilometres on foot to Lissadell from here.  The best way to get to the sandspit at the end of Drumcliff estuary, is to get a bus to Rosses Point and walk north along  the beach.


Viewpoints
The Lissadell goose field has a hide at its western end. The hide is reached by parking the car at the entrance  to Lissadell house and walking back towards the goose field. Close to the field, a relatively muddy track leads through the  forest to the Hide.


Maps and Photos
Drumcliff Estuary and Lissadell are covered by Ordnance Survey Ireland, Discovery Series Map 16.