Sligo's Birding Sites:
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(9) Sligo Harbour
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Where
Sligo Harbour is located approximately 2 kilometres west of Sligo town
When
Between late August and April
Introduction
Sligo Harbour is the middle of three estuaries, which together comprise Sligo Bay. As is the case with the other two estuaries, it has only a relatively small river flowing into it, which creates a large mudflat in the bay. In the upper reaches of the estuary the shoreline is dominated by the industry and housing of Sligo town, while farming dominates the lower reaches. At the entrance to Sligo Harbour lies Coney Island. Consisting mainly of dunes, it has some housing on the eastern part.
Birds
This site covers a very large area and can be divided into five distinct areas.
(1) Silver Swan Bay: This area is located between the Hughes and Hyde bridges. Due to the scouring action of the river, this part consists mostly of bedrock. Cormorant, Shag, up to 30 Mute Swans, Mallard and Red-breasted Merganser are usually present in winter. Occasionally, Redshank and Curlew can be found on the muddier parts. Gulls typically present include Black-headed, Common, and Herring, while Glaucous and Iceland have also been seen. In recent years Ring-billed Gull has become an annual visitor. Close to the mouth of the Garavogue Grey Wagtail is regular, while Dipper is also occasionally present. The only really noteworthy rarity recorded here to date was a Ross’s Gull.
(2) Cartron Inner Bay: This site is situated between Hughes Bridge and the Deepwater Quay. It is muddier than the Cartron Inner Bay and consequently attracts a higher number of waders. The deep channel of the Garavogue is favoured by Cormorant, Shag, Goldeneye and Red-breasted Merganser. Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Redshank, Greenshank, Curlew, Snipe, Black-headed, Common, Herring and Great Black-backed Gull are present on the mudflats in winter. This site is the most important wintering site for Black-tailed Godwit in County Sligo: between 15 to 20 are usually present between September and April. Ring-billed Gull is annual, while a Yellow-legged Gull was recorded in 2003.
(3) Cartron Marsh: This part of Sligo Harbour lies to the north of the peninsula of Cartron. Similar to Outer Cartron Bay, it is very muddy. Except for Black-tailed Godwit, all the species mentioned for last site are also present here. In addition, Brent Goose, Cormorant, Shag, Shelduck, Teal, Wigeon, Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Ringed Plover, Turnstone, Redshank, Greenshank and Dunlin can be found here. Curlew Sandpiper occurs regularly in September. Occasional visitors include Red-throated Diver, Great Crested Grebe, Grey Plover, Ruff and Lesser Black-backed Gull. The closure of the nearby municipal landfill has affected the number of Glaucous and Iceland Gulls wintering at this site. Formerly uncommon winter visitors, they are now seen only irregularly.
(4) Cummeen Strand: This encompasses the main bulk of Sligo Harbour estuary. Consisting of the deep channel of the Garavogue and the adjacent large mudflats, it attracts a diverse range of birds. The channel holds Great Northern & Red-throated Diver, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Shag, Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser and Common Guillemot in winter. Also in winter, the main mudflats attract Shelduck, Teal, Wigeon, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, a few Grey Plover, Lapwing, Knot, Turnstone, Dunlin, Redshank, Greenshank, Bar-tailed Godwit and Curlew, as well as Black-headed, Common and Great Black-backed Gulls. During the summer, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Common and Sandwich Terns can be seen here. Cummeen Strand is one of the main staging points of Brent Goose in Ireland. Arriving in late September, up to 400 can be seen at a time. Coney Island, which is accessible via a causeway, attracts a very large flock of Golden Plovers (around 5,000). In late summer/early autumn, such a flock may well include something interesting! At this time of year the gardens on the island should be checked for any migrants. A juvenile Buzzard in September 2003, a very rare bird in County Sligo, shows the potential of this island. A flock of around 30 Twite also winter here. Rarities to have occurred in the Cummeen Strand include two Forster’s Terns in March 2003 and a Little Egret in June 2003.
(5) Rosses Point: This is an ideal place for scanning Sligo Bay. Between October and March, Great Northern & Red-throated Diver, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Shag, Eider, Common Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Goldeneye and Red-breasted Merganser can be seen from here. In February 2004, three Slavonian Grebes and several Velvet Scoters were present. Both of these species have only been seen here on a very few occasions, and these recent records suggest that they may be under-recorded in County Sligo. Notably, a White-billed Diver was recorded here in 1977.
Access by Car
Gibraltar Point is reached by taking the R292 from Sligo town to Strandhill. After passing the train and bus station, take the fourth right hand turn, where you will find a small car park. To get to Coney Island, continue on the R292, from which the turn-off is signposted. The track to the island consists of gravel and sand. It generally becomes passable 2 hours after high tide. To get to Rosses Point, take the R291 from Sligo town. At the end of the road, take a left turn to reach a large car park.
Access by Public Transport
Silver Swan Bay, Inner Cartron Bay and Cartron Marsh are within walking distance of Sligo town. There is a city bus service to Cartron Marsh, with several departures every hour. There are several bus services a day to Rosses Point and Strandhill from Sligo town.
Maps and Photos
Sligo Harbour is covered by Ordnance Survey Ireland, Discovery Series Map 25. The map created by John the Map provides an overview of Silver Swan Bay (Map Reference: C5), Cartron Inner (B5), Cartron Marsh (A5) and Gibraltar (A2).
Pictures 1 and 2 show Cartron Inner Bay, looking towards Sligo Town and Sligo Harbour, respectively.
Sligo Harbour is located approximately 2 kilometres west of Sligo town
When
Between late August and April
Introduction
Sligo Harbour is the middle of three estuaries, which together comprise Sligo Bay. As is the case with the other two estuaries, it has only a relatively small river flowing into it, which creates a large mudflat in the bay. In the upper reaches of the estuary the shoreline is dominated by the industry and housing of Sligo town, while farming dominates the lower reaches. At the entrance to Sligo Harbour lies Coney Island. Consisting mainly of dunes, it has some housing on the eastern part.
Birds
This site covers a very large area and can be divided into five distinct areas.
(1) Silver Swan Bay: This area is located between the Hughes and Hyde bridges. Due to the scouring action of the river, this part consists mostly of bedrock. Cormorant, Shag, up to 30 Mute Swans, Mallard and Red-breasted Merganser are usually present in winter. Occasionally, Redshank and Curlew can be found on the muddier parts. Gulls typically present include Black-headed, Common, and Herring, while Glaucous and Iceland have also been seen. In recent years Ring-billed Gull has become an annual visitor. Close to the mouth of the Garavogue Grey Wagtail is regular, while Dipper is also occasionally present. The only really noteworthy rarity recorded here to date was a Ross’s Gull.
(2) Cartron Inner Bay: This site is situated between Hughes Bridge and the Deepwater Quay. It is muddier than the Cartron Inner Bay and consequently attracts a higher number of waders. The deep channel of the Garavogue is favoured by Cormorant, Shag, Goldeneye and Red-breasted Merganser. Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Redshank, Greenshank, Curlew, Snipe, Black-headed, Common, Herring and Great Black-backed Gull are present on the mudflats in winter. This site is the most important wintering site for Black-tailed Godwit in County Sligo: between 15 to 20 are usually present between September and April. Ring-billed Gull is annual, while a Yellow-legged Gull was recorded in 2003.
(3) Cartron Marsh: This part of Sligo Harbour lies to the north of the peninsula of Cartron. Similar to Outer Cartron Bay, it is very muddy. Except for Black-tailed Godwit, all the species mentioned for last site are also present here. In addition, Brent Goose, Cormorant, Shag, Shelduck, Teal, Wigeon, Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Ringed Plover, Turnstone, Redshank, Greenshank and Dunlin can be found here. Curlew Sandpiper occurs regularly in September. Occasional visitors include Red-throated Diver, Great Crested Grebe, Grey Plover, Ruff and Lesser Black-backed Gull. The closure of the nearby municipal landfill has affected the number of Glaucous and Iceland Gulls wintering at this site. Formerly uncommon winter visitors, they are now seen only irregularly.
(4) Cummeen Strand: This encompasses the main bulk of Sligo Harbour estuary. Consisting of the deep channel of the Garavogue and the adjacent large mudflats, it attracts a diverse range of birds. The channel holds Great Northern & Red-throated Diver, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Shag, Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser and Common Guillemot in winter. Also in winter, the main mudflats attract Shelduck, Teal, Wigeon, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, a few Grey Plover, Lapwing, Knot, Turnstone, Dunlin, Redshank, Greenshank, Bar-tailed Godwit and Curlew, as well as Black-headed, Common and Great Black-backed Gulls. During the summer, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Common and Sandwich Terns can be seen here. Cummeen Strand is one of the main staging points of Brent Goose in Ireland. Arriving in late September, up to 400 can be seen at a time. Coney Island, which is accessible via a causeway, attracts a very large flock of Golden Plovers (around 5,000). In late summer/early autumn, such a flock may well include something interesting! At this time of year the gardens on the island should be checked for any migrants. A juvenile Buzzard in September 2003, a very rare bird in County Sligo, shows the potential of this island. A flock of around 30 Twite also winter here. Rarities to have occurred in the Cummeen Strand include two Forster’s Terns in March 2003 and a Little Egret in June 2003.
(5) Rosses Point: This is an ideal place for scanning Sligo Bay. Between October and March, Great Northern & Red-throated Diver, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Shag, Eider, Common Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Goldeneye and Red-breasted Merganser can be seen from here. In February 2004, three Slavonian Grebes and several Velvet Scoters were present. Both of these species have only been seen here on a very few occasions, and these recent records suggest that they may be under-recorded in County Sligo. Notably, a White-billed Diver was recorded here in 1977.
Access by Car
Gibraltar Point is reached by taking the R292 from Sligo town to Strandhill. After passing the train and bus station, take the fourth right hand turn, where you will find a small car park. To get to Coney Island, continue on the R292, from which the turn-off is signposted. The track to the island consists of gravel and sand. It generally becomes passable 2 hours after high tide. To get to Rosses Point, take the R291 from Sligo town. At the end of the road, take a left turn to reach a large car park.
Access by Public Transport
Silver Swan Bay, Inner Cartron Bay and Cartron Marsh are within walking distance of Sligo town. There is a city bus service to Cartron Marsh, with several departures every hour. There are several bus services a day to Rosses Point and Strandhill from Sligo town.
Maps and Photos
Sligo Harbour is covered by Ordnance Survey Ireland, Discovery Series Map 25. The map created by John the Map provides an overview of Silver Swan Bay (Map Reference: C5), Cartron Inner (B5), Cartron Marsh (A5) and Gibraltar (A2).
Pictures 1 and 2 show Cartron Inner Bay, looking towards Sligo Town and Sligo Harbour, respectively.
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