Ballygilgan also known as The Goose Field is a national nature reserve of approximately on the

Maugherow Peninsula The Maugherow Peninsula () is the largest and westernmost peninsula of County Sligo, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is also less commonly referred to as the Raghly Peninsula, after Raghly Point (), which is itself a headland of the peninsula. ...

County Sligo County Sligo ( , gle, Contae Shligigh) is a county in Ireland. It is located in the Border Region and is part of the province of Connacht. Sligo is the administrative capital and largest town in the county. Sligo County Council is the local ...

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

. It is home to Ireland’s biggest mainland flock of

barnacle geese The barnacle goose (''Branta leucopsis'') is a species of goose that belongs to the genus ''Branta'' of black geese, which contains species with largely black plumage, distinguishing them from the grey ''Anser'' species. Despite its superficial s ...

. It is managed by the Irish National Parks & Wildlife Service.

Features

Ballygilgan was legally protected as a national nature reserve by the Irish government in 1986. The nature reserve, also known as The Goose Field, goosefield, or Seafield is located near the

Lissadell Lissadell () is the name attached to three townlands in north County Sligo on Magherow peninsula west of Benbulben. Until the late 16th century Lissadell was part of the tuath of Cairbre Drom Cliabh under the Lords of Sligo, Ó Conchobhair Sligi ...

estate. The reserve was founded to protect the large number of barnacle geese who overwinter at the site, whose numbers were in decline in the 1970s. During the summer months, the pasture is grazed by sheep and cattle. The name The Goose Field comes from the large numbers of barnacle geese who overwinter on the site, grazing and living at the seasonal freshwater pond. The population of geese is usually around 3000 birds, Ireland’s biggest mainland flock, which arrive in October and live at the reserve until April. Other waterfowl and waders also inhabit the site over winter, including teal and wigeon ducks, pintails, shovelers, redshanks, greenshanks, bar-tailed godwits, golden plovers, lapwings and dunlins. Chaffinches, bramblings, greenfinches, goldfinches, and buntings live near a cereal patch, in which oats and linseed have been planted, at the eastern end of the site.

References

{{Reflist Landforms of County Sligo Protected areas of County Sligo Tourist attractions in County Sligo Nature reserves in the Republic of Ireland Protected areas established in 1986 1986 establishments in Ireland