News
Free Pre-Bookable Event Buses for the Shorelife Celebration!
The brand new Shorelife Celebration will provide a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the breathtaking beauty of our shoreline at the stunning WWT Castle Espie and National Trust Mount Stewart on Saturday 5 October. Admission to both venues is free (for both
18 September 2024
Recent Sightings 16th September 2024
The following sightings were taken on Monday from the reserve at Castle Espie around high tide.Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory Oystercatcher 278, Light-bellied brent goose ~1,500, Black-headed gull 2, Curlew 80, Sheldu
16 September 2024
Dive into Autumn with the Shorelife Celebration!
Step into Autumn and immerse yourself in the breathtaking beauty of our shoreline at the brand-new Shorelife Celebration! Join us on Saturday 5 October at the stunning WWT Castle Espie and National Trust Mount Stewart. With free admission to both venues a
6 September 2024
New-for-Ireland moth species recorded at WWT Castle Espie
For the first time, a Glasswort moth (Scrobipalpa salicorniae) has been recorded in Ireland, thanks to WWT volunteer Stewart Rosell. Stewart has been surveying saltmarsh moths at WWT Castle Espie as part of a two-year project and made the exciting disc
26 August 2024
Summer's not over just yet! Find a wow around every corner at WWT Castle Espie
Make the most of the last few days of summer at WWT Castle Espie where an extraordinary day out filled with new experiences and unique activities in nature awaits. There’s a wow around every corner and something for all the family at the wetland reserv
21 August 2024
Recent Sightings 9th September 2024
The following sightings were taken on Monday from the reserve at Castle Espie at low tide:Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory Light-bellied brent goose 260, Black-headed gull 10, Curlew 6, Shelduck 58, Lesser black-backed g
19 August 2024
WWT announces award winning nature writer Dara McAnulty as its latest ambassador
WWT has appointed the award-winning nature writer and naturalist Dara McAnulty as their newest ambassador. Dara, who grew up near WWT’s Castle Espie Wetland Centre in Northern Ireland, often visits the nature reserve and credits the close encounters
14 August 2024
Recent Sightings 2nd September 2024
The following sightings were taken yesterday from the reserve at Castle Espie during a rising tide. With the arrival of the first Brent to the shores of Strangford Lough, there is a definite feel that the winter season has started. The change in seasons
9 August 2024
Recent Sightings 19th August 2024
The following sightings were taken today from the reserve at Castle Espie at high tide. This time of year provides an opportunity to catch a glimpse of the Kingfisher on the reserve. During the breeding season they are hard to spot and remain elusive
9 August 2024
Recent Sightings 12th August 2024
The following birds spotted on the reserve today. We had a young Cuckoo visit the reserve last week and stayed around for a few days. Cuckoos are a summer visitor, arriving around April, and generally head south quite early in the Summer. Cuckoos have e
9 August 2024
Recent Sightings 5th August 2024
For today’s count, the tide was quickly creeping its way up the lough with a strong wind and light rain. The Oystercatcher hadn’t yet reached the Shingle Bank and were still busy feeding and making the most of the exposed mudflats, along with Curlew,
5 August 2024
Poetry Jukebox returns to WWT Castle Espie
As a part of our Words for Wetlands theme this year, the Poetry Jukebox has returned to WWT Castle Espie’s Limekiln Observatory, where visitors can listen to a collection of poems while enjoying stunning views over Strangford Lough. The jukebox is op
31 July 2024
Recent Sightings 29th July 2024
The tide was just receding for a very warm, dry count this morning, with a few Curlew and Little egret poking around for food on the freshly exposed mudflats. Large groups of Oystercatcher were still roosting on the Shingle Bank and Wadermarsh, with our r
29 July 2024
Recent Sightings 23rd July 2024
A beautiful, sunny day on the Reserve today revealed that we have Common tern chicks on the raft at Saline Lagoon! Common terns (pictured), also known as sea-swallows, are summer visitors to our shores but are also commonly found inland. These graceful bi
23 July 2024
Recent Sightings 15th July 2024
The tide was in for this count, moving the Curlew up to the top of the Lough to roost all together and pushing the Oystercatcher into the reserve to roost on the Shingle Bank, joined by Common and Black-headed gulls. Large numbers of Little egrets (pict
16 July 2024