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
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
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
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
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
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
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
This morning’s tide was way out for the count around the Reserve, exposing our rocky shoreline for a lovely little visitor – a Rock pipit! Rock pipit’s are small, streaky brown birds that are often found along coastlines, feeding on small molluscs b
24 June 2024
The tide was in and the sun was out for this morning’s count, and as a result we had an amazing variety of species on the Main Lake. Mallard, Moorhen and Coot all had their youngsters out for a swim alongside the diving Cormorant and the tiny Little gre
17 June 2024
The tide was far out for this morning’s count around the Reserve, meaning the majority of the birds visible on the Lough’s mudflats were gulls – from the small, gregarious Black-headed gull to the large, formidable Greater black-back. The latter are
10 June 2024
The tide was fully in for this week’s count, pushing lots of birds into the reserve to roost and feed whilst the waters of Strangford Lough lapped against the seawall. Large numbers of Oystercatcher and Common gull are coming in and settling down on the
7 June 2024
The tide was completely out for this morning’s count around the Reserve. Shelduck and Greylag geese swam peacefully across the Main Lake, providing a picture perfect view from the Turtle Hide in the Sensory Garden. Moorhen and Coot chicks are getting bi
27 May 2024
Castle Espie was bathed in warm spring sunshine for this count, and the chicks and ducklings were out in force. Small, chirping Coot, Moorhen and Mallard offspring were visible all over the Reserve – either swimming on our lakes or trailing after mum do
22 May 2024
The tide was way out for this mornings count on the reserve, which meant waders including Curlew, Oystercatcher, and Bar-tailed godwit were busy feeding on the exposed mudflats. Light-bellied brent geese grazed alongside Shelduck, and Common terns were fl
13 May 2024
The tide was in for this week’s count, which brought a large group of Great-crested grebe within view of the Brent Hide. Great-crested grebe are the largest species of grebe that we get in the UK, and with their long, slender necks and elaborate head pl
7 May 2024