Latest sightings
Recent Sightings €- 15th October 2018
The following sightings were recorded today at low tide from the reserve at Castle Espie. The number of Brent geese out on the estuary is breath-taking at present. Estuary – visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory Brent Goose c,350
15 October 2018
Recent Sightings €- 8th October 2018
The following sightings were recorded yesterday from the reserve at Castle Espie. Impressive numbers of Brent geese, ducks and waders out on the estuary at present. Estuary – visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory Brent Goose c,2500
8 October 2018
Recent Sightings €- 1st October 2018
The following sightings were recorded today at Low tide from the reserve at Castle Espie. The extraordinary "Gronk" sound of the Brent geese can be heard from nearly every part of the reserve now. Many thousands are now settling into the Lough for Autumn.
1 October 2018
Recent Sightings €- 24th September 2018
The following sightings were recorded today at Low tide from the reserve at Castle Espie. Another large influx of Brent Geese have arrived on the Lough from Iceland, many thousands can now be heard calling across the Lough to Castle Espie. A lovely little
24 September 2018
Recent Sightings €- 17th September 2018
The following sightings were recorded today at High-Mid tide from the reserve at Castle Espie. The winter migration is in full swing now. Brent geese seen in large number everyday from the Brent hide and large flocks of waders using the wadermarsh at high
18 September 2018
Recent Sightings €- 10th September 2018
The following sightings were recorded today at Low tide from the reserve at Castle Espie. Duck numbers are still on the increase, with lots of birds arriving to Strangford from their summer breeding grounds. Keep a particular look out for the Shoveler duc
10 September 2018
Recent Sightings €- 3rd September 2018
The following sightings were recorded today at Mid tide from the reserve at Castle Espie. They have returned! After flying over 2500 miles from their breeding grounds in Arctic Canada Brent Geese have returned to their wintering ground in Strangford Lough
3 September 2018
Recent Sightings €- 27th August 2018
The following sightings were recorded today at Low tide from the reserve at Castle Espie. Lots to see at the minute while we all eagerly await the return of the Brent Geese to Strangford Lough. Goldfinches are a hive of activity in the Brickworks, flocks
27 August 2018
Recent Sightings €- 20th August 2018
The following sightings were recorded today at High tide from the reserve at Castle Espie. As the days get shorter and the autumn approaches the numbers of water birds are on the increase. Wintering ducks are beginning to arrive on the reserve with Teal a
20 August 2018
Recent Sightings €- 13th August 2018
The following sightings were recorded today at Low tide from the reserve at Castle Espie. The woodland is alive this morning with the sound of the newly fledged sparrowhawks and a small Long-tailed Tits flock! Our sparrowhawk pair have fledged three young
13 August 2018
Recent Sightings €- 6th August 2018
The following sightings were recorded today at High-High tide from the reserve at Castle Espie. A very wet start to the day but it improved as the morning went on and we gat a chance to see some of the wildlife at Castle Espie. There was a nice roost of
6 August 2018
Recent Sightings €- 30th July 2018
The following sightings were recorded today at Low-High tide from the reserve at Castle Espie. A change in the weather has been welcome, with our ponds receiving some badly needed water after a long dry spell. During our Wildlife Rangers mini-beast hunt
31 July 2018
Recent Sightings €- 23rd July 2018
The following sightings were recorded today at Mid-High tide from the reserve at Castle Espie. A very special sighting at Castle Espie this week! During the Butterfly walk over the weekend, Castle Espie's very first Dark Green Fritillary was seen. This be
23 July 2018
Recent Sightings €- 16th July 2018
The following sightings were recorded today at Low tide from the reserve at Castle Espie. It's safe to say the Black-headed gulls have finished nesting now; their numbers have dropped way off and the birds are spending more time away from Castle Espie. Ho
16 July 2018
Recent Sightings €- 9th July 2018
The following sightings were recorded today at High tide from the reserve at Castle Espie. Exciting news from the Freshwater Lagoon this morning! A Common Sandpiper was seen bobbing around the edges of the lagoon! The hot weather is drying up the lagoon a
9 July 2018