Latest sightings
Recent Sightings - 21st September 2020
The following sightings were taken yesterday from the reserve at Castle Espie at low tide. The sounds and sights of Brent geese continue to dominate the estuary as they move with the tides to take advantage of the abundant eel grass to feed on. There is
22 September 2020
Recent Sightings - 14th September 2020
The following sightings were taken yesterday from the reserve at Castle Espie at high tide. The WeBS counts have resumed this year and the wintering birds are returning in numbers to the Lough including good numbers of Light-bellied brent geese, Redshank
15 September 2020
Recent Sightings - 7th September 2020
The following sightings were taken yesterday from the reserve at Castle Espie on a falling tide. In addition to the Brent geese increasing in numbers on the estuary, we are seeing an increase in other wintering wildfowl, and waders to the Lough. Teal ha
8 September 2020
Recent Sightings - 31st August 2020
Exciting news! The Brent Geese have begun to return to Strangford Lough, their winter home. The geese were seen in the middle of last week having reached the Northern Coast of Northern Ireland, but they were first seen here, from the Brent hide on Saturda
31 August 2020
Recent Sightings - 25th August 2020
The tell tale signs of summer turning into autumn are abound this week. Wading birds are starring to return to the Lough with good numbers for Redshank seen roosting on the wadermash and the ditransitive call of the Curlew out on the estuary. The flowers
25 August 2020
Recent Sightings - 17th Aug 2020
The following sightings were taken yesterday from the reserve at Castle Espie on a rising tide. The Spotted sandpiper is still around on the reserve and has been seen mainly in and around the Freshwater lagoon area. We are delighted that such a rare vis
18 August 2020
Recent Sightings - 10th August 2020
Very exciting news this week from the reserve. A Spotted Sandpiper has been...spotted, using the edges of the the lagoons to forage for food. Spotted sandpipers are an american sandpiper species, that over there, occupy the same niche as our European Sand
10 August 2020
Recent Sightings - 27th July 2020
The following sightings were taken yesterday from the reserve at Castle Espie during high-tide. A very wet and then windy start to the week with a yearly high of Oystercatcher numbers on the Shingle bank yesterday. Early morning a total of 845 birds wer
28 July 2020
Recent Sightings - 20th July 2020
The following sightings were taken yesterday from the reserve at Castle Espie during low-tide. A few birds not seen that often turned up on the habitat count including Treecreeper, Jay and Spotted flycatcher. The flycatcher, although draply coloured, is
21 July 2020
Recent Sightings - 13th July 2020
The following sightings were taken yesterday from the reserve at Castle Espie during high-tide. The Whitethroat is a late arrival this week, seen and heard around the Limekiln area. Whitethroats are summer migrants to Ireland, flying from as far as sub-
14 July 2020
Recent Sightings - 6th July 2020
The following sightings were taken yesterday from the reserve at Castle Espie during mid tide. The centre is re-opening up to the public again this week after the lockdown, and the wildlife on the reserve will have to get accustomed to more people on sit
7 July 2020
Recent Sightings - 29th June 2020
The following sightings were taken yesterday from the reserve at Castle Espie during mid-tide. With many of the Black-headed gull chicks fledged, some birds are still on eggs, either delayed nesting or second brood for some birds. The colony is accompani
30 June 2020
Recent Sightings - 22nd June 2020
The following sightings were taken yesterday from the reserve at Castle Espie during low tide. The Tern chicks are now visible on the Saline lagoon with a few hatched while others are still sitting on eggs. The fledged Black-headed gulls are now active
23 June 2020
Recent Sightings - 14th June 2020
The following sightings were taken yesterday from the reserve at Castle Espie during high tide. The Swallows from the nest in the round house have now fledged, and can be seen flying around the Freshwater Lagoon. The first of the Tern eggs have hatched,
15 June 2020
Recent Sightings - 8th June 2020
The following sightings were taken yesterday from the reserve at Castle Espie at High Tide. Many of the birds on the reserve now have broods with Shelduck on the Freshwater Lagoon, Eider on the estuary, and Gadwall on the Limestone Lake. Most of the gul
9 June 2020