Latest sightings
Recent Sightings - 3rd February 2020
Black-tailed godwits numbers are beginning to build again on the reserve. The sub species of Black-tailed godwits that are seen on Strangford Lough breed in Iceland and spend the winter in the UK and Ireland. They can be seen all through the winter on the
3 February 2020
Recent Sightings - 27th January 2020
You may be forgiven for thinking it is spring at the reserve in the last week, with the warmer than usual temperatures and the sound of the Song Thrush in the brickworks, Limestone Lake area. One particular bird is in full chorus with its astonishing rep
27 January 2020
Recent Sightings - 20th January 2020
One of the real joys at Castle Espie is being able to watch the tide come in. Or rather, how the birds behaviour changes with the tide. Wildfowl and waders will use the mudflats and the wee rivers to feed when the tide is out. As the tide comes in, the bi
20 January 2020
Recent Sightings - 13th January 2020
Another really blustery day here, and lots of small passerines are taking sheltered in the woodland. Small flocks of goldfinch are chittering in the tree-tops and our infrequently visiting flock of Bullfinch have returned to take refuge. Beautiful birds a
13 January 2020
Recent Sightings - 6th January 2020
An awfully blustery day this morning! The heavy rain and high winds had birds hunkering down on the edge our lakes for shelter and large flocks of Lapwing and Golden Plover were seen struggling to fly overhead; a chaotic aerial display of sorts. In our 25
6 January 2020
Recent Sightings - 30th December 2019
With the passing of another year, lets take a moment a relive some of the bird highlights at Castle Espie in 2019! It's been quite a year with large flocks of passing migrants, infrequent visitors becoming regular features, remarkable breeding successes a
30 December 2019
Recent Sightings - 23rd December 2019
A common winter sight at Castle Epsie is the subtly beautiful Greenshank. Long slender green legs, olive brown wings and bright white belly, make them stand out even at a distance on the mudflats and the Wadermarsh. Their bright bellies and understated co
23 December 2019
Recent Sightings - 15th December 2019
Frosty mornings have given us some beautiful winter scenes and the clear light has given us some excellent opportunities to view wildlife on the reserve. A regular visitor to the reserve as of late has been the charismatic little stonechat.
16 December 2019
Recent Sightings - 2nd December 2019
With all trees now bare, winter is a great time of year to watch our small woodland birds. Diminutive but yet beautiful Tits and finches; darting from branch to branch, and tree to tree, searching for food. The Treecreepers are showing really well around
2 December 2019
Recent Sightings - 25th November 2019
If you've followed the blogs over the past few weeks you'll have noticed a reoccurring theme; birds arriving from colder climes to wait out the winter. This is one of the reasons the British Isles are fantastic for bird life! The climate is great for a va
25 November 2019
Recent Sightings - 18th November 2019
Although there weren't any present this morning, this week we've had a proper wildfowl treat on the reserve; Northern Pintail. Male Pintail are gorgeous; distinct elongated "pin-like" tails, elegant thin necks, lovely silver feathering, a bright yellow pa
18 November 2019
Recent Sightings - 11th November 2019
Once a month, the Reserve team at Castle Espie carry out a Wetland Bird survey (Webs Count) across the area of Strangford Lough that WWT monitor. This is a census of all birds present from mid to high tide, both the species and their numbers. This is carr
11 November 2019
Recent Sightings - 4th November 2019
Wintering wildfowl numbers continue to build out on the Estuary. The Brent geese have peaked, but we are starting to see large flocks of Shelduck and Wigeon beginning to gather in front of the Brent hide. Wigeon are scarce as a breeding bird in the UK and
4 November 2019
Recent Sightings - 28th October 2019
The following sightings were recorded today from the reserve at Castle Espie at Mid-Tide. The last few weeks have seen the number of Shelducks on the estuary increasing. Shelducks breeding in Ireland undergo a moult migration east to the Helgoland Bight
30 October 2019
Recent Sightings - 23rd October 2019
Over the past few weeks, we've been visited by a bird species that has not been recorded here for over a decade! A small flock of Skylarks has been seeing foraging in the Peninsula field and flying over our other habitats. Skylarks are a demure ground nes
23 October 2019