Latest sightings
Recent Sightings - 24th June 2019
Despite the recent rain summer is on the way! The wildflower meadows are in bloom, with Ox-eye daises and various legumes in flower. Lots of ducklings and gull chicks are beginning to show well now. And the common Terns are being diligent parents over th
24 June 2019
Recent Sightings - 17th June 2019
Breeding is in full swing on the reserve with Black-headed gull, Tern, Coot, Shelduck, Graylag, and Tufted duck chicks all showing well on the reserve
17 June 2019
Recent Sightings - 3rd June 2019
An absolute MEGA bird turned up this week! Very excited to share that a Lesser Yellowlegs made an appearance at Castle Espie this week. This is a very rare vagrant to to Britain and Ireland, only 5-10 birds are seen every year. It spent a couple of days i
3 June 2019
Recent Sightings - 27th May 2019
Exciting news! Black-headed gull eggs are begin to crack open and reveal beautiful, mottled, fluffy chicks! The young gull chicks are very different from their parents; no feathers yet, only soft down to keep them warm. their colours contrast substantiall
27 May 2019
Recent Sightings - 20th May 2019
The appearance of baby chicks on the reserve is well underway with the Black-headed gulls, Shelduck and Graylag all with young.
20 May 2019
Recent Sightings - 13th May 2019
Another small migrant has joined us within the last couple of weeks; the Sedge Warbler. Migrating from Sub-Saharan Africa, they breed in Northern Europe's wetland habitats in the winter, with a particular affinity for reed-beds. This warbler, although qu
13 May 2019
Recent Sightings- 6th May 2019
We've had an unusual visitor at Castle Espie this week. Over the Main lake, silently swooping in-between the raucous Black-head Gulls; diminutive and yet elegant, a Little Gull. This isn't just a "small" gull, but in fact a very unusual visitor to Norther
6 May 2019
Recent Sightings - 15th April 2019
Barrow's Goldeneye is an American duck species and can be seen everyday at Castle Espie as part of our exotic wildfowl collection. However Strangford lough is a stronghold for the European Goldeneye and Castle Espie is probably one of the few places in th
15 April 2019
Recent Sightings - 8th April 2019
Over the past few weeks we've been blessed to have lots of Black-tailed Godwit on the reserve for the last couple of weeks. They can be seen roosting and feeding on the Wadermarsh and also on the mudflats on front of the Brent discovery hide.These birds a
8 April 2019
Recent Sighting - 1st April 2019
This week on the Estuary in front of Castle Espie, we've had a large influx of Light-bellied Brent Geese. These birds are gathering together and getting in some last minute feeding, before braving the 2500km trip to their Arctic breeding grounds in Canada
1 April 2019
Recent Sightings - 25th March
The reserve is becoming a hive of activity again for some of our most important breeding birds; Black-headed Gulls. Castle Espie's reserve hosts one of the largest colonies in Northern Ireland, so it's great to see the birds back again scouting out their
25 March 2019
Recent Sightings - 18th March 2019
As the days get longer, most of our winter visitors begin to disperse and disappear; the duck flocks on the main lake are much reduced, there is only a handful of Brent on the estuary and the Little Grebes are becoming elusive once more. However the tides
18 March 2019
Recent Sightings - 11th March 2019
Spring is well underway despite the recent blizzard! Lots of Passerine birds are singing and defending territories, corvids are collecting nest material, but the most conspicuous sign of spring is the displaying Coots. Coots are becoming very territorial
11 March 2019
Recent Sightings - 4th March 2019
Now that we are moving into Spring, lots of waders and wildfowl are beginning to congregate around Strangford lough; Brent gathering before they migrate back to arctic Canada, immature Oystercatchers gathering in preparation for flocking together in the s
4 March 2019
Recent Sightings - 18th February 2019
Strangford Lough is an incredible rich place for lots of different wader species. One of our most frequent, abundant and visible visitors during the winter is the rather dainty Redshank. Striking and diagnostic red legs make this a bird easily identified
18 February 2019