Latest sightings
Recent Sightings - 21 May
The following sightings were recorded by Toni Castello, Senior Reserve Warden Main lake – visible from Sensory garden and Visitor centre Greylag goose 7 (1 pair with 5 goslings) Tufted duck 13 Freshwater lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannog Tuf
21 May 2015
Recent Sightings - 11th May
The following sightings were recorded by Pete Matchett, Reserve Warden The second breeding bird survey of the year was carried out on Friday the 8th. This revealed to us which migratory species are holding territories and breeding on site this season. Sp
11 May 2015
Recent Sightings - 2nd May
The following sightings were recorded by Pete Matchett, Reserve Warden Swallows have well and truly returned with numbers of around 30 feeding over the Main Lake and Freshwater Lagoon. One pair also seem to be interested in nesting in the round house. Ri
2 May 2015
Recent Sightings - 20th April
The following sightings were recorded by Pete Matchett, Reserve Warden Growing numbers of garden birds beginning to build nests around the whole reserve including; Wheatear, Willow Warbler, Chiff Chaff, Black Cap and Linnet. Following a warm week,
20 April 2015
Recent Sightings - 15th April
The following sightings were recorded by Pete Matchett, Reserve Warden Evidence of Kingfishers nesting in the area however we are unsure of the whereabouts, most likely along the river by the Montgomery Hide. With the arrival of our Black Headed Gull bre
15 April 2015
Recent Sightings - 17th March
The following sightings were recorded by Pete Matchett, Reserve Warden Main lake – visible from Sensory garden and Visitor centre Black Headed Gull 150 Gadwall 2 Mute Swan 2 Cormorant 3 Tufty 29 Heron 1 Little grebe 1 Mallard 145 Coot 4 Greylag 2 Littl
17 March 2015
Recent Sightings - 10th March
The following sightings were recorded by Pete Matchett, Reserve Warden Numbers of the amber listed Black Headed Gull have increased dramatically over the last week as we arrive into the breeding season going from a steady 50-60 to a whopping 600 a
10 March 2015
Recent Sightings - 2nd March
The following sightings were recorded by Pete Matchett, Reserve Warden Highlights over the last week include the Spoonbill returning to the reserve after an absence of around 2 weeks and appeared on the Wader Marsh and the Peninsula Saltmarsh to feed on
2 March 2015
Bird Watch Morning Sightings - 26th February
Lovely bright morning for this month’s bird watch morning at Castle Espie with Dot Bleakley. The collection in Close Encounters is looking terrific with lots of displaying and calling. They certainly think that spring has sprung! Round the woodlands tod
26 February 2015
Low Water Count - 22nd February
The following sightings were recorded by Grounds and Reserve Manager Kerry Mackie. Estuary Teal 285 Wigeon 55 Shoveller 20 Shelduck 414 Red Breasted Merganser 2 Eider 18 Brent 113 Mute Swan 2 Whooper Swan 79 Oystercatcher 230 Bar Tailed Godwit 105 Black T
23 February 2015
Recent Sightings - 20th February
The following sightings were recorded by Pete Matchett, Reserve Warden Main lake – visible from Sensory garden and Visitor centre Mallard 326 Tufty 52 Gadwall 12 Cormorant 6 Mute Swan 2 Little Egret 6 Coot 6 Little Grebe 2 Greylag 26 Freshwater lagoon -
20 February 2015
Recent Sightings 13th February
The following sightings were recorded by Peter Matchett, Reserve Warden Main lake – visible from Sensory garden and Visitor centre Mallard 264 Tufty 48 Gadwall 4 Cormorant 6 Mute Swan 3 Little Egret 9 Coot 6 Freshwater lagoon - visible from Brent Hide a
13 February 2015
Recent Sightings 4th February
The following sightings were recorded by Pete Matchett, Reserve Warden Main lake – visible from Sensory garden and Visitor centre Mallard 342 Cormorant 6 Tufty 45 Scaup 1 Gadwall 47 Little Egret 7 Grey Heron 1 Black Headed Gull 60 Black Tailed Godwit 2
4 February 2015
Recent Sightings 28th January
The following sightings were recorded by Peter Matchett, Reserve Warden Main lake – visible from Sensory garden and Visitor centre Gadwall 17 Cormorant 1 Tufted 49 Little grebe 1 Mallard 360 Freshwater lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannog Coot
28 January 2015
Recent Sightings - 13th October
The following sightings were reported by Kerry Mackie, WWT Castle Espie Reserve Manager and Peter Matchett, Seasonal Reserve Warden and Kez Armstrong, Aviculture Warden. The latest Brent count has picked up around 24,000 Brent Geese on Strangford Lough w
13 October 2014