News
End of the year
Rushy Hide 98 Bewick's Swans present at the roost before moving out to the Tack Piece for the day. Martin Smith Hide At least three Snipe and two Water Rail skulking in or near cover. Lot's of wildfowl are moving out to this pool for the day, it offers re
31 December 2018
Recent Sightings €- 31st December 2018
Count taken at High-Mid tide this morning. It was a real treat on the reserve this morning to find Peregrine falcons zooming over the brickworks. Not unusual birds to see in NI but are infrequent visitors to Castle Espie. Their large size, long pointed
31 December 2018
Today's sightings
Mute swan Whooper swan Bewick's swan Greylag goose Canada goose White-fronted goose x5 Shelduck Mallard Pochard Gadwall Tufted duck Pintail Ringed teal Moorhen Cormorant White stork (escapee) Great egret Little egret Black-tailed godwit Dunlin x13 Lapwing
31 December 2018
Reserve Update Monday 31st December
Usual suspects around this morning, waders in the fields, ducks on the ponds and Yellowhammers in the hedgerow! Hen Harriers were around yesterday with two male birds observed foraging over the outer merses. Tomorrow we will be holding our annual New
31 December 2018
Wildlife Sightings - 31/12/18
Wader Lake Time/AM Tide/Mid Shelduck - 8 Teal - 46 Grey Heron - 5 (1 juvenile) Water Rail - 1 (Paddy Fleming hide) Snipe - 2 Lapwing - 37 Black-headed Gull - 15 Saline Lagoon Curlew - 1 Grey Heron - 1 Teal - 56 Redshank - 2 H
31 December 2018
Fieldfare around the entrance area
1 Bittern - main lake (North shore) 2 Shelduck - wader scrape 1 Goldeneye - reservoir lagoon 4 Pintail - main lake 1 Jack Snipe - wader scrape 16 Redwing - 4 on south route, 12 flew over West 9 Fieldfare - entrance lake 1 Peregrine - perched on Charing C
31 December 2018
Goldeneye on the reservoir lagoon
1 Bittern - main lake 1 Goldeneye - reservoir lagoon 2 Shelduck - wader scrape 4 Pintail - main lake 1 Water Pipit - grazing marsh December bird highlights: Shelduck, Goldeneye, Goosander, Bittern, Great White Egret, Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Jack Snip
31 December 2018
Peregrine battles
Three Peregrine Falcons were again battling it out over the reserve and grounds this morning. Our winter resident pair have had to chase off this individual or other intruders a number of times this winter. They are highly vocal and acrobatic when these b
30 December 2018
Today's Highlights
Bewick's swan Whooper swan Mute swan Greylag Canada geese White fronted geese Egyptian geese x 2 Shelduck Shoveler Mallard Pintail Wigeon Teal Ringed teal Pochard Tufted duck Cormorant Coot Moorhen White stork Great white egret Little egret Curlew Black-t
30 December 2018
Reserve Update Sunday 30th December
Exciting afternoon yesterday with reports of a small Canada Goose mixed in with the Barnacle Goose flock down at Avenue Tower. There has been a Todd's Canada Goose over on the Cumbrian coast so it could presumably be the same bird. A period of wild go
30 December 2018
Raptors
Still excellent at the moment for birds of prey with a juvenile Peregrine showing very well on and off all day, still at least 1 female Merlin, 3+ Marsh Harrier also several Common Buzzard including a pale bird and the usual Kestrel and Sparrowhawk sigh
29 December 2018
Today's Highlights
Water rail Tree sparrow Goldfinch Mute swan Whooper swan Bewick's swan Shoveler Shelduck Pochard Wigeon Coot Moorhen Greylag geese Canada geese Barnacle goose Black-tailed godwit Mallard Pintail Tufted duck Cormorant Goldeneye Ruff Lapwing Marsh harrier R
29 December 2018
Wildlife sightings - 29/12/18
Wader Lake (AM, high tide): Water rail 1 Teal 53 Grey heron 4 Shelduck 15 Curlew 40 Northern shoveler 3 Greylag 35 Saline lagoon (AM, high tide): Curlew 43 Teal 48 Grey heron 2 Redshank 1 Shelduck 2 Hawthorn Wood feeding station: Great-spott
29 December 2018
Lots of Shovelers
South Lake An impressive 184 Shoveler here this morning and a good selection of waders with Black Tailed Godwit 52, Ruff 17, Dunlin 45 the single oystercatcher and a handfull of Snipe. Most impressive though was around 700 very noisy and flighty Lapwings
29 December 2018
Reserve Update Saturday 29th December
Wader numbers have been good around the site the previous couple of days with Oystercatcher and Redshank currently on the Folly Pond, no doubt to be joined by some Black-tailed Godwit later on in the day. The Curlew were present feeding in Newfield in g
29 December 2018