News
Recent Sightings - 25th January 2021
The following sightings were taken on Monday from the reserve at Castle Espie at high tide. Gadwall is a frequent winter visitor to Castle Espie and there were 61 birds spotted this week on the Main lake. Although they are not a very common duck to thes
26 January 2021
Recent Sightings - 18th January 2021
The following sightings were taken on Monday from the reserve at Castle Espie at low tide. A pair of shoveler were spotted on the Freshwater lagoon. This duck is mainly a winter visitor and now breeds in only small numbers, having experienced a massive
19 January 2021
Recent Sightings - 11th January 2021
The following sightings were taken on Monday from the reserve at Castle Espie on a rising tide. The Wadermarsh continues to comprise both Redshank and Greenshank as they feed along the mud around the edge of the islands. Although we see an influx of over
12 January 2021
Recent Sightings - 4th January 2021
The following sightings were taken on Monday from the reserve at Castle Espie on a low tide. A nice start to the new year with the Scaup joined by another female on the Saline lagoon, and both birds have been regularly seen fishing together. The water r
5 January 2021
Recent Sightings - 28th December 2020
The following sightings were taken on Monday from the reserve at Castle Espie on a high tide. The freezing weather has taken hold, and the storm events have pushed a number of roosting birds into the reserve to seek refuge from the wind and the high tide
29 December 2020
Recent Sightings - 21st December 2020
Our recent "infrequent" visitors are still hanging around on the reserve this week. The female Scaup was seen roosting among the Tufted Duck in the Main lake this morning. It would appear she prefers the company of similar birds at night. Though has since
21 December 2020
Recent Sightings - 14th December 2020
All real collection of exciting birds around today; too many to choose! A Scaup is being seen regularly with the Tufted ducks, it's been moving between all the water bodies. Two Kingfishers are often being seen chasing each other away from their favourite
14 December 2020
Recent Sightings - 7th December 2020
Although Castle Espie is currently closed to the public, the nature reserve remains a safe haven for wildlife. The warden, over the past week as spotted lots of birds taking advantage of the peace and quiet: Merlin hunting along the shoreline, a Water Rai
7 December 2020
Recent Sightings - 30th November 2020
The following sightings were taken on Monday from the reserve at Castle Espie on a rising tide. The cold weather has set in, and we are currently seeing a wide range of wading birds on the estuary. There are large flocks of Dunlin and Knot, which common
1 December 2020
Recent Sightings - 23th November 2020
The following sightings were taken on Monday from the reserve at Castle Espie on a rising tide. We continue to see around ~50 Teal resting along the edge of the shingle bank and on feeding on the wadermarsh. In addition, there is a small group of Gadwal
25 November 2020
Recent Sightings - 16th November 2020
The following sightings were taken yesterday from the reserve at Castle Espie on a rising tide. The number of Shelduck on the estuary has visibly increased, while the number of Brent continues to drop as birds move on in their migration. The unsettled wea
17 November 2020
DAERA Minister Edwin Poots MLA visits Castle Espie
DAERA Minister Edwin Poots has visited the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) Centre at Castle Espie, County Down, to see their work in biodiversity and protecting the natural environment.
12 November 2020
Recent Sightings - 9th November 2020
The following sightings were taken yesterday from the reserve at Castle Espie on a falling tide. There was much interest on the reserve yesterday, particularly on the Saline Lagoon with the Kingfisher active on one of the constructed perches, and delight
10 November 2020
Recent Sightings - 2nd November 2020
The following sightings were taken yesterday from the reserve at Castle Espie at low tide. The typical winter bird fauna continues to change with the season with some rewarding views over the estuary. A small group of Whooper swan can be seen on the estu
3 November 2020
First ever sighting of Cattle Egret recorded at Castle Espie Wetland Centre
It’s that time of year when we see thousands of birds arrive on the shores of Strangford Lough from Northern and Eastern Europe, seeking milder winter weather. What might yet become the highlight of this year’s migration season is the first ever sighting
26 October 2020