News
Call to clean up Lough Neagh
As a charity who campaigns for healthy wetlands, we are calling for immediate action to clean up Lough Neagh, one of the UK’s most important wetlands, providing 40% of Northern Ireland’s drinking water. Healthy wetlands, such as lakes, rivers a
22 September 2023
Recent Sightings 18th September 2023
There was a great variety out on the Reserve and on the Lough this morning, with the chilly wind reminding us that despite the warm sunshine – autumn is definitely underway. With the arrival of the Light-bellied brent geese, Wigeon, and the increased fl
18 September 2023
Recent Sightings 11th September 2023
The Brent are back! It’s that time of year again – the Light-bellied brent geese (pictured) are back at Strangford Lough to feed on Eelgrass. They have come from their breeding grounds in Arctic Canada and will continue arriving in Strangford Lough un
12 September 2023
New EV charge points at WWT Castle Espie
There are now around 660,000 electric vehicles on the UK roads and 445,000 plug in hybrids. 1 in 6 new cars purchased in the UK in 2022 was an all electric. The RAC estimates that around 80% of electrical vehicle charging happens at home but public charge
6 September 2023
Fill your senses with the autumn season at WWT Castle Espie
Get ready, pull on your boots, and fill your senses with the autumn season with a range of events and activities celebrating the unique wetlands and wildlife at WWT Castle Espie. Every year in September and October around 25,000 light-bellied brent gee
1 September 2023
Recent Sightings 28th August 2023
Plovers are returning to Strangford Lough – Ringed plover and Grey plover (pictured) were seen feeding on the mudflats, looking for small invertebrates and crustaceans. Ringed plover are resident here, however they are joined by wintering birds from Eur
31 August 2023
Recent Sightings 21st August 2023
Warm, bright weather on the Reserve today, with sun bursting out from the occasional cloud to light up the metallic feathers of the Kingfishers (pictured), as a pair of them sped over the Main Lake. Kingfishers are fast, your best shot at seeing one is to
21 August 2023
Recent Sightings 14th August 2023
A Whitethroat (pictured) was spotted around the Wadermarsh on Monday morning, along with a nice variety of other passerines flitting between hedgerows just outside the Brent Hide. Whitethroats are summer visitors here, arriving from April and staying unti
16 August 2023
How to have an action-packed August at Castle Espie
The end of the school holidays may be on the horizon but there’s still plenty of time to enjoy our summer events programme this year! Make the most of August with a day well-spent at Castle Espie. Here’s what you don’t want to miss: Drawn to W
16 August 2023
'Eco' Poetry Jukebox helps visitors connect with WWT Castle Espie
Internationally renowned Poetry Jukebox has arrived at WWT Castle Espie. Located in the Lime Kiln Observatory, at the touch of a button visitors can listen to a poetry collection named FORAGE. The collection features 20 original ‘eco’ poems based on
9 August 2023
Recent Sightings 7th August 2023
Canada geese (pictured) were spotted on the reserve during the morning count before moving onto the Estuary as the tide went out, and the mudflats of Strangford Lough were slowly exposed. These large, monochromatic birds are not native to the UK, but to N
8 August 2023
Recent Sightings 31st July 2023
A windy and rainy reserve this morning for the last count of July 2023, but still lots of variety out on the Estuary as the tide came in. A couple of Ringed plover (pictured) were out feeding on the mudflats – running quickly and then stopping abruptly,
31 July 2023
WWT Castle Espie calls on NI nature lovers to make a big splash for wildlife
From drainpipe wetlands to bogs in backyards, WWT Castle Espie is encouraging everyone in Northern Ireland to make a big splash for nature by building nature-rich mini-wetlands where they live, no matter how small or how built up the area. The charity is
27 July 2023
Recent Sightings 24th July 2023
The bird of the week definitely goes to a lovely little visitor that was spotted by our placement student – a Common sandpiper (pictured). As the tide went out on Monday morning, this delicate, attractive wader flew into the Wadermarsh and spent time ex
25 July 2023
Your guide to a rainy-day adventure at Castle Espie
Your guide to a rainy-day adventure at Castle Espie
21 July 2023