News
Recent Sightings 11th December 2023
Lots of variety out on the Estuary as the tide crept in, with waders of all shapes and sizes exploring the exposed mudflats and hunting for food. Tiny Dunlin and Turnstone rushed around as the Brent geese grazed on Eelgrass. Sea ducks including Eider and
12 December 2023
Recent Sightings 4th December 2023
For the first count of December this year we’ve been greeted with a pair of beautiful Pintail ducks on the Main Lake! Pintail (pictured) are very graceful, elegant looking dabbling ducks, which feed mainly on plant matter. They are more commonly seen th
4 December 2023
Wrap up and enjoy the gift of WWT Castle Espie this winter
At WWT Castle Espie we're getting ready to welcome in winter 2023 and everyone is invited to wrap up warm and take in the wonderous sights and sounds. From fantastic bird spectacles and winter woodland walks, to Elf Academy and beautiful nature illustrati
1 December 2023
Recent Sightings 20th November 2023
A very windy count this morning as the tide went out, taking the divers and sea ducks with it. However, several Great-crested grebe and a small group of Red-breasted merganser were still visible from the Limekiln Observatory – their long necks and disti
20 November 2023
Recent Sightings 23rd October 2023
The Estuary was full of life on this beautiful, crisp morning as the tide went out and exposed the mudflats of Strangford Lough. Waterfowl and waders alike gathered to feed - with large numbers of Light-bellied brent geese grazing on Eelgrass, rafts of Ei
23 October 2023
7 signs of autumn at Castle Espie
October at Castle Espie means an explosion of autumnal colour and a chorus of quacks and honks from our winter arrivals. It’s the perfect time to pull your boots on, get outdoors, and experience all the awe-inspiring wildlife that wetlands have to offer
20 October 2023
Drawn to Water: Quentin Blake Exhibition Opens at WWT Castle Espie
WWT Castle Espie has officially opened the Drawn to Water: Quentin Blake exhibition in The Graffan Gallery, Ireland’s only environmental art space. WWT Castle Espie is among four WWT sites hosting the exhibition featuring some of Sir Quentin Blake’s w
18 October 2023
Recent Sightings 10th October 2023
Clear skies and warm sunshine over Strangford Lough this morning as the tide came in, and brought with it large numbers of Light-bellied brent geese and rafts of Eider up to the north of the lough. A couple of Curlew flew past the windows of the Brent Hid
10 October 2023
Recent Sightings 2nd October 2023
A few winter visitors arrived on the Pier for the first count of October this year, with the tide fully in on Strangford Lough and an autumnal chill in the air. Turnstone (pictured) are small waders named for their tendency to flip over small rocks in the
3 October 2023
Uncover all things October at Castle Espie
October is a busy month here at Castle Espie, filled with wonderful wetland wildlife and truly eek!citing days out. With the light-bellied Brent geese already returning to Strangford Lough and spooky season creeping closer, here’s your complete round-up
29 September 2023
Recent Sightings 25th September 2023
A windy morning on the reserve didn’t deter the birds as they fished on the Estuary and sheltered on the Main Lake. Both Sandwich and Common terns were out over Strangford Lough, skillfully gliding through the wind and diving for fish in the cold waters
26 September 2023
Get ready for The Big Brent Weekend at WWT Castle Espie this October
WWT Castle Espie Wetland Centre is getting ready to welcome visitors to The Big Brent Weekend Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th October, which celebrates one of its greatest wildlife spectacles of the year – the return of the light-bellied Brent Geese to the
22 September 2023
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