News
Recent Sightings 19th June 2023
The tide was on its way up the Lough this morning, bringing with it an array of waders, gulls and sea ducks. The Eider were out on the water with a large crèche of ducklings, moving up and down with the waves and the larger Greater black-backed gull was
19 June 2023
Recent Sightings 12th June 2023
Clear blue skies and sunny weather over Castle Espie for a beautiful June bird count. The tide was in, bring in all the Oystercatcher to the Shingle Bank and giving us a special glimpse of a Common seal swimming in the Lough off the end of the Pier. A few
13 June 2023
Recent Sightings 5th June 2023
There was a nice variety of birds to see out on the Main Lake this morning, from the tiny, diving Little grebe to the large, impressive Mute swans. The Shelduck family held center stage though with their 8 shelducklings! The Shelduck (pictured) is one of
5 June 2023
Recent Sightings 29th May 2023
With a high tide for the morning count, a small group of Eider (pictured) ducklings was visible out on the Lough from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory. These sturdy little ducklings can be seen in crèches, usually guarded by a number of adults
30 May 2023
Recent Sightings 22nd May 2023
The Limekiln balcony is the perfect viewing spot for migratory Sand martins (pictured) as they feed on the wing over the water. Sand martins over-winter in Africa, and arrive in the UK from March, staying until around October. Sand martins are smaller tha
22 May 2023
Recent Sightings 15th May 2023
The tide was in for this morning’s count, bringing a small group of Light-bellied brent geese to float just outside the Brent Hide windows on the waters of Strangford Lough. As the mudflats were underwater, the Shingle Bank and Wadermarsh welcomed in la
15 May 2023
Recent Sightings 8th May 2023
The first chicks are starting to show themselves on the reserve as little fluffy Moorhen chicks ran about on the Wadermarsh. The black-headed gulls are settling into their sites with eggs already in some nests. The Sedge warblers are singing strongly at t
9 May 2023
Recent Sightings 24th April 2023
A lot of spring arrivals showed themselves this week for the count, either singing their hearts out or displaying in the air. Sandwich terns were showing off their beautiful aerial aerobatics over the Estuary just off the Peninsular Saltmarsh. Common tern
25 April 2023
Recent Sightings 17th April 2023
Out on the Main Lake this morning was a solo female Goldeneye and several very active and gregarious Black-headed gulls. Goldeneyes are diving ducks, and they feed on aquatic invertebrates, amphibians and small fish. They have a very striking golden eye a
17 April 2023
Recent Sightings 10th April 2023
Between the bouts of torrential rain and hail stones, there was a lot to see at Castle Espie and out on the Estuary for this count. The tide was in, therefore bringing large numbers of Black-tailed godwits onto the Shingle Bank, along with Knot and Dunlin
11 April 2023
Recent Sightings 3rd April 2023
There was a receding tide this morning as the mudflats of Strangford Lough were exposed to speedy waders and hungry geese – with small numbers of Brent still feeding on the Estuary before leaving and Shelduck starting to pair off together. Large group
3 April 2023
Recent Sightings 27th March 2023
Blue skies and sunshine over the reserve this morning as birds of all kinds fill the skies, prospecting for nest sites and getting ready for breeding season. Small passerines are singing in the Woodland, early nesters such as Long tailed tits are busy gat
27 March 2023
Recent Sightings 20th March 2023
Daffodils and Wood sorrel are starting to bloom and the Black-headed gulls (pictured) have started prospecting nest sites on the islands within the reserve. Black-headed gulls are the UK’s commonest inland gull, but they nest near water on saltmarshes,
20 March 2023
Recent Sightings 13th March 2023
Goldeneye (pictured) were out on the Estuary this morning, with their iridescent head plumage shining in the sunshine in between the bouts of torrential rain! They are a diving duck, making their numbers tricky to count as they disappear out of sight hunt
13 March 2023
Recent Sightings 6th March 2023
The tide was coming in this morning and bought with it the Light-bellied brent geese which are still hanging around before they head off again. The Black-headed gulls are also starting to slowly but surely rise in number, as individuals gain their chocola
6 March 2023