News

Recent Sightings - 10th August 2020

Recent Sightings - 10th August 2020

Very exciting news this week from the reserve. A Spotted Sandpiper has been...spotted, using the edges of the the lagoons to forage for food. Spotted sandpipers are an american sandpiper species, that over there, occupy the same niche as our European Sand

10 August 2020

Recent Sightings - 27th July 2020

Recent Sightings - 27th July 2020

The following sightings were taken yesterday from the reserve at Castle Espie during high-tide. A very wet and then windy start to the week with a yearly high of Oystercatcher numbers on the Shingle bank yesterday. Early morning a total of 845 birds wer

28 July 2020

Recent Sightings - 20th July 2020

Recent Sightings - 20th July 2020

The following sightings were taken yesterday from the reserve at Castle Espie during low-tide. A few birds not seen that often turned up on the habitat count including Treecreeper, Jay and Spotted flycatcher. The flycatcher, although draply coloured, is

21 July 2020

Vote to ban lead ammunition shot down again as dirty tricks prevail

Vote to ban lead ammunition shot down again as dirty tricks prevail

Lead ban on hold yet again as last minute objection derails plans.

15 July 2020

Recent Sightings - 13th July 2020

Recent Sightings - 13th July 2020

The following sightings were taken yesterday from the reserve at Castle Espie during high-tide. The Whitethroat is a late arrival this week, seen and heard around the Limekiln area. Whitethroats are summer migrants to Ireland, flying from as far as sub-

14 July 2020

Recent Sightings - 6th July 2020

Recent Sightings - 6th July 2020

The following sightings were taken yesterday from the reserve at Castle Espie during mid tide. The centre is re-opening up to the public again this week after the lockdown, and the wildlife on the reserve will have to get accustomed to more people on sit

7 July 2020

Recent Sightings - 29th June 2020

Recent Sightings - 29th June 2020

The following sightings were taken yesterday from the reserve at Castle Espie during mid-tide. With many of the Black-headed gull chicks fledged, some birds are still on eggs, either delayed nesting or second brood for some birds. The colony is accompani

30 June 2020

Recent Sightings - 22nd June 2020

Recent Sightings - 22nd June 2020

The following sightings were taken yesterday from the reserve at Castle Espie during low tide. The Tern chicks are now visible on the Saline lagoon with a few hatched while others are still sitting on eggs. The fledged Black-headed gulls are now active

23 June 2020

Recent Sightings - 14th June 2020

Recent Sightings - 14th June 2020

The following sightings were taken yesterday from the reserve at Castle Espie during high tide. The Swallows from the nest in the round house have now fledged, and can be seen flying around the Freshwater Lagoon. The first of the Tern eggs have hatched,

15 June 2020

Recent Sightings - 8th June 2020

Recent Sightings - 8th June 2020

The following sightings were taken yesterday from the reserve at Castle Espie at High Tide. Many of the birds on the reserve now have broods with Shelduck on the Freshwater Lagoon, Eider on the estuary, and Gadwall on the Limestone Lake. Most of the gul

9 June 2020

Recent Sightings - 25th May 2020

Recent Sightings - 25th May 2020

The following sightings were recorded today at Castle Espie during mid-tide. Despite the strong winds over the weekend, the sedge warbler could be seen high in the willows in full voice, whilst swaying in the wind. The reed buntings are active at the ed

26 May 2020

Recent Sightings - 17th May 2020

Recent Sightings - 17th May 2020

The following sightings were recorded yesterday from the reserve at Castle Espie at High Tide. The gull colony at the Freshwater lagoon are starting to peak with many of the eggs hatched and the first chicks visible. Oystercatcher continue to roost on t

18 May 2020

Recent Sightings - 11th May 2020

Recent Sightings - 11th May 2020

The following sightings were recorded today from the reserve at Castle Espie at Low Tide.Sedge warbler is in full song at the Round House as it struggles to call above the sound of the gulls, which are now in mid breeding cycle with most birds sitting on

8 May 2020

Recent Sightings - 3rd May 2020

Recent Sightings - 3rd May 2020

The following sightings were recorded today from the reserve at Castle Espie at High Tide. The Terns are now showing interest in the raft and the island in the Saline lagoon and we hope they settle soon. The Mediterranean gulls are still visiting the sit

4 May 2020

Recent Sightings - 27th April 2020

Recent Sightings - 27th April 2020

The following sightings were recorded today from the reserve at Castle Espie at Low Tide.The Terns are now frequently seen flying over the site and more summer visitors are arriving including the noisy Sedge warbler heard from the reeds in the peninsula f

28 April 2020