News
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
Recent Sightings 27th February 2023
The tide was way out for this bird count, but there were still plenty of Shelduck and Brent geese to be seen feeding on the mudflats and in the streams running down the Lough. Oystercatcher and Curlew were out as well, probing the ground for food with the
28 February 2023
Recent Sightings 20th February 2023
Spring is definitely on the way - Snowdrops are blooming and temperatures are starting to rise. There are lots of Newts in the ponds in front of reception and the Greylag geese are starting to come in to the reserve, a sign of goslings to come! A Cormor
20 February 2023
Recent Sightings 13th February 2023
The tide was way out this morning for our weekly count, dragging most of the waders down the lough as they chased the receding waterline. However, we were treated to a large group of Golden plover reaching approximately 1000 individuals. The Golden plover
13 February 2023
Recent Sightings 6th February 2023
As the tide rose up towards the reserve this morning, it bought more diving species into view. Great crested grebe were out in full costume, showing off their white necks and orange plumage, accompanied by Red-breasted mergansers and their spikey headdres
6 February 2023
Recent Sightings 30th January 2023
There was a receding tide and some milder temperatures this morning for the weekly bird count, with the sun bursting out just often enough to entice the Kingfisher out for a spot of fishing on the Main Lake. A couple of cormorants had the same idea, dryin
30 January 2023
Recent Sightings 23rd January 2023
The weather has warmed up for our first day open in a while! We’ve had a nice mild morning to welcome visitors back to Castle Espie and to see the variety of birds that our lakes and ponds host. All parts of the reserve are now open again with lots of w
23 January 2023
Recent Sightings 16th January 2023
The frosty, windy morning didn’t bother the birds as much as it did us! Despite the chilly weather, there was lots to see on our lakes and ponds, as well as out on the exposed estuary. There were good numbers of Curlew feeding down the streams running o
16 January 2023
Recent Sightings 9th January 2023
A sunny start to the day saw the Kingfisher out and about over the Wadermarsh before the rain set in. With the tide out and the mudflats exposed, huge numbers of Dunlin were out on the Estuary. Numbers of Shelduck on the Lough are increasing and catching
9 January 2023
Recent Sightings 2nd January 2023
Strangford Lough’s mudflats were covered with various waders this morning as the tide receded, exposing their feeding grounds. Huge numbers of Dunlin were out along with large groups of Shelduck and Oystercatcher dotted about in between. Pintail were al
2 January 2023
Recent Sightings 27th December 2022
There was a rising tide for this Christmassy count on Tuesday, bringing groups of waders up the Estuary before the Strangford Lough mudflats were immersed in icy, cold seawater. Tiny Dunlin scuttle between groups of larger birds including Curlew, Oysterca
28 December 2022
Recent Sightings 12th December 2022
Castle Espie was completely shrouded in frost this morning, followed swiftly by a wintery fog creeping over the Main Lake. The Estuary was bursting with life as waders of all shapes and sizes rushed to feed before the tide came in. A solo Snipe was hunker
12 December 2022
Recent Sightings 5th December 2022
Start of December on the reserve and the temperature has definitely dropped! The Kingfisher was out on the Limestone Lake fishing in the cold winter sunshine, accompanied by a small trio of Otters playing in the water. Whilst the center has been closed, o
6 December 2022