News
30 Ruff
South Lake The juvenile Common Tern still visiting the lake and scrape. On the deep lake the Great Crested Grebe youngster continues to beg for food but should be finding it's own fish now, only one parent seems to be present, perhaps the other has had e
27 August 2018
Mixed Review for Sustainable Drainage
The Government has published its review of whether new major developments are adding to flood risk or not. The key is whether current law encourages them to design ways to handle heavy rainfall onsite, rather than pour it down already overloaded drainage
27 August 2018
Today's sightings
Mute swan Whooper swan Barnacle goose Canada goose Greylag Mallard Garganey Teal Cormorant Coot Little grebe Moorhen Black-tailed godwit Ruff (x2) Snipe Common sandpiper Little-ringed plover Lapwing Starling House martin Swallow Pied wagtail Yellow wagtai
27 August 2018
Recent Sightings €- 27th August 2018
The following sightings were recorded today at Low tide from the reserve at Castle Espie. Lots to see at the minute while we all eagerly await the return of the Brent Geese to Strangford Lough. Goldfinches are a hive of activity in the Brickworks, flocks
27 August 2018
Wildlife sightings 27/08/18
a.m. mid tide Wader Lake Lapwing 210 Teal 21 Redshank 6 Snipe 3 Grey heron Swallow Shelduck Avocet Green sandpiper Saline lagoon Lapwing 4 Teal 7 Grey heron Curlew Hawthorn Wood Blue tit 5 Great tit 5 Coal tit Willow tit Robin Sparrowhawk (male) Greenfinc
27 August 2018
Wildlife sightings for 27th August 2018
1 Garganey - wader scrape 1 Common Sandpiper - main lake 2 Common Tern - main lake 2 Snipe - wader scrape 4 Little Grebe + 3 chicks - main lake 1 Swallow - reservoir lagoon 12 Swift - reservoir lagoon 15 Sand Martin - reservoir lagoon 40 House Martin - re
27 August 2018
Merlin
The first Merlin of the autumn was seen over the Mere and then later from Ron Barker hide, also a Peregrine and 2-3 Sparrowhawk including two birds sat together. A Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 24 Ruff, 300 Lapwing and 20+ Snipe were counted on s
26 August 2018
Birding in the rain
Rushy Hide Ruff, 3 Snipe, 7 Avocet and 3 Green Sandpiper on the lower pond. Grey Heron, Little Grebe and 10+ Gadwall on the top pond. Tack Piece Six Black-tailed Godwit and the juvenile Spotted Redshank (see image) popped in a couple of times. 20+ Teal a
26 August 2018
Today's Highlights
Spoonbill (ringed) at Lyle hide Little egret Grey heron Cormorant Moorhen Coot Little ringed plover juv-2 Ringed plover juv-1 Common sandpiper-2 Green sandpiper Snipe at Friends hide Avocet Little grebe Black tailed godwit-6 Ruff-2 Dunlin-1 Lapwing Mallar
26 August 2018
Wildlife sightings for 26th August 2018
1 Marsh Harrier (female) - quartered the marsh for 10 minutes before dropping into the middle field 1 Garganey - wader scrape 2 Yellow Wagtail - grazing marsh 1 Common Sandpiper - main lake 5 Snipe - wader scrape, main lake, grazing marsh 2 Common Tern -
26 August 2018
Hobby
A few sightings of at least 1 Hobby a 2nd cal yr bird today, also the large juv female Peregrine was seen chasing a Snipe on site. A juv Marsh Harrier has been seen a few times around the reserve today as well Buzzard, Kestrel and 2 Sparrowhawk.
25 August 2018
Today's sightings
Mute swan Whooper swan Greylag Barnacle goose (Main Obs) Shelduck Mallard Garganey Teal Little grebe Coot Moorhen Grey heron Little egret Black-tailed godwit (Lyle) Avocet Common sandpiper (Lyle) Starling House martin Swallow Yellow wagtail Pied wagtail W
25 August 2018
Wildlife sightings 25/08/18
a.m. low tide Wader Lake Avocet Lapwing 2 Pied wagtail Green sandpiper Herring gull (juveniles) 2 Saline lagoon Green sandpiper Common snipe Grey heron Lapwing Common sandpiper Hawthorn Wood Bullfinch 3 Goldfinch 16 Willow tit Greenfinch 9 Chaffinch 13 Ja
25 August 2018
Wildlife sightings for 25th August 2018
1 Pied Flycatcher juv - entrance lake roundabout 0900hrs 2 Green Sandpiper - scrape 1 Common Sandpiper - main lake 1 Whinchat - grazing marsh 1 Wheatear - south route 1 Hobby - sheltered lagoon 3 Little Grebe chicks - main lake Observatory (hatched overni
25 August 2018
Latest Sightings - Saturday 25th August
A brilliant sunny morning but a very cool breeze at the moment. The Hawthorns at the Avenue Tower are still busy: Lesser Whitethroat, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Dunnock amongst others. An duck ID challenge in the Flood Ground today. All in eclipse plumage, we
25 August 2018