News
A little gosling take over!
The Duckery is over-run this year, not least with the influx of goslings coming our way!Never before have the Downy Duckling Day tours been blessed with so many little balls of fluff toddling across the grass... To top it all off they contain species whi
28 June 2011
Schools demand access to the outdoor classroom
Teachers are calling for more outside facilities to ensure all children and young people have the opportunity to learn outdoors and have contact with nature. Tomorrow (Friday 24 June), more than 50 sites will respond to this demand by hosting visits from
24 June 2011
Relax and enjoy a stress-free September with WWT
Wellbeing Month, 1-30 September Escape the stresses of daily life this September and regain that relaxed holiday feeling as you head into autumn. September at Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) centres across the UK is ‘Wellbeing Month’, and there is
23 June 2011
Bufflehead
Bufflehead are brilliant. They hatch from the tiniest of eggs into veritable balls of monochrome fluff, and their bold black caps and soft dark eyes prove to be very captivating. As the very smallest of the divers they are exceptionally delicate, easy to
23 June 2011
Greater Magellan developments
Yay! After a difficult incubation period with cracked eggs and an abandoning mum, Mrs. Magellan's eggs finally hatched in our incubators to produce 5 wonderful goslings... These little stripy balls hatched out to great applause from duckery staff after t
21 June 2011
Black-headed ducks
These ducks may be brown, dull, and mousey in many aspects, but they are absolutely stunning in others! The black-headed duck or "cuckoo duck" is to me the most fascinating and innovative of all the birds we keep at Slimbridge. The birds live solitary liv
16 June 2011
Black bellied whistling ducks :)
These little guys have worked hard to become the universal Downy Duckling Day favourite this year, and they really do deserve it!! The black-bellied or southern red-billed whistling duck is a relatively common duck native to the southern USA, Mexico an
13 June 2011
The duckery tour begins . . .
Ducklings hatching at this time of year make Castle Espie Duckery Tours a day out to remember. With the largest captive bird collection anywhere in Ireland, you will see many breeds which you quite simply, won’t see anywhere else! Every Saturday and Sun
7 June 2011
Lesser flamingo activity!
I am sure many of you are currently thinking, "what's going on at the Lesser house?" After hatching out Hope just a few years ago, the Lessers have not looked good to breed ever since. As an aged group their favourite activities include feeding, washing,
5 June 2011
Emergency mission to save remarkable bird from extinction
An international team of conservationists has flown out to the Russian Far East on an emergency mission to help save one of the world’s rarest birds from extinction. The spoon-billed sandpiper is a unique and remarkable bird, but its shocking drop in nu
3 June 2011
Updates on the move!
Just a flying note to update you all on Duckery activity so far this year... WOW is it busy?!! We have had the biggest May boom for years with the Duckery literally overflowing with birds. A stunning 22 North American black duck hatched within 3 days, an
3 June 2011
Sneak behind the scenes at BBC Wild Week Live at Castle Espie – Day 5... The Finale!
Well what a week it’s been here at Castle Espie and what a fantastic hour long finale to end an amazing five days. We started with 6km of cable at the beginning of the week and now the BBC have used all the cable they brought with them, in ever increas
28 May 2011
Come to Downy duckling days!
Every year the Slimbridge Duckery opens its doors for just 10 days glorious to celebrate the joys of the duckling season... Running from 11-4 daily from the 28th May - 5th June (and henceforth once daily until mid June) the tours will allow you to witness
28 May 2011
Sneak behind the scenes at BBC Wild Week Live – Castle Espie Day 4
Last night’s penultimate programme saw Kerry, our blue tit family and, of course, Dot the undisputed stars of the show once again. Although a stiff north-westerly made May feel like March, the benefit of on-site bird hides gave shelter from the breeze
27 May 2011
Sneak behind the scenes at BBC Wild Week Live – Castle Espie Day 2
Two shows in now and we’re all getting in our stride here at Castle Espie, positively revelling in our “as seen on TV” status! Another fantastic live programme last night, with thankfully calmer winds and no rain this time...fingers crossed for toni
27 May 2011