News
Recent Sightings €- 1st October 2018
The following sightings were recorded today at Low tide from the reserve at Castle Espie. The extraordinary "Gronk" sound of the Brent geese can be heard from nearly every part of the reserve now. Many thousands are now settling into the Lough for Autumn.
1 October 2018
Latest Sightings
A brief up date. Plenty of Pink-footed Goose action on the reserve with many thousands of geese coming and going throughout the day. Pink-footed Geese from the Ron Barker Hide (spot the Buzzard) Plenty of raptor acti
30 September 2018
Today's Highlights
Cranes x 36+ Barn owl Kestrel Marsh harrier Sparrowhawk Tree sparrow House sparrow Goldfinch Swallow Yellow wagtail Moorhen Coot Grey heron Snipe Little grebe Teal Ringed teal Black-tailed godwit Greylag geese Whooper swans Mute swans
30 September 2018
Wildlife sightings - 30/09/18
Wader Lake (AM, high tide): Bar-tailed godwit (rare visitor) 1 Black-tailed godwit 2 Teal 36 Black-headed gull 242 Curlew 1 Redshank 9 Saline lagoon (AM, high tide): Teal 32 (1 at the river reedbed and 31 on the lagoon) Jay 1 (at the river reedbed)
30 September 2018
30th September sightings
Rushy Rather quiet in here whilst work proceeds on Scott House. All noisy and front of house work is on schedule to be completed by 15th October. Teal 137 Redshank 1 Snipe 7 Grey Wagtail 1 South Lake Nice mixed wader flock here: Black Tailed Godwit 79 Red
30 September 2018
Wildlife sightings for 30th September 2018
1 Brambling - South route, under feeders 17 Wigeon - main lake, wader scrape 13 Snipe - main lake, grazing marsh, wader scrape 3 Meadow Pipit - grazing marsh 5 Chiffchaff - South route 2 Buzzard - flew over heading NE 1 Red Kite - flew over heading South
30 September 2018
Tw Unringed adult Cranes
Rushy Teal 96 Snipe 2 Shoveler 4 Lapwing 15 Goldfinch 12 Holden Tower and hides Teal 176 Green Sandpiper 1 Spotted Redshank 4 (Robbie Garnett Hide) Shoveler 2 Greylag 225 Buzzard 1 Peregrine 2 Curlew 44 Crane 12 including 2 unringed adults. Reed Bunting 2
29 September 2018
Latest Sightings - Saturday 29th September - Barnie influx
Over 5,000 Barnacle Geese are now on the reserve, with an influx overnight. Whooper Swans are still in the area, but are spending little time on the reserve. They have been dropping in briefly on the Whooper Pond and Flood Ground. Wigeon and Teal numbers
29 September 2018
Latest Sightings
A chilly and sunny start with a fairly brisk West South Westerly. Good numbers of Pink-footed Geese around and new skeins coming in from high early on. Locally the single Barnacle Goose is still present in the Pink-foot flocks. Two leucistic Pink-footed G
29 September 2018
Wildlife sightings for 29th September 2018
2 Stonechat - grazing marsh 4 Meadow Pipit - flying over heading W 4 Chiffchaff - South route, wildside 17 Wigeon - main lake, wader scrape 2 Water Rail - main reedbeds 3 Snipe - main lake, grazing marsh August bird highlights: Shelduck, Green San
29 September 2018
Today's sightings
Pallid harrier - Last reported sighting; 11:45am at Friends hide. Mute swan Whooper swan Shoveler Mallard Gadwall Wigeon Garganey Teal Coot Moorhen Crane (x36, Lady fen) Great egret Bittern (Reedbed hide) Little egret Black-tailed godwit Ruff Lapwing Sta
29 September 2018
Bird News
Things have remained fairly static over the past few days, with little new to report. On the positive side, nothing has left either, so still lots of raptors including at least 3 Marsh Harriers and 2 Peregrines showing regularly. A single Barnacle Goose i
28 September 2018
Recent sightings 26th-28th September
Photo by Mark Johnson British Steel Hide There has been plenty to see again from the British Steel Hide, including 286 Knot, 311 Dunlin, 210 Redshank, 104 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Spotted Redshank. 400 Greylag geese hav
28 September 2018
Tasty October lunches
Planning a visit this October? Fantastic wildlife spectacles await on the reserve as our wintering swans and ducks return, the autumnal highlight of cranes gathering to forage and the last of the summer's dragonflies still on the wing. With all this e
28 September 2018
A Day in the Life of Sarah-Jane - Practical Reserves Volunteer
Steart has been one of my favourite stamping grounds for quite some time now. The openness and tranquillity make it the perfect place to restore the soul, fill your lungs with clean air and, of course, see some of our amazing wildlife. It had never really
28 September 2018