News
Results from recent bird count
We have undertaken a bird count at Castle Espie and I am really pleased with the number of birds on site at the moment. 400+ black-tailed godwit that are feeding on stubble and can be seen flying back and forth to the shore line 500 brent geese are still
17 November 2011
Cold weather brings an influx of waders and duck
We undertook a Brent geese count yesterday and there are just over 5000 geese still in the area but a lot have now moved further south to spend the rest of the winter. However, the recent cold weather has brought in an influx of smaller waders and duck in
8 November 2011
Enter the WWT photography competition
From shovelers at Slimbridge to Brent geese at Castle Espie (pictured) – the entries into the autumn heat of the WWT 2011-2012 Photography Competition are flooding in. As we hit the halfway mark of the autumn heat of the competition, there are just a
3 November 2011
WWT Castle Espie to host local photographic competition
One of the highlights of the local camera club photographic competition scene will take place on 18th November (7.30pm) when Castle Espie Wildlife Wetlands Centre near Comber, Co.Down, will be the host venue for the annual Roy Finlay Memorial Natural hist
3 November 2011
Brents arrive at Castle Espie
We are gearing up for October here at Castle Espie Wetland Centre and, with the arrival of the brents and an early visit from whooper swans, Autumn is upon us. Brent goose numbers are building with nearly 14,000 on the Lough on 14 September. These numbers
24 October 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
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
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
Sneak behind the scenes at BBC Wild Week Live – Castle Espie Day 3
Well, Tuesday’s brief reprieve in the weather hasn’t really held as much as we’d have liked. The blustery winds returned and grey skies prevailed for much of yesterday (Wednesday) but that wasn’t going to dampen the mood - at at least it stayed dr
26 May 2011
Sneak behind the scenes at BBC Wild Week Live - Day 1
The BBC1 NI Wild Week team were quite literally blown away on the first evening of filming Wild Week at Castle Espie last night! Apart from the stunning views which are always guaranteed to take your breath away, the 70 mph gusts and the impending rain ad
24 May 2011
BBC prepare for week's filming at Castle Espie
BBC Northern Ireland's Wild Week Live team have been busy preparing for a week-long broadcast event coming live from WWT Castle Espie. Starting tonight at 7pm (Monday 23 May), four half hour programmes celebrating the rich wildlife in Northern Ireland wil
23 May 2011
May events at Castle Espie
May 2011 It’s wild at Castle Espie – from plasticine to Mesolithic man! May beckons and with warmer weather just around the corner, Castle Espie Wetland Centre outside Comber has a few unusual events planned for the month. An early start at 6pm on Sa
6 May 2011
BBC’s Wild Week Live coming from WWT Castle Espie in May
WWT Castle Espie is set to become the centre piece of a BBC Northern Ireland week-long broadcast event called Wild Week Live. The TV and radio extravaganza taking place at the end of May, which will celebrate the rich wildlife resident around Northern Ir
3 May 2011
Kate Mitchell
Nature in graphic detail A stunning photographic exhibition will open at the Graffan Gallery, at Castle Espie Wetland Centre, outside Comber in County Down, on Saturday 14 May and run until Monday 31 May 2011. Featured artist, Kate Mitchell will bring an
21 April 2011