Sightings - Castle Espie
Recent Sightings - 9th November 2020
The following sightings were taken yesterday from the reserve at Castle Espie on a falling tide. There was much interest on the reserve yesterday, particularly on the Saline Lagoon with the Kingfisher active on one of the constructed perches, and delight
10 November 2020
Recent Sightings - 2nd November 2020
The following sightings were taken yesterday from the reserve at Castle Espie at low tide. The typical winter bird fauna continues to change with the season with some rewarding views over the estuary. A small group of Whooper swan can be seen on the estu
3 November 2020
Recent Sightings - 19th October 2020
The following sightings were taken yesterday from the reserve at Castle Espie at low tide. Over the weekend we have had a rare visitor, the Great White Egret turn up on the Peninsula Saltmarsh, coming in at high tide with a group of Little Egrets. Compa
20 October 2020
Recent Sightings - 12th October 2020
The following sightings were taken yesterday from the reserve at Castle Espie at high tide. This time of year provides an opportunity to catch a glimpse of the Kingfisher on the reserve. During the breeding season they are hard to spot and remain elusive,
13 October 2020
Recent Sightings - 5th October 2020
The following sightings were taken yesterday from the reserve at Castle Espie at low tide. Despite the poor weather there continue to be spectacular views over the estuary with around 2,000 Brent visible from Castle Espie, as well as a host of other spec
6 October 2020
Recent Sightings - 28th September 2020
The following sightings were taken yesterday from the reserve at Castle Espie on a rising tide. Bumper crop on the estuary yesterday morning with a large flock of Greylag visible. The Sparrowhawk is still active and can be heard and seen as it hunts in
29 September 2020
Recent Sightings - 21st September 2020
The following sightings were taken yesterday from the reserve at Castle Espie at low tide. The sounds and sights of Brent geese continue to dominate the estuary as they move with the tides to take advantage of the abundant eel grass to feed on. There is
22 September 2020
Recent Sightings - 14th September 2020
The following sightings were taken yesterday from the reserve at Castle Espie at high tide. The WeBS counts have resumed this year and the wintering birds are returning in numbers to the Lough including good numbers of Light-bellied brent geese, Redshank
15 September 2020
Recent Sightings - 7th September 2020
The following sightings were taken yesterday from the reserve at Castle Espie on a falling tide. In addition to the Brent geese increasing in numbers on the estuary, we are seeing an increase in other wintering wildfowl, and waders to the Lough. Teal ha
8 September 2020
Recent Sightings - 31st August 2020
Exciting news! The Brent Geese have begun to return to Strangford Lough, their winter home. The geese were seen in the middle of last week having reached the Northern Coast of Northern Ireland, but they were first seen here, from the Brent hide on Saturda
31 August 2020
Recent Sightings - 25th August 2020
The tell tale signs of summer turning into autumn are abound this week. Wading birds are starring to return to the Lough with good numbers for Redshank seen roosting on the wadermash and the ditransitive call of the Curlew out on the estuary. The flowers
25 August 2020
Recent Sightings - 17th Aug 2020
The following sightings were taken yesterday from the reserve at Castle Espie on a rising tide. The Spotted sandpiper is still around on the reserve and has been seen mainly in and around the Freshwater lagoon area. We are delighted that such a rare vis
18 August 2020
Recent Sightings - 10th August 2020
Very exciting news this week from the reserve. A Spotted Sandpiper has been...spotted, using the edges of the the lagoons to forage for food. Spotted sandpipers are an american sandpiper species, that over there, occupy the same niche as our European Sand
10 August 2020
Recent Sightings - 27th July 2020
The following sightings were taken yesterday from the reserve at Castle Espie during high-tide. A very wet and then windy start to the week with a yearly high of Oystercatcher numbers on the Shingle bank yesterday. Early morning a total of 845 birds wer
28 July 2020
Recent Sightings - 20th July 2020
The following sightings were taken yesterday from the reserve at Castle Espie during low-tide. A few birds not seen that often turned up on the habitat count including Treecreeper, Jay and Spotted flycatcher. The flycatcher, although draply coloured, is
21 July 2020