Sightings - Castle Espie
Recent Sighting - 1st April 2019
This week on the Estuary in front of Castle Espie, we've had a large influx of Light-bellied Brent Geese. These birds are gathering together and getting in some last minute feeding, before braving the 2500km trip to their Arctic breeding grounds in Canada
1 April 2019
Recent Sightings - 25th March
The reserve is becoming a hive of activity again for some of our most important breeding birds; Black-headed Gulls. Castle Espie's reserve hosts one of the largest colonies in Northern Ireland, so it's great to see the birds back again scouting out their
25 March 2019
Recent Sightings - 18th March 2019
As the days get longer, most of our winter visitors begin to disperse and disappear; the duck flocks on the main lake are much reduced, there is only a handful of Brent on the estuary and the Little Grebes are becoming elusive once more. However the tides
18 March 2019
Recent Sightings - 11th March 2019
Spring is well underway despite the recent blizzard! Lots of Passerine birds are singing and defending territories, corvids are collecting nest material, but the most conspicuous sign of spring is the displaying Coots. Coots are becoming very territorial
11 March 2019
Recent Sightings - 4th March 2019
Now that we are moving into Spring, lots of waders and wildfowl are beginning to congregate around Strangford lough; Brent gathering before they migrate back to arctic Canada, immature Oystercatchers gathering in preparation for flocking together in the s
4 March 2019
Recent Sightings - 18th February 2019
Strangford Lough is an incredible rich place for lots of different wader species. One of our most frequent, abundant and visible visitors during the winter is the rather dainty Redshank. Striking and diagnostic red legs make this a bird easily identified
18 February 2019
Recent Sightings - 11th February 2019
Another under appreciated wee gem that's very visible at Castle Espie at this time of year is the Gadwall.
11 February 2019
Recent Sightings - 3rd February 2019
This week i thought I'd highlight one of our most conspicuous and yet overlooked residents; the Moorhen. These "water chicken" like birds are found around are commonly found on wetlands in the UK and Ireland, wading in the edges of ponds and lakes with th
4 February 2019
Recent Sightings - 28th January 2019
Count taken at low tide on the morning of 28/1/19.Two birds which have been infrequent visitors to Castle Espie this winter, but very rarely show up on this weekly count, are Redpoll and Siskin. (Redpoll above)These two species aren't found at Castle Espi
28 January 2019
Recent Sightings - 14th January 2019
Count taken at low tide this morning. A really nice treat this morning was to get close views of Curlew from the Brent hide, both on the estuary and on our wadermarsh. At low tide curlews use their curved beaks to dig into the mud looking for deep lying w
14 January 2019
Recent - Sightings 7th January 2019
Count taken at Low tide this morning. Happy New Year to all! Hopefully the new year will be just as good for birds this year as it was last year! The highlights this morning were the wintering ducks assemblage on the Main lake and the infrequently sighted
7 January 2019
Recent Sightings €- 31st December 2018
Count taken at High-Mid tide this morning. It was a real treat on the reserve this morning to find Peregrine falcons zooming over the brickworks. Not unusual birds to see in NI but are infrequent visitors to Castle Espie. Their large size, long pointed
31 December 2018
Recent Sightings €- 17th December 2018
Count taken at Mid-tide this morning. Keep your eyes peeled around the reserve for a very elusive and colourful little duck, the Eurasian Teal. Lots of Teal have been seen on sight of late, mainly roosting overnight but some are staying all day on both
17 December 2018
Recent Sightings €- 10th December 2018
Count taken at low tide this morning. We've been very fortunate of late to have regular views of the Kingfisher over the Wadermarsh in the mornings. Its being seen regularly sitting on posts around the sluice area. Keep an eye out for this bird from the B
10 December 2018
Recent Sightings €- 3rd December 2018
Count taken at high tide. With Winter closing in, we've been topping up our bird feeders in and around the centre, with all sorts of garden birds visiting them. The real highlight is our family of Bullfinches. Big pink breast, thick beak for crushing seed
3 December 2018