Spring is in the air at Castle Espie
Signs of Spring are arriving at WWT Castle Espie. From the reserve to the lakes and ponds to the woodland paths, wildlife and nature is beginning to blossom for everyone to discover.
In Spring courtship rituals begin; a large colony of black-headed gulls nest on the reserve; terns return to breed and showcase elegant aerobatics; migrating birds return full of birdsong, ducklings arrive and lesser celandine, wood sorrel and snowdrops carpet the reserve.
Most of the lakes and ponds host families of ducklings, from tufted ducks to mallards to shelduck – there are always babies to see.
Common and sandwich terns visit the reserve in spring to prospect for breeding sites. Our tern rafts offer them an ideal habitat for nest building, with bare shingle and surrounding water.
Woodland paths are lined with beautiful blossoming wood-sorrel guiding you through the trees. At night, the distinctive trefoil leaves fold up completely.
The centre has recently reopened its doors in January 23 after being closed in October 2022, following The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) guidelines, and has worked in partnership with DAERA to take measures to protect the birds at the centre. In order to continue to protect the birds in their care, the resident collection bird section of the site will be temporarily closed with a new visitor path providing access to the rest of the reserve site. Visitors can still see some of the wetland superstars from around the world from the Kingfisher café.
