Latest sightings

Recent Sightings 28th October 2024

The following sightings were taken today from the reserve at Castle Espie around high tide. Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory Herring gull 24, Light-Bellied brent goose 715, Wigeon 170, Black-headed Gull 6, Common Gull

28 October 2024

Recent Sightings 21st October 2024

The following sightings were taken today from the reserve at Castle Espie on a low tide. Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory Herring gull 40, Little egret 17, Mute swan 1, Black-headed gull 39, Oystercatcher 8, Light-bell

14 October 2024

Recent Sightings 14th October 2024

The following sightings were taken today from the reserve at Castle Espie on a rising tide. Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory Oystercatcher 210, Redshank 2, Light-bellied brent goose 1,800, Black-headed gull 2, Curlew 2

14 October 2024

Recent Sightings 30th September 2024

The following sightings were taken today from the reserve at Castle Espie on a rising tide.Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory Herring gull 1, Oystercatcher 12, Redshank 6, Light-bellied brent goose 3,152, Curlew 4, Lesser

30 September 2024

Recent Sightings 23rd September 2024

The following sightings were taken today from the reserve at Castle Espie on a low tide. Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory Herring gull 2, Oystercatcher 4, Redshank 2, Hooded crow 1, Light-bellied brent goose ~2,500, Bla

23 September 2024

Recent Sightings 16th September 2024

The following sightings were taken on Monday from the reserve at Castle Espie around high tide.Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory Oystercatcher 278, Light-bellied brent goose ~1,500, Black-headed gull 2, Curlew 80, Sheldu

16 September 2024

Recent Sightings 9th September 2024

The following sightings were taken on Monday from the reserve at Castle Espie at low tide:Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory Light-bellied brent goose 260, Black-headed gull 10, Curlew 6, Shelduck 58, Lesser black-backed g

19 August 2024

Recent Sightings 2nd September 2024

The following sightings were taken yesterday from the reserve at Castle Espie during a rising tide. With the arrival of the first Brent to the shores of Strangford Lough, there is a definite feel that the winter season has started. The change in seasons

9 August 2024

Recent Sightings 19th August 2024

The following sightings were taken today 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

9 August 2024

Recent Sightings 12th August 2024

The following birds spotted on the reserve today. We had a young Cuckoo visit the reserve last week and stayed around for a few days. Cuckoos are a summer visitor, arriving around April, and generally head south quite early in the Summer. Cuckoos have e

9 August 2024

Recent Sightings 5th August 2024

For today’s count, the tide was quickly creeping its way up the lough with a strong wind and light rain. The Oystercatcher hadn’t yet reached the Shingle Bank and were still busy feeding and making the most of the exposed mudflats, along with Curlew,

5 August 2024

Recent Sightings 29th July 2024

The tide was just receding for a very warm, dry count this morning, with a few Curlew and Little egret poking around for food on the freshly exposed mudflats. Large groups of Oystercatcher were still roosting on the Shingle Bank and Wadermarsh, with our r

29 July 2024

Recent Sightings 23rd July 2024

A beautiful, sunny day on the Reserve today revealed that we have Common tern chicks on the raft at Saline Lagoon! Common terns (pictured), also known as sea-swallows, are summer visitors to our shores but are also commonly found inland. These graceful bi

23 July 2024

Recent Sightings 15th July 2024

The tide was in for this count, moving the Curlew up to the top of the Lough to roost all together and pushing the Oystercatcher into the reserve to roost on the Shingle Bank, joined by Common and Black-headed gulls. Large numbers of Little egrets (pict

16 July 2024

Recent Sightings 24th June 2024

This morning’s tide was way out for the count around the Reserve, exposing our rocky shoreline for a lovely little visitor – a Rock pipit! Rock pipit’s are small, streaky brown birds that are often found along coastlines, feeding on small molluscs b

24 June 2024