Latest sightings
Recent Sightings €- 26th November 2018
Count was taken today at low tide. The big news this morning is that Shelduck numbers are still on the increase! Strangford Lough is nationally important for many different species of wintering wetland birds, including Shelduck. However the estuary mudfl
26 November 2018
Recent Sightings €- 19th November 2018
This count was taken at high tide this morning. Large flocks of wildfowl are still showing really well from the Brent Hide. Keep a look out for the hundreds of Wigeon; the males with their distinctive mustard forehead are a treat to see.
19 November 2018
Recent Sightings €- 12th Novemeber 2018
This count was taken at low tide at Castles Espie on the morning of 12/11/2018. As we charge through autumn towards winter, the duck populations are increasing on the reserve and on the estuary. The winter flock of Tufted duck is beginning to build on the
13 November 2018
Recent Sightings €- 29th October 2018
The following count was taken from the reserve and estuary at high tide today. Strangford Lough is such a remarkable place. The winter bird numbers just keeping increasing; huge flocks of Wigeon now visible everyday and large numbers of Greenshank are bei
5 November 2018
Recent Sightings €- 29th October 2018
The following count was taken from the reserve and estuary at low tide today. The winter birds are still showing well on the estuary. There are still impressive numbers of Brent geese on the lough and the flocks of duck and wader are impressive. Estuar
29 October 2018
Recent Sightings €- 22nd October 2018
The winter bird assemblage on the Estuary is truly magnificent. Thousands of birds are seen everyday. Whoopers swans have now arrived back from Iceland, so keep an eye out from the Brent hide for these incredible birds with their bright yellow bills. &nbs
22 October 2018
Recent Sightings €- 15th October 2018
The following sightings were recorded today at low tide from the reserve at Castle Espie. The number of Brent geese out on the estuary is breath-taking at present. Estuary – visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory Brent Goose c,350
15 October 2018
Recent Sightings €- 8th October 2018
The following sightings were recorded yesterday from the reserve at Castle Espie. Impressive numbers of Brent geese, ducks and waders out on the estuary at present. Estuary – visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory Brent Goose c,2500
8 October 2018
Recent Sightings €- 1st October 2018
The following sightings were recorded today at Low tide from the reserve at Castle Espie. The extraordinary "Gronk" sound of the Brent geese can be heard from nearly every part of the reserve now. Many thousands are now settling into the Lough for Autumn.
1 October 2018
Recent Sightings €- 24th September 2018
The following sightings were recorded today at Low tide from the reserve at Castle Espie. Another large influx of Brent Geese have arrived on the Lough from Iceland, many thousands can now be heard calling across the Lough to Castle Espie. A lovely little
24 September 2018
Recent Sightings €- 17th September 2018
The following sightings were recorded today at High-Mid tide from the reserve at Castle Espie. The winter migration is in full swing now. Brent geese seen in large number everyday from the Brent hide and large flocks of waders using the wadermarsh at high
18 September 2018
Recent Sightings €- 10th September 2018
The following sightings were recorded today at Low tide from the reserve at Castle Espie. Duck numbers are still on the increase, with lots of birds arriving to Strangford from their summer breeding grounds. Keep a particular look out for the Shoveler duc
10 September 2018
Recent Sightings €- 3rd September 2018
The following sightings were recorded today at Mid tide from the reserve at Castle Espie. They have returned! After flying over 2500 miles from their breeding grounds in Arctic Canada Brent Geese have returned to their wintering ground in Strangford Lough
3 September 2018
Recent Sightings €- 27th August 2018
The following sightings were recorded today at Low tide from the reserve at Castle Espie. Lots to see at the minute while we all eagerly await the return of the Brent Geese to Strangford Lough. Goldfinches are a hive of activity in the Brickworks, flocks
27 August 2018
Recent Sightings €- 20th August 2018
The following sightings were recorded today at High tide from the reserve at Castle Espie. As the days get shorter and the autumn approaches the numbers of water birds are on the increase. Wintering ducks are beginning to arrive on the reserve with Teal a
20 August 2018