Latest sightings
Low Water Count - 22nd February
The following sightings were recorded by Grounds and Reserve Manager Kerry Mackie. Estuary Teal 285 Wigeon 55 Shoveller 20 Shelduck 414 Red Breasted Merganser 2 Eider 18 Brent 113 Mute Swan 2 Whooper Swan 79 Oystercatcher 230 Bar Tailed Godwit 105 Black T
23 February 2015
Recent Sightings - 20th February
The following sightings were recorded by Pete Matchett, Reserve Warden Main lake – visible from Sensory garden and Visitor centre Mallard 326 Tufty 52 Gadwall 12 Cormorant 6 Mute Swan 2 Little Egret 6 Coot 6 Little Grebe 2 Greylag 26 Freshwater lagoon -
20 February 2015
Recent Sightings 13th February
The following sightings were recorded by Peter Matchett, Reserve Warden Main lake – visible from Sensory garden and Visitor centre Mallard 264 Tufty 48 Gadwall 4 Cormorant 6 Mute Swan 3 Little Egret 9 Coot 6 Freshwater lagoon - visible from Brent Hide a
13 February 2015
Recent Sightings 4th February
The following sightings were recorded by Pete Matchett, Reserve Warden Main lake – visible from Sensory garden and Visitor centre Mallard 342 Cormorant 6 Tufty 45 Scaup 1 Gadwall 47 Little Egret 7 Grey Heron 1 Black Headed Gull 60 Black Tailed Godwit 2
4 February 2015
Recent Sightings 28th January
The following sightings were recorded by Peter Matchett, Reserve Warden Main lake – visible from Sensory garden and Visitor centre Gadwall 17 Cormorant 1 Tufted 49 Little grebe 1 Mallard 360 Freshwater lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannog Coot
28 January 2015
Recent Sightings - 13th October
The following sightings were reported by Kerry Mackie, WWT Castle Espie Reserve Manager and Peter Matchett, Seasonal Reserve Warden and Kez Armstrong, Aviculture Warden. The latest Brent count has picked up around 24,000 Brent Geese on Strangford Lough w
13 October 2014
Recent Sightings - 7th October
The following sightings were reported by Kerry Mackie, WWT Castle Espie Reserve Manager 70 Turnstone 500 Knot 140 Bar-tailed Godwit 1 Spoonbill roosting on the black rock at highwater 100 widgeon Up to 10 Little Egrets on the estuary with 17 Egrets on the
8 October 2014
Recent Sightings – 24th September
From the Brent Hide & Limekiln Observatory 2300 Brent 1150 Oystercatcher 250 Curlew 620 Redshank 350 Teal 40 Shelduck 2 Merganser 45 Eider Little Stint 14 Little Egret 1 Spoonbill On the Reserve 4 Little Egret 1 Kingfisher 3 Little Grebe 24 Pintail 4
24 September 2014
Recent Sightings - 22nd September
Recent Sightings at Castle Espie include the return of a Spoonbill and between 1500 and 2000 Brent Geese including juveniles. Spoonbill Little Stint Large numbers of Oystercatchers Small groups of Grey / Gold Plover 30 Shelduck Black and Bar-tailed Godwi
22 September 2014
Get Outdoors Weekend Sightings
As part of the Great Outdoors Weekend Beginners Birdwatch sessions led by Dot Blakely we can report the following sightings: Viewed from the Brent Hide: 1200 Brent Geese 12 Shelduck Small scattering of Oystercatchers and Curlew between Limekiln an
21 September 2014
Recent Sightings - 19th September
Main Lake 15 Gadwall 17 Pintail 350 Mallard 1 Kingfisher 83 Greyleg 1 Cormorant 1 Little Grebe Wader Marsh 4 Little Egret 1 Curlew 1 Greenshank 1 Heron Estuary 2,500 Brent Geese 95 Curlew 450 Oystercatcher 15 Greyplover (three still in summer plumage) Fr
19 September 2014
Recent Sightings - 28th June
Main lake 200 Oystercatcher on Shingle Bank 2 Lesser Black Backed Gulls 2 Mute Swans 43 Mallard 17 Tufted Duck 2 Coot Peninsula Salt Marsh 2 Ringed Plover 1 Little Egret 225 Oystercatchers 1 Heron Estuary 150 Oystercatcher Eider with 5 young Fresh Water L
29 June 2014
Recent Sightings - 16th June
Main Lake - Shelduck with 8 ducklings, 3 Mute Swans, 3 Greylag & 6 goslings, 2 Teal Wader Marsh - Shelduck with 6 ducklings, 6 Greylags, 9 Black Tailed Godwit, 1 Little Egret. Buzzard was seen flying over the Main Lake/ Wader Marsh. Fresh Water Lagoo
17 June 2014
Recent Sightings - 11 June
Main lake - 135 Mallard, 8 Gadwall, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Shelduck with ducklings, 1 pair Greylag with 5 goslings Wader marsh - 7 Greylag, 14 Shelduck Peninsula Salt Marsh; 300 Oystercatchers, 2 Little Egret, 1 Shelduck, 2 Ringed Plover Limestone lake - 1 pa
11 June 2014
Recent Sightings - 24th June
Main Lake - 2 Shoveler, 3 Gadwall, 3 Tufted Duck, 13 Shelduck, 2 Greylag with 5 goslings, 1 Heron, 200 Oystercatchers on the Shinglebank with 12 Black tailed Godwits. Estuary - 3 Ringed Plover, 1 Spoonbill Peninsula Salt Marsh - 5 Ringed Plover, 15 Oyster
27 May 2014