Latest sightings
Recent Sightings 31 August 2026
Castle Espie Bird Sightings Summary (Low Tide) This week's Bird of the Week is the Black-tailed Godwit, a striking red-listed wading bird that uses the mudflats and sheltered waters of Strangford Lough as an important winter refuge and migration stopover. Volunteers recorded 17 Black-tailed Godwits across the reserve and estuary. A good variety of wetland birds were observed during the low tide survey. The Estuary held the highest numbers, including 180 Oystercatchers, 18 Curlews, 24 Black-headed Gulls, and 16 Shelducks, alongside Little Egrets, Cormorants and Eiders. The Main Lake supported large numbers of ducks, with 187 Mallards and smaller numbers of Gadwall, Teal, Shoveler and Pintail, while two Kingfishers were also seen. Notable sightings elsewhere included 20 Little Egrets on the Shingle Bank, 28 Teal on the Wadermarsh, and 2 Common Terns with 2 chicks on the Saline Lagoon, highlighting a successful breeding season. The Brickworks hosted a flock of 50 Goldfinches, while woodland and garden areas produced a range of smaller birds including Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Robin and Raven. Overall, the reserve supported a diverse mix of waders, wildfowl, gulls, terns and woodland birds, demonstrating the importance of Castle Espie's varied habitats for both resident and migratory species.
31 August 2026
Recent Sightings 24th August 2026
The following sightings were taken from the Castle Espie Reserve on a rising tide
26 August 2026
Recent Sightings 17th August 2026
The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a rising tide. The bird of the week this week is the Blue Tit. This is one of the commonest birds in the UK. Their natural habitat is broadleaf woodland, but they are at home in pa
17 August 2026
Recent Sightings 10th August 2026
The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a receding tide. The bird of the week this week is the Redshank. This is a distinctive wader with bright orange-red legs and an orange beak with a black tip. They are speckled brow
10 August 2026
Recent Sightings 3rd August 2026
The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a rising tide. The bird of the week this week is the Common Sandpiper. Common sandpipers have light brown upper parts and white underparts, they have a brown streak across their up
3 August 2026
Recent Sightings 27th July 2026
The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a rising tide. The bird of the week this week is the Osprey. Ospreys have white underparts and brown upperparts and a dark ‘eye mask’. When seen from afar they can look uniform
27 July 2026
Recent Sightings 20th July 2026
The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a receding tide. The bird of the week this week is the Greylag Goose. The Greylag is a large and bulky goose, with greyish-brown plumage and pink legs and feet, the bill colour can
20 July 2026
Recent Sightings 13th July 2026
The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a rising high tide. The bird of the week this week is the Lapwing. Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory Lesser Black-backed Gull 4, Herring Gull 75
13 July 2026
Recent Sightings 6th July 2026
The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a receding tide. The bird of the week this week is the Pintail. These ducks are very distinctive, with a long, slender neck, dark bill and a long black central tail feather, which
6 July 2026
Recent Sightings 29th June 2026
The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a rising tide. The bird of the week this week is the Kingfisher. Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory Eider Duck 1, Herring Gull 3, Little Egret 1,
29 June 2026
Recent Sightings 22nd June 2026
The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a receding tide. The bird of the week this week is the Linnet. Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory Eider Duck 6, Herring Gull 15, Little Egret 3,
22 June 2026
Recent Sightings 15th June 2026
The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a rising tide. The bird of the week this week is the Starling. At a distance these birds look black, but a closer look reveals iridescent purples and blues and whitish tips to thei
15 June 2026
Recent Sightings 8th June 2026
The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a low tide. The bird of the week this week is the Spotted Flycatcher Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory Herring Gull 3, Hooded Crow 2, Black-heade
8 June 2026
Recent Sightings 1st June 2026
The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a rising tide. The bird of the week this week is the Shelduck. Shelducks are ducks the same size as a brent goose. They have a mostly white body, a chestnut breast stripe, a green
1 June 2026
Recent Sightings 25th May 2026
The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a high tide. The bird of the week this week is the Shoveler. Three males were seen on the count in the Main Lake this week. Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln
25 May 2026