Latest sightings
Recent Sightings 15th April 2024
The first Swallows (pictured) have arrived on the Reserve after their long migration from Southern Africa, marking that spring is in full swing! These beautiful, aerial acrobats arrive in spring for breeding season, and stay here until October, when they
15 April 2024
Recent Sightings 8th April 2024
The Reserve was full of the signs of Spring this morning for the count, as the tide slowly came up Strangford Lough, bringing Eider, Red-breasted merganser and Great-crested grebe into view. The Limekiln Observatory is a great place to see these species a
8 April 2024
Recent Sightings 1st April 2024
There were lots of Mute swans (pictured) to be seen all around Castle Espie on this count, either gracefully gliding through the water on the Main Lake or flying over the Reserve with their characteristically loud wing beats. Mute swans are the largest of
2 April 2024
Recent Sightings 25th March 2024
The tide was just coming up to the Brent Hide late this morning, bringing with it groups of Black-tailed godwit, Oystercatcher, Redshank and Brent geese. A few Dunlin and Grey plover were dotted about amongst the other waders, feeding on the mudflats desp
25 March 2024
Recent Sightings 11th March 2024
The tide was almost fully in for this morning’s count, meaning there was an amazing variety of waders out on the Estuary, and The Brent Hide is the perfect place to view them from as the water creeps up to the seawall. A large flock of Bar-tailed godwit
11 March 2024
Recent Sightings 4th March 2024
With an icy cold wind and the tide all the way out, this morning’s count was lacking a few of our usual residents – but there’s always something to see in nature! Despite the chill there was a Kingfisher on the Main Lake, making the most of the clea
4 March 2024
Recent Sightings 26th February 2024
Our rare visitor is still here! A Spotted redshank, an unusual sight at Castle Espie, seems to be sticking around the area for a while, often seen either on the Estuary or the Wadermarsh – both habitats can be seen perfectly from the Brent Hide on the R
27 February 2024
Recent Sightings 19th February 2024
Exciting news – a rare bird alert! This past week we’ve had a Spotted redshank (pictured) roaming through the waters of the Wadermarsh, feeding alongside Greenshank, Common redshank and Black-tailed godwits. Easily visible from the Brent Hide on the
20 February 2024
Recent Sightings 12th February 2024
Lots of variety on the Reserve and out on the Lough for this count, with lots of waders coming in with the tide and some of our favourite woodland birds making an appearance. Large numbers of Oystercatcher, Knot and Dunlin were out feeding on the mudflats
13 February 2024
Recent Sightings 5th February 2024
The tide was slowly creeping out for this count, providing lots of waders and wildfowl that could easily be seen from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory. Large numbers of Knot were feeding on the mudflats with smaller Dunlin mixed into the group.
7 February 2024
Recent Sightings 29th January 2024
The tide was just starting to creep in for this mornings count, bringing into view Eider ducks and Goldeneye on the Strangford Lough waters. Large groups of Shelduck were on the mudflats, feeding on invertebrates and plant matter in the sand, alongside th
29 January 2024
Recent Sightings 22nd January 2024
After Storm Isha on Sunday night, the count on Monday morning seemed more like a roll call to see which birds hadn’t been blown away in the wind! Luckily, lots of our favourite visitors to the reserve managed to brave the stormy weather and hunker down
24 January 2024
Recent Sightings 15th January 2024
Such a beautiful, crisp morning for a count, and although the wind was icy cold, there were stunning views over the Reserve and out onto Strangford Lough. The tide was out, and mixed flocks of Brent geese and Shelduck were busy feeding on the exposed mudf
16 January 2024
Recent Sightings 8th January 2024
A very cold and windy count rewarded us with some unusual visitors on the Main Lake – a pair of Red-breasted mergansers (pictured). These sawbills are excellent fishers - with their long serrated beaks, they can catch and hold onto fast-swimming, slippe
8 January 2024
Recent Sightings 2nd January 2024
Happy New Year! The first count of 2024 provided us with Kingfishers and Peregrines and Plovers and Sparrowhawks – a lovely variety of some of our most striking, colourful and charismatic visitors to the reserve. Look out for the small passerines on the
2 January 2024