Latest sightings
Recent Sightings 15th September 2025
The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a falling tide. This week's bird of the week is the moorhen. This is a common species found in wetlands and freshwater habitats and is often overlooked! Moorhens are black with whi
15 September 2025
Recent Sightings 8th September 2025
The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a rising tide. The Bullfinch is the bird of the week. Male bullfinches have an unmistakable red chest and cheeks whilst the female is a more muted pinkish-brown colour. These birds
8 September 2025
Recent Sightings 1st September 2025
The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a receding tide. This week saw the return of the Brent geese. A few birds of prey are around, including a Peregrine seen flying over the reserve and a Long-eared owl hiding in a tr
1 September 2025
Recent Sightings 25th August 2025
The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a rising tide. A pair of Wigeon have appeared on the Reserve. A peregrine was flying over the Limestone lake, and a large flock of goldfinch have gathered on the brickworks grassla
25 August 2025
Recent Sightings 18th August
The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a receding tide. The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a receding tide. The bird of the week is the Garganey. The Garganey is a species of dabb
18 August 2025
Recent Sightings 11th August 2025
The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a low tide. The bird of the week is the Willow Warbler. The Willow Warbler is a summer visitor to Northern Ireland and in recent years their population has been increasing. They ha
11 August 2025
Recent Sightings 5th August 2025
The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a high tide. The bird of the week is the Cormorant. Cormorants are large black birds with wingspans of up to 1.6m. They are often found on the coast, but many specialise in inland
5 August 2025
Recent Sightings 28th July 2025
The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a low tide. The bird of the week is the Lapwing. The Lapwing is a wader that can be most frequently seen on the Estuary which is visible from the Brent Hide. From a distance it giv
28 July 2025
Recent Sightings 21st July 2025
The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a high tide. The bird of the week is the Knot. The Monday bird count team were delighted to see a small group of this species in their beautiful orange breeding plumage. It makes q
21 July 2025
Recent Sightings 14th July 2025
Monday Bird Count 14/07/2025 The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a rising tide. This week’s bird of the week is the Jay. These birds are the most colourful members of the corvid family (includes crows and magpies)
14 July 2025
Recent Sightings 7th July 2025
Monday Bird Count 07/07/2025 The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a rising tide. The bird of the week is the Sparrowhawk. Sparrowhawks are small birds of prey, and as their name suggests they prey on sparrows and oth
7 July 2025
Recent Sightings 30th June 2025
The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a low tide. The bird of the week is the Reed Warbler. The Reed Warbler is a light brown warbler which breeds in the UK but spends its winters in Sub-Saharan Africa. Its rhythmic so
30 June 2025
Recent Sightings 23rd June 2025
The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a high tide. The bird of the week is the Sand Martin. The Sand Martin is a relative of the Swallow and the House Martin and shares their small size and agile flight. This species i
23 June 2025
Recent Sightings 16th June 2025
The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a low tide. The bird of the week is the Long-Eared Owl. Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory Black-headed Gull 1, Oystercatcher 20, Lesser Black-ba
16 June 2025
Recent Sightings 9th June 2025
The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a rising tide. The bird of the week is the Grey Heron. The Grey Heron has a very long neck and legs and is often seen hunting for fish in shallow water. This species is medium-grey
9 June 2025