We've been here before, but not for three years, so it was time to visit the Montgomery Hide at Castle Espie on a rising tide. A few pointers for your visit.
Arrive before it is high tide in Belfast.
Tuck well down as there is no roof and you can be seen.
Allow 90 minutes, by that time the tide will have flooded in and from then on it just gets deeper.
Check the wee pond for kingfisher.
Get a coffee in Castle Espie - they need all the help they can get at the minute.
If you have time check the saltmarsh and the Limestone Lookout
ENJOY
We timed it beautifully and the light was excellent. Mixture of pictures from me (DP) and David (DM).
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| Arrival view (DM) |
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| Arrival view (DP) |
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| Rising tide (DM) |
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| Brent geese (DP) |
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| Brent goose (DM) |
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| Departing view (DP) |
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| Focused birder (DM) |
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| Departing view (DM) |
We headed into Castle Espie via two views of the kingfisher on the wee pond. We knew there was a glossy ibis about but couldn't see it so we headed out to the limestone lookout and finally got grey plover roosting on the point having failed to spot any from the hide. On our way out we had a last look for the ibis and it was on the shingle bank between the main lake and the saltmarsh lurking amongst some corvids. It had probably been there all the time but we failed to pick it out. David fired off a couple of record shots and it is easy to see how we nearly missed it. To be honest it wasn't very glossy. The morning racked up 34 species and the glossy ibis was added to my County Down list which now stands at 213. Other county lists available on request!!
WOW was quiet and misty this week but I added grey wagtail to the patch list. I've also added in teal and black-tailed godwit photos as they came close enough for a nice atmospheric photo.
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| Blackwits |
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| Grey wagtail |
164: Curlew sandpiper
165: Grey plover
NDCP Patch
62: House martin
Belfast RSPB patch
88: Kestrel
89: Grey wagtail
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