#castle espie
Mute swan taking off from the Main Lake at WWT Castle Espie.
Sometimes it’s best to hold the shutter button, track and hope for the best…
Had a rare close encounter with a lovely wee Common Sandpiper at WWT Castle Espie this morning!
The hoards are assembling once again. Black-headed gulls joining the colony at WWT Castle Espie, near Scrabo Tower.
Soft furnishings…
Bluetit refreshing one of the nestboxes at WWT Castle Espie.
Small tortoiseshell butterfly on blackthorn blossom.
It’s that time of year again. A pair of black-headed gulls sharing a “special hug” on the reserve at WWT Castle Espie today
First peacock butterfly of the season on the reserve at WWT Castle Espie.
This tiny monster is Bilobella braunerae, a bright pink springtail about 2-3mm in length.
Taken on Canon EOS 70D with Tamron 90mm Macro lens + 60mm extension tubes. Processed in Affinity Photo.
Closer than usual shot of a wood pigeon.
Up close and personal with a wild sparrowhawk at WWT Castle Espie this morning!
This beauty had found his way into the Roundhouse and needed some gentle encouragement to find the exit.
Those eyes, though..!
Taken on Canon EOS 70D, 1/80s, f/2.8, ISO6400. Processed in DenoiseAI & Affinity Photo.
Male orange-tip butterfly on a dandelion.
The bluebells are out!
It was a busy Bank Holiday at WWT Castle Espie with lots of visitors. The residents didn’t seem to mind.
First of this year’s robin fledglings in the woods at WWT Castle Espie.
An uninvited guest at the Moth Morning; blue-tailed damselfly!
One of three day-old Brent goslings in the Duckery at WWT Castle Espie today
The delicate bee orchid in bloom at WWT Castle Espie.
The ox-eye daisies putting on a great show on the reserve at WWT Castle Espie
A bird in the hand is… oh, so cute!
A bufflehead duckling in the hands of one of the Aviculture experts in the Duckery at WWT Castle Espie.
A shower approaching Newtownards viewed from the nature reserve at WWT Castle Espie.
Sure, it’s not Natalie Portman, but this Black Swan was still putting on a good show at WWT Castle Espie today ⬛️
A visiting black swan on the Main Lake at WWT Castle Espie.
This parenting malarkey is tiring work…
Greylag goose having a doze on the reserve at WWT Castle Espie.
Just taking the family out for a stroll. Greylag geese on the reserve at WWT Castle Espie.
A pair of Sloe Bugs/Hairy Shield Bugs mating on a dandelion seed head.
A stick pretending to be a Buff-Tip Moth
Egg of the orange-tip butterfly on a garlic mustard flower at WWT Castle Espie.
