The rare hoopoe bird, typically found in Africa or Asia, was spotted recently in County Down. This delighted local avid birdwatchers.
A rare type of bird, which would generally be seen in Africa and Asia, was surprisingly spotted in County Down.
The rare bird known as the hoopoe bird was captured on video by Castle Espie’s reserve Manager, Maurice Turley.
The hoopoe bird – a rare creature
Castle Espie Manager Maurice Turley said spotting the rare bird was an incredible stroke of luck.
He said, “A rare Hoopoe was spotted close to Castle Espie in the North Strangford area. Hoopoes do not breed here, but they can sometimes be blown off course during their spring migration between Africa and southern Europe.
He added, “It is great to see this exotic-looking bird, with its distinctive crest in the locality, and seems to be staying around and happily feeding.
“Every now and then, we get a rare bird showing up, usually during times of high migration, and they are a welcome addition to our important native fauna.
“Strangford is an extremely important area for migrating birds, with tens of thousands relying on the habitats of Strangford Lough along their migration routes”.
Avid birdwatchers have come from far and wide to catch a glimpse of the rare species for themselves.
Castle Espie – a vital wetland reserve
Maurice spends his time looking after the birds at Castle Espie wetland reserve. The site is run by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust on the banks of Strangford Lough.
WWT Castle Espie reopened its doors in October 2022 after working with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to protect the birds at the centre from bird flu.
Currently, the resident bird collection remains closed to visitors, but the rest of the site is open. However, you can still see many of the majestic birds from the Kingfisher Café.
This Easter, the team at Castle Espie have planned some great family activities. These events guarantee fun for all the family.
Easter – a busy season full of great events
When speaking about all the exciting Easter events the centre had planned, Paul Stewart, Centre Manager, said, “Easter is the perfect time to spot all the new life at our centre, from budding trees to fluffy ducklings.
“Our detective trails will excite and inspire, helping everyone to feel closer to nature and to engage with the wonders of our wetland.
“Whilst our resident collection bird section remains temporarily closed, they can still be viewed our from our Kingfisher Café”.
There will also be events in the morning and afternoon from 6 to 16 April each day.
This includes birdwatching in the Brent hide for families, pond dipping, and mini-beast hunting. Find out more about what’s happening at WWT Castle Espie this spring here.
