News
News from the heron hedge
Grey heron chicks in the nest - how many will hatch this year!? With at least three birds starting to sit tight on eggs this week, our grey heron colony - one of the UK's largest - will be one of our reserve's bigge
13 February 2014
Wildlife sightings for 13th February 2014
2 Bittern - north shore of main lake; far end of the main reedbed channel closest to the grazing marsh 2 Great Crested Grebe - displaying regularly on the main lake 1 Jack Snipe - scrape 2 Shelduck - scrape 5 Snipe - scrape, main lake, resr lagoon isla
13 February 2014
Today's sightings
The Holden Tower COMMON GUILLEMOT 1 Floated out on the morning tide GLAUCOUS GULL 1 TUNDRA BEAN GOOSE 1 European White-fronted Goose 135 Brent Goose 1 Barnacle Goose 80 Wigeon 800 Peregrine 1 Golden Plover 3000 The Rushy GREATER SCAUP 1 Female Pochard 300
13 February 2014
Latest Sightings
Whooper Pond Whooper Swan 169 Tufted Duck 70 Wigeon 125 Shoveler 8 Mute Swan 40 Canada Goose 130 Oystercatcher 2 Folly Pond Green-winged Teal 1 ♂ Teal 200 Wigeon 300 Shoveler 32 Shelduck 7 Redshank 44 Lapwing 17 Oystercatcher 11 Black-tailed Godwit 8 C
13 February 2014
Spring, just around the corner....
Another wild one. In fact hopefully everything will still be standing when we get in tomorrow! A quiet day report wise. Just over 900 Whooper Swan and 1450 Pink-footed Geese roosting on the reserve this morning. The 1st winter Ross's Goose was still prese
12 February 2014
Recent Sightings
Recent Sightings from 9 February include: Spoonbill is still around reserve, often appearing on the Wader Marsh A sparrowhawk was seen at the Fresh Water Lagoon where the Kingfisher also made an appearance Main Lake – 2 Cormorants, 12 Gadwall and 4 Tuf
12 February 2014
Today's Sightings
Wader Lake Time/AM Tide/Low 10% Frozen Grey Heron - 18 Shelduck - 24 Teal - 35 Redshank - 16 Curlew - 2 Black-headed Gull - 6 Herring Gull - 4 Saline Lagoon 80% Frozen Teal - 7 Hawthorn Wood Sparrowhawk - 1 Tr
12 February 2014
Today's sightings-Lots to see
First winter female Greater Scaup on the Rushy by JSLeesWWT The Rushy Greater Scaup 1 Female Pochard 300 Pintail 120 Bewick's Swan 120 The Holden Tower Glaucous Gull 1 on the Dumbles edge Little Stint 1 Dunlin 2600 Golden Plover 2500 Curlew 300 Lapwing 2
12 February 2014
Wildlife sightings for 12th February 2014
1 Yellow-legged Gull 1st winter - main lake 2 Shelduck - main lake 49 Wigeon - marsh, scrape 4 Snipe - scrape 49 Lapwing - main lake 2 Redwing - south route Additional sightings from yesterday: 1 Caspian Gull - 2nd winter, main lake 1 Bearded Ti
12 February 2014
Latest Sightings
Whooper Pond Whooper Swan 170 Tufted Duck 70 Wigeon 120 Shoveler 12 Mute Swan 40 Canada Goose 90 Greylag Goose 1 Oystercatcher 2 Curlew 1 Gadwall 1 Folly Pond Green-winged Teal 1 ♂ Teal 400 Wigeon 350 Shoveler 15 Shelduck 12 Lapwing 10 Curlew 100 Golde
12 February 2014
Ross's Goose of unknown origin.
Bird watching, like many pastimes, has it's own cultural language. A good example of this is 'unknown origin'. Today a 1st winter Ross's Goose was found along the edge of the Mere from the Gladstone Hide. This bird is undoubtedly the same individual that
11 February 2014
Today's sightings
Kingfisher Hide 261 European White-fronted Goose 1 Tundra Bean Goose Peregrine male Great spotted Woodpecker 1 Chaffinch 40 Greenfinch 10 Holden Tower imm Glaucous Gull feeding in estuary channel distantly Golden Plover 500+ Lapwing 2000 Dunlin 500+ Pereg
11 February 2014
Join us for Encounters of the Endangered Kind..
Come and spend February half term with us and discover the world of endangered animals through, crafts, trails, games PLUS help us restore Castle Espie’s very own bug hotel. Activities kick off on Saturday 15th February with our annual bird box building
11 February 2014
Rare visitor to river corridor
A shag has been spotted on the River Wear by our reserve manager John on his morning rounds. That's his first sighting in more than five years of working here, so he's excited to say the least! The coastal bird is most likely to have come inland because o
11 February 2014
Latest Sightings
Whooper Pond Whooper Swan 198 Tufted Duck 70 Wigeon 120 Shoveler 12 Mute Swan 40 Canada Goose 130 Oystercatcher 2 Folly Pond Green-winged Teal 1 ♂ Teal 360 Wigeon 215 Shoveler 25 Shelduck 2 Ruff 1 Redshank 26 Lapwing 15 Oystercatcher 7 Black-tailed God
11 February 2014