News
Nature's most incredible journeys, right on our doorstep
Nature lovers often say autumn is their favourite season, and it’s no surprise, as the magic of migration is an unforgettable experience. Luckily for some, you don’t have to travel far to see one of the greatest spectacles of the natural world - and
Today's bird sightings
British Steel hide 2 little stint, 7 curlew sandpiper, 40 greenshank, 87 redshank, 11 lapwing, 9 dunlin, 26 little egret, peregrine and sparrowhawk. Lagoon 400 black tailed godwit, 120 knot, 27 pintail, and 35 gadwall.
Recent Sightings – 24th September
From the Brent Hide & Limekiln Observatory 2300 Brent 1150 Oystercatcher 250 Curlew 620 Redshank 350 Teal 40 Shelduck 2 Merganser 45 Eider Little Stint 14 Little Egret 1 Spoonbill On the Reserve 4 Little Egret 1 Kingfisher 3 Little Grebe 24 Pintail 4
15,000 + Pinks
The dawn count this morning produced just over 15,000 Pink-footed Geese and a single Barnacle Goose. Yesterday's big counts of 10,000+ were also from a seasoned observer and correct! The birds are moving around so if you are lucky you'll catch some big
Today's Sightings
Wader Lake/Time - AM/Tide - Mid Teal - 32 Mute Swan - 2 Lapwing - 90 Greylag - 1 Moorhen - 5 Heron - 4 Mallard Gadwall - 4 Black Headed Gull - 25 Snipe - 4 Saline Lagoon Curlew - 1 Coot - 2 Mallard - 4 Other Birds Cormorant - River - 3 Curlew - River - 2
Wildlife sightings for 24th September 2014
3 Pintail - main lake and reservoir lagoon 2 Mandarin - world wetlands 22 Snipe - marsh and main lake 39 Lapwing 1 Kingfisher - perched on reedbed boardwalk 20 Meadow Pipit - marsh 113 Swallow - flew NW 350 House Martin - flew NW 3 Stonechat - marsh 6
First 'grand-chick for conservationist
This little fellow is the first ever spoon-billed sandpiper chick to be hatched in the wild by a hand-reared bird. Spoon-billed sandpipers are critically endangered and the news confirms to conservationists that the birds they hand-rear go on to breed nat
Autumn fare.
The current activity is all Pink-footed Goose based with perhaps as many as 6000 birds on the reserve mid afternoon, although some estimate up to twice that number. There maybe more in the local area however it can be difficult to judge with birds coming
Wigeon now showing.
After seeing a pair of Wigoen on Friday, this morning there was an increase to 5. Whilst admiring there lovely chestnut plumage a male Kingfisher perched on some tall vegetation directly in front of the Ramsar hide, amazing. Two more were also seen on the
Today's sightings
Foggy start to the day hence limited sightings, had cleared by 0940. Holden Tower Ringed and Golden Plover heard flying around over the Dumbles in the fog. Zeiss Hide/Top New Piece Excavator work continuing to day but the waders and some of the wildfowl i
Latest Sightings
Today a flock of nearly 2000 Barnacle Geese arrived!! Winter has begun. They are currently very flighty across the reserve producing an amazing sight and sound. Whooper Pond GARGANEY Mallard 221 Mute Swan 2 + 8 cygnets Tufted Duck 11 Wigeon 18 Teal 10 Li
Wildlife sightings for 23rd September 2014
2 Pintail - main lake 9 Snipe - grazing marsh, wader scrape, main lake 1 Wheatear - grazing marsh N bank 3 Stonechat - grazing marsh fence line 3 Meadow Pipit - grazing marsh 1 Hobby - hunting over grazing marsh 1 Buzzard - flew over E September bird hig
Today's bird sightings
British Steel hide Little stint, 8 curlew sandpiper, 42 greenshank, 251 redshank, 156 knot, 21 lapwing, 13 dunlin, 17 little egret, 225 wigeon, 2 peregrine, 2 sparrowhawk and kingfisher. Lagoon 350 black tailed godwit, 7 pintail, 4 teal, 8 shoveler
Recent Sightings - 22nd September
Recent Sightings at Castle Espie include the return of a Spoonbill and between 1500 and 2000 Brent Geese including juveniles. Spoonbill Little Stint Large numbers of Oystercatchers Small groups of Grey / Gold Plover 30 Shelduck Black and Bar-tailed Godwi
Wildlife sightings for 22nd September 2014
1 Willow Warbler - sheltered lagoon 2 Yellow Wagtail - marsh (feeding next to the cattle) 6 Meadow Pipit - marsh 3 Swallow - feeding over main lake 1 Common Sandpiper - main lake 5 Dunlin - scrape (1750hrs) 1 Kingfisher - reedbed 1 Water Rail - reedbed Se