Recent Sightings 12th May 2025
The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a rising tide. The bird of the week is the Common Tern. Common Terns are white and grey seabirds with a long orange-red beak with a black tip, a black head and long, angular wings and tail. They can be seen on the reserve gathering on our two tern rafts (one on the limestone lake and the other on the saline lagoon). Common Terns can be very territorial and will defend their nest from predators and other nearby birds by swooping down to chase them away or peck them, they are also very noisy!
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Shelduck 3, Black-headed Gull 7, Oystercatcher 19, Lesser Black-backed Gull 5, Hooded Crow 1, Herring Gull 14, House Martin 4, Common Tern 2, Curlew 5, Little Egret 2
Main lake - visible from Sensory Garden and Visitor Centre
Mallard 10, Moorhen 2, Coot 4, Little Grebe 1, Tufted Duck 1, Black-headed Gull 3, Herring Gull 1, Raven, Chaffinch, Great Tit, Robin, Sedge Warbler, Jackdaw, Goldcrest, Pied Wagtail,
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory Garden and Visitor Centre
Black-headed Gull 2, Oystercatcher 45, Blackbird 1, Jackdaw 1
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Little Egret 1, Common Gull 10, Herring Gull 2, Black-headed Gull 2, Jackdaw 2, Woodpigeon 1, Feral Pigeon 1, Sedge Warbler, Wren
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Mallard 2, Moorhen 2, Grey Heron 1, Mute Swan 2, Gadwall 2, Sedge Warbler, Blackbird, Swallow,
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Gadwall 2, Black-headed Gull 12, Common Tern 13, House Martin
Brickworks
Blackbird, Chaffinch, Swallow, Linnet, Dunnock, Mistle Thrush, Greenfinch,
Limestone Lake
Common Tern 2, Black-headed Gull 2, Chaffinch, Robin, Blackbird, Dunnock, Song Thrush
Peninsula Saltmarsh
Little Egret 2, Black-tailed Godwit 6, Black-headed Gull 2, Gadwall 2
Peninsula Field
Meadow Pipit 2
Woodland
Blackbird, Wren, Chaffinch, Robin, Blue Tit, Blackcap, Goldcrest, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed tit, Song thrush, Mistle Thrush, Mallard, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Woodpigeon
Sensory Garden
Wren, Robin, Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Song Thrush, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, House Martin, Greenfinch, Swallow
