Latest sightings

Recent Sightings 5th August 2025
The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a high tide. The bird of the week is the Cormorant. Cormorants are large black birds with wingspans of up to 1.6m. They are often found on the coast, but many specialise in inland
5 August 2025

Recent Sightings 28th July 2025
The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a low tide. The bird of the week is the Lapwing. The Lapwing is a wader that can be most frequently seen on the Estuary which is visible from the Brent Hide. From a distance it giv
28 July 2025

Recent Sightings 21st July 2025
The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a high tide. The bird of the week is the Knot. The Monday bird count team were delighted to see a small group of this species in their beautiful orange breeding plumage. It makes q
21 July 2025

Recent Sightings 14th July 2025
Monday Bird Count 14/07/2025 The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a rising tide. This week’s bird of the week is the Jay. These birds are the most colourful members of the corvid family (includes crows and magpies)
14 July 2025

Recent Sightings 7th July 2025
Monday Bird Count 07/07/2025 The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a rising tide. The bird of the week is the Sparrowhawk. Sparrowhawks are small birds of prey, and as their name suggests they prey on sparrows and oth
7 July 2025

Recent Sightings 30th June 2025
The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a low tide. The bird of the week is the Reed Warbler. The Reed Warbler is a light brown warbler which breeds in the UK but spends its winters in Sub-Saharan Africa. Its rhythmic so
30 June 2025

Recent Sightings 23rd June 2025
The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a high tide. The bird of the week is the Sand Martin. The Sand Martin is a relative of the Swallow and the House Martin and shares their small size and agile flight. This species i
23 June 2025

Recent Sightings 16th June 2025
The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a low tide. The bird of the week is the Long-Eared Owl. Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory Black-headed Gull 1, Oystercatcher 20, Lesser Black-ba
16 June 2025

Recent Sightings 9th June 2025
The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a rising tide. The bird of the week is the Grey Heron. The Grey Heron has a very long neck and legs and is often seen hunting for fish in shallow water. This species is medium-grey
9 June 2025

Recent Sightings 2nd June 2025
The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a low tide. The bird of the week is the Spotted Flycatcher. Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory Shelduck 6, Black-headed Gull 1, Oystercatcher 25,
2 June 2025

Recent Sightings 26th May 2025
The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a rising tide. The bird of the week is the Little Gull.Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln ObservatoryShelduck 2, Black-headed Gull 2, Hooded Crow 2, Eider 2, Sa
26 May 2025

Recent Sightings 19th May 2025
Monday Bird Count 19/05/2025 The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a low tide. The bird of the week is the Gadwall. Gadwalls are ducks that are a similar size to mallards. Females are speckled and brown and males are
19 May 2025

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
12 May 2025

Recent Sightings 5th May 2025
The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a receding tide. The bird of the week is the Pied Wagtail. This species is quite a small bird with black and white plumage. It has a slender appearance with a long tail that it con
5 May 2025

Recent Sightings 28th April 2025
The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a receding tide. The bird of the week is the Wheatear. Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory Shelduck 52, Eider 2, Black-headed Gull 51, Oystercatch
28 April 2025