The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a receding tide. The bird of the week this week is the Redshank. This is a distinctive wader with bright orange-red legs and an orange beak with a black tip. They are speckled brown on their back and wings with light underparts. During the breeding season they become a bit darker and more patterned. Two populations of these birds can be found on the Lough; mostly they are birds that have bred in Iceland but will overwinter here, and there are some which have bred in Britain, breeding Redshank are very rare anywhere in Ireland. 90% of the European Redshank population breed on farmland, specifically areas with wet grassland. Redshanks rely on small clumps of grass called tussocks in which to lay their eggs. Breeding Redshank have declined in recent years in the UK due to habitat loss, land use changes (particularly the loss of shallow pools on wet grasslands they feed on), and overgrazing. Overgrazing means the tussocks these birds like to nest in become too short so the chicks can’t hide in them and cattle can trample on nests if left to graze during the breeding season. Redshanks have earnt the nickname ‘the warden of the marshes’ as they are often the first species to sound the alarm and fly away if they spot an intruder.
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Brent Goose 1, Great Crested Grebe 7, Lesser Black-backed Gull 2, Black-headed Gull 4, Herring Gull 2, Eider Duck 12, Cormorant 5, Oystercatcher c.150, Common Tern 4
Main lake - visible from Sensory Garden and Visitor Centre
Little Egret 3, Little Grebe 2, Mallard 94, Teal 3, Shelduck 1 (juvenile), Gadwall 4, Common Tern 2, Moorhen 2, Swallow, Great Tit, Chaffinch
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory Garden and Visitor Centre
Oystercatcher 97, Mallard 76, Little Egret 20, Grey Heron 1, Herring Gull 6, Gadwall 2, Moorhen 3, Jackdaw 2, Common Gull 75, Black-headed Gull 104
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Redshank 20, Black-tailed Godwit 5, Greenshank 1, Black-headed Gull 13, Lesser Black-backed Gull 2, Oystercatcher 4
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Moorhen 1, Gadwall 2, Mallard 4, Swallow, Greenfinch, Sedge Warbler
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Common Tern 14 (plus 9 chicks), Litle Grebe 2, Little Egret 1, Greenshank 1
Brickworks
Jackdaw 4, Blackbird, Goldfinch c.20
Limestone Lake
Little Grebe 2, Moorhen 1, Woodpigeon
Peninsula Saltmarsh
Black-headed Gull 1, Little Egret 1
Peninsula Field
Pheasant 1, Woodpigeon
Woodland
Chiffchaff, Woodpigeon, Wren, Blue Tit, Sparrowhawk
Sensory Garden
Swallow 1 (plus 4 chicks), Song Thrush, Blackbird, Woodpigeon, Wren, Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Buzzard 2 (flying over), Raven 5 (flying over)
