The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a receding tide. The bird of the week this week is the Glossy Ibis. This is the first time this species has been bird of the week, which reflects the fact that it is a rare and exciting visitor to Northern Ireland. This exotic looking bird is becoming a more frequent visitor to the UK and even successfully bred in Cambridgeshire for the first time in 2022. Summers in Southern Europe are becoming very hot and dry, so these birds are likely looking for milder climates for at least part of the year. Glossy Ibises are very distinctive, they have black iridescent plumage and a long curving beak like a Curlew’s, sometimes they are known as the ‘Black Curlew’. Typically Glossy Ibises will forage in flocks, probing mudflats with their long beaks in search of invertebrates, their beaks are very sensitive and they can feel their prey moving in the mud. These flocks of foraging birds attract waders like Snowy Egrets which will feed on the fish and other creatures fleeing the ibises. Glossy Ibises are generally quiet birds, although they may make murmuring sounds when foraging, courting adults will coo to each other, but when disturbed they may make a grunt-like sound. They often roost in trees alongside Herons, Egrets or Spoonbills.
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Brent 1532, Black-headed Gull 48, Teal 8, Curlew 56, Redshank 23, Wigeon 9, Oystercatcher c.150, Black-tailed Godwit 2, Great Black-backed Gull 1, Eider Duck 4, Little Egret 4, Dunlin 20, Knot 9, Hooded Crow 1, Buzzard 1, Glossy Ibis 1
Main lake - visible from Sensory Garden and Visitor Centre
Mallard 82, Teal 18, Moorhen 2, Coot 1, Gadwall 1, Dunnock, Grey Wagtail, Blackbird, Robin, Woodpigeon, Blackcap (male), Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory Garden and Visitor Centre
Mallard 69, Gadwall 2, Teal 1, Common Gull 1, Black-headed Gull 17, Pintail (female) 1
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Oystercatcher 1, Black-headed Gull 4, Teal 82, Pied Wagtail 1
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
No birds seen
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Little Grebe 5
Brickworks
Jackdaw 10, Woodpigeon, Chaffinch, Long-tailed Tit
Limestone Lake
Moorhen 1, Grey Heron (flying over) 2, Woodpigeon
Peninsula Saltmarsh
Cattle Grazing
Peninsula Field
Cattle Grazing
Woodland
Wren, Chaffinch, Robin, Blackbird, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Goldcrest, Woodpigeon, Raven (flying over) 1
Sensory Garden
Robin, Pied Wagtail, Goldcrest, Woodpigeon, Wren, Chaffinch, Magpie
