Recent Sightings 11th August 2025
The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a low tide. The bird of the week is the Willow Warbler. The Willow Warbler is a summer visitor to Northern Ireland and in recent years their population has been increasing. They have yellowish underparts and an olive green back, roughly the size of a blue tit but slimmer. Their Latin scientific name roughly translates to leaf-seeking wren. Willow Warblers moult twice a year, once in their breeding grounds and then again in their over wintering grounds. This is unusual as most birds will moult once, it may be to rejuvenate their feathers for their long migrations.
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Herring Gull 1, Curlew 3, Oystercatcher 7, Common Gull 8, Lesser black-backed Gull 3, Black-headed Gull 35, Mute Swan 1, Redshank 1, Little Egret 1, Hooded Crow 1, Grey Heron 1, Eider 12
Main lake - visible from Sensory Garden and Visitor Centre
Mallard 100, Moorhen 1, Little Grebe 3, Tufted Duck 3, Herring Gull 1, Grey Heron 1, Gadwall 2, Little Egret 1, Greylag Goose 10, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Willow Warbler, Blackbird, Chaffinch, Swallow, Woodpigeon, Sedge Warbler
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory Garden and Visitor Centre
Moorhen 5, Mallard 106, Herring Gull 3, Lesser black-backed Gull, Hooded Crow 2, Jackdaw 3
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Black-headed Gull 1, Swallow
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Gadwall 1, Moorhen 1, Mute Swan 2 adults and 3 cygnets, Mallard 4, Swallow
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Little Grebe 2, Woodpigeon
Brickworks
Swallow, Robin, Goldfinch
Limestone Lake
Woodpigeon
Woodland
Woodpigeon, Wren, Robin, Goldcrest, Chaffinch, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Blackbird, Blackcap, Goldfinch, Bullfinch
Sensory Garden
Robin, Blackbird, Woodpigeon, Swallow
