Recent Sightings 13th October 2025
The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a receding tide. The bird of the week this week is the Little Grebe. The Little Grebe is the smallest of the European Grebes, they have brown feathers, with a darker head and back. Little Grebes have a distinctive light brown and fluffy-looking rear. These small water birds are excellent divers, they hunt for fish and other aquatic prey underwater. If startled they will dive down and pop up somewhere else, often further away than you would expect. To help them swim underwater, their legs are set far back on their body, this makes them very awkward on land. Adults often carry chicks on their backs when they are small.
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Brent Goose 2015, Wigeon 269, Curlew 6, Little Egret 2, Oystercatcher 25, Redshank 4, Black-headed Gull 10, Lesser Black-backed Gull 3, Shelduck 30, Greenshank 3, Teal 2, Cormorant 1
Main lake - visible from Sensory Garden and Visitor Centre
Mallard 113, Shoveler 3, Moorhen 2, Tufted Duck 4, Gadwall 3, Teal 5, Little Grebe 1, Scaup 1, Woodpigeon 1, Raven 1, Robin, Blackbird
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory Garden and Visitor Centre
Mallard 67, Gadwall, 2, Little Egret 1, Moorhen 1, Teal 19
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Teal 48, Oystercatcher 1, Moorhen 1, Grey Heron 1, Robin
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Moorhen 1, Coot 2, Mallard 5, Mute Swan 2 (1 Juvenile)
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Little Grebe 5, Grey Heron 1
Brickworks
Jackdaw 8, Goldfinch c.12, Robin, Blackbird, Blue Tit
Limestone Lake
Blue Tit, Blackbird
Peninsula Saltmarsh
Black-headed Gull 2, Jackdaw 2, Linnet, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Reed Bunting, Wren, Meadow Pipit 2, Chaffinch
Peninsula Field
No birds seen
Woodland
Chaffinch, Robin, Wren, Goldcrest, Magpie, Long Tailed Tit
Sensory Garden
Pied Wagtail 1, Woodpigeon 1, Robin
