The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a rising tide. The bird of the week this week is the Black-tailed Godwit. Black-tailed Godwits are large brown waders with long pinkish orange beaks that have a black tip. During the breeding season they have rusty orange breasts. Black-tailed Godwits look very similar to Bar-trailed Godwits, but in flight black and white wing bars can be seen on the Black-tailed Godwit and a black tail. When wading these two species can be distinguished by the longer legs and long, straight beak of the Black-tailed Godwit. Black-tailed Godwits are also more likely to be found on freshwater bodies than Bar-tailed Godwits. Females are larger than the males and have a longer beak, this could potentially mean they compete less for food sources as the female could probe further into the mud than the male can. Black-tailed Godwit breeding pairs from the Icelandic population (the birds most commonly found here) will spend the winter apart in the UK and parts of Western Europe. These birds are generally monogamous, and when arriving at their breeding grounds in Iceland, they will reunite. However, studies have shown that if their partner is more than a few days late they will quickly try and find a new mate.
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Brent Goose 950, Common Gull 1, Black-headed Gull 26, Curlew 22, Shelduck 6, Herring Gull 15, Oystercatcher 49, Little Egret 1
Main lake - visible from Sensory Garden and Visitor Centre
Mallard 97, Gadwall 11, Teal 4, Coot 1, Little Grebe 1, Moorhen 1, Tufted Duck 1, Kingfisher 2, Redshank, Woodpigeon, Raven (flying over), Swallow, Blackbird, Rook 2, Dunnock
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory Garden and Visitor Centre
Mallard 182, Moorhen 2, Little Egret 1, Common Gull 1, Teal 18
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Teal 92, Black-headed Gull 1, Black-tailed Godwit 21, Redshank 1, Greenshank 1
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Gadwall 8
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Little Grebe 4, Kingfisher 1, Blackbird
Brickworks
Blackbird, Swallow, Goldfinch
Limestone Lake
Little Grebe, Woodpigeon
Peninsula Saltmarsh
No birds seen
Peninsula Field
Goldfinch, Swallow, Pheasant
Woodland
Sparrowhawk, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Robin, Blue Tit, Woodpigeon, Wren, Chiff chaff
Sensory Garden
Robin, Woodpigeon
