Recent Sightings 16th May 2022
The rising tide this morning bought Oystercatcher into the reserve to roost on the Shingle Bank. When the tide comes in, wading birds lose the mudflats on which they feed, so they move off the Estuary and seek refuge in areas like Castle Espie. Small flocks of Redshank have also started coming into the Saline lagoon at this time, and the accumulation of bright red legs along the water’s edge is hard to miss!
Willow warblers (pictured) have started making their voices heard along the edge of Limestone lake and in the Wet woodland area. They are a summer visitor and are similar in appearance to Chiffchaffs. These two are most easily distinguished between by their songs – with the Willow warbler gracefully descending in pitch and the Chiffchaff characteristically rising and falling with a “chiff-chaff”!
Keep an eye out for chicks and goslings too – Greylag goslings and Moorhen chicks are wandering around the reserve and Black-headed gull chicks are just around the corner!
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Hooded crow 2, Jackdaw 1, Brent goose 24, Shelduck 1, Common gull 1, Mallard 3, Curlew 1, Black-headed gull 40, Whimbrel 1, Oystercatcher 18 (flying over)
Pier – visible from Limelkiln Observatory and Peninsular Lookout
Eider 6
Main lake - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Mute swan 2, Oystercatcher 20, Mallard 5, Moorhen 1, Gadwall 1, Black-headed gull 26
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Brent goose 1, Shelduck 1, Oystercatcher 121, Mallard 5, Black-headed 34
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Greylag goose 2 (8 goslings), Black-headed gull 8, Gadwall 1, Moorhen 2, Redshank 3, Jackdaw 2
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Sedge warbler, Mallard 7, Gadwall 4, Shelduck 1, Black-headed gull 204, Lesser black-backed gull 2, Tufted duck 2, Moorhen 2 (chicks), Redshank 1, Coot 4
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Black-tailed godwit 1, Knot 1, Black-headed gull 51, Little egret 1, Redshank 44, Greylag 2 (3 goslings, Greylag 2 (2 goslings), Gadwall 1, Dunlin 1
Brickworks
Mallard 3, Jackdaw 2, Goldfinch 2, Linnet 2, Swallows
Limestone Lake
Tufted duck 2, Mallard 2, Black-headed gull 19
Peninsula Saltmarsh
Shelduck 2, Little egret 1, Jackdaw 1, Hooded crow 1, Meadow pipit 1
Peninsula Field
Woodland
Chiffchaff, Dunnock, Wren, Blue tit, Willow warbler, Coal tit, Robin, Great tit, Blackbird, Wood pigeon, Blackcap, Goldcrest, Magpie, Mallard with duckling
