Recent Sightings 18th July 2022
Castle Espie looks amazing in the sunshine with clear blue skies and a gentle breeze to welcome you out onto the reserve. The Main Lake is playing host to several pairs of Mute swans at the moment, which is a very calming view to sit and admire from the Garden Hide in the Sensory Garden or from the Collection area. There’s also a small family of Tufted ducks (pictured) on the Main Lake, diving down one at a time to explore an underwater world for things to eat, with mum keeping a watchful eye on them as they do so. The female Tufted duck is more subtle than the male, with chocolate brown plumage but still with that distinctive bright eye!
There’s lots of swallows flying about at the moment as well, as the chicks in the nest in the Roundhouse have finally fledged and are learning to fend for themselves around the Crannóg and Brickworks area. You might see them flying around inside the Roundhouse still if you’re lucky.
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Shelduck 26, Black-tailed godwit 12, Little egret 3, Curlew 6, Hooded crow 3, Black-headed gull 75, Oystercatcher 7, Brent goose 1, Herring gull 5, Grey heron 2, Lesser black-backed gull 6
Main lake - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Tufted duck 1 (3 ducklings), Little egret 1, Mute swan 9, Moorhen 2 (2 chicks), Mallard 40, Shelduck 2 (5 ducklings), Black-headed gulls 3, Swallow
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Jackdaw 2, Cormorant 1
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Greylag goose 14, Black-headed gull 4, Black-tailed godwit 1
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Lesser black-backed gull 1, Mallard 7, Black-tailed godwit 10
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Little grebe 1, Black-headed gull 2, Wood pigeon 1
Brickworks
Mallard 3, Little egret 2 (flying over), Swallow, House martin
Limestone Lake
Peninsula Saltmarsh
Black-headed gull 1, Meadow pipit 1
Peninsula Field
House martin, Swallow
Woodland
Blackbird, Robin
