Recent Sightings 1st December 2025
The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a falling tide. The bird of the week this week is the Kingfisher. These birds are often seen as a brief flash of blue flying low over water, but if you are lucky you can see them perched on branches near slow-flowing or still water where they will dive for fish. Kingfishers are known for their high-speed dives into water, but they do not catch fish in their beaks, they actually spear them which means they are much less likely to wriggle away. Kingfishers are unusual because they nest in burrows they dig into riverbanks, laying their eggs in a small chamber at the end.
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Brent Goose 239, Shelduck 34, Eider 32, Oystercatcher 10, Redshank 31, Turnstone 3, Dunlin 26, Curlew 21, Greenshank 1, Herring Gull 2, Little Egret 2, Cormorant 1, Great Crested Grebe 1, Goldeneye 13
Main lake - visible from Sensory Garden and Visitor Centre
Mallard 36, Shoveler 1, Teal 7, Moorhen 1, Gadwall 2, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Tufted Duck 1
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory Garden and Visitor Centre
Mallard 45, Cormorant 2, Gadwall 4
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Gadwall 19, Little Egret 1, Teal 25
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Mallard 5, Moorhen 1, Teal 3, Coot 1
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Little Grebe 5, Wren, Teal 6, Black-headed Gull 1
Brickworks
Goldfinch, Wren, Pied Wagtail
Limestone Lake
Kingfisher 1, Woodpigeon 1
Peninsula Saltmarsh
No birds seen
Peninsula Field
No birds seen
Woodland
Wren, Robin, Blackbird, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Siskin, Pied Wagtail, House Sparrow, Bullfinch
Sensory Garden
Robin, Blackbird, Wren, Long-tailed Tit, Jackdaw, Rook, Chaffinch
