Recent Sightings 20th April 2026
The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a rising tide. The bird of the week this week is the Barn Swallow. Barn Swallows have a deep blue back with off-white underparts, a rufous red face, swept-back wings and a forked tail. These birds undertake an extraordinary migration; Swallows breeding in the UK will overwinter in Africa, travelling about 200 miles a day, and they make the return trip in the same year! The Swallows won’t even stop for a water break, as they can drink in flight by skimming over the surface of freshwater with an open beak. Before migration was understood, people thought that Swallows spent the winter in ponds, buried in mud or underwater. Swallows will return to the same nests year after year, but they will do some maintenance and rebuilding upon arrival. Their nests are made of mud and grasses and are attached to structures like bridges and roof overhangs. Swallows prefer to nest close to humans, potentially because our activity may deter predators. Most pairs will raise two broods in a year, but some may raise three, and juveniles from the first brood usually assist in bringing food for the younger chicks.
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Black-headed Gull 124, Herring Gull 20, Black-tailed Godwit 58, Hooded Crow 2, Little Egret 2, Eider Duck 13, Brent Goose 9, Curlew 3, Oystercatcher 48, Lesser Black-backed Gull 1, Great Black-backed Gull 1, Common Gull 11
Main lake - visible from Sensory Garden and Visitor Centre
Mute Swan 1, Little Grebe 2, Mallard 4 (including 2 ducklings), Little Egret 1, Tufted Duck 3, Jackdaw 1, Black-headed Gull 3, Moorhen 2, Chaffinch, Mistle Thrush, Pied Wagtail, Song Thrush
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory Garden and Visitor Centre
Black-headed Gull 2
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Black-headed Gull 10, Redshank 2, Black-tailed Godwit 1
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Mute Swan 7, Black-headed Gull 1, Mallard 22 (including 13 ducklings), Gadwall 2, Sedge Warbler, Reed Bunting, Barn Swallow, Willow Warbler
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Black-headed Gull 25, Mallard 1, Greenfinch
Brickworks
Blackbird, Jackdaw, Song Thrush, Linnet, Pied Wagtail, Willow Warbler, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Robin
Limestone Lake
Blackbird
Peninsula Saltmarsh
Meadow Pipit, Black-headed Gull 2
Peninsula Field
Barn Swallow, Willow Warbler, Goldfinch
Woodland
Blue Tit, Wren, Great Tit, Jackdaw, Chaffinch, Robin, Dunnock, Woodpigeon, Goldcrest, Coal Tit, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Song Thrush
Sensory Garden
Barn Swallow, Woodpigeon, Magpie 1, Blackbird, House Sparrow, Mallard 3, Robin, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Wren, Blackcap, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Starling, Willow Warbler
