The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a receding tide. The bird of the week this week is the Great Crested Grebe. Great Crested Grebes are the largest of the 5 species of grebe which can be seen in the UK. These birds are very distinctive with prominent display feathers and tufts on their heads. Both sexes develop an orange ruff of feathers during breeding season, and will perform elaborate courtship displays where they will rise out of the water and even exchange plants with each other. Great Crested Grebes don’t fly often, although some northern populations will migrate south for the winter. Their Latin name Podiceps cristatus refers to their crests and the positioning of their legs far back on their body, this makes them excellent swimmers but very awkward getting around on land. Great Crested Grebe chicks are striped black and white, and used to be affectionately known as ‘humbugs’ after the striped mint. When they are small can be spotted sitting on the backs of their parents in the water. Great Crested Grebes also have a strange habit that they share with other grebes; they eat their own feathers to help digestion. When eaten the feathers will form balls in their stomach which keeps tough food in there for longer so that it can be properly digested. Grebes will then regurgitate the feathers along with parts of exoskeleton and anything else they can’t digest.
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Black-headed Gull 23, Curlew 117, Oystercatcher 198, Brent Goose 2402, Cormorant 12, Black-tailed Godwit 2, Shelduck 1, Eider Duck 25, Red Breasted Merganser 2, Great Crested Grebe 3, Little Egret 12, Lesser Black-backed Gull 1, Common Gull 1, Herring Gull 2
Main lake - visible from Sensory Garden and Visitor Centre
Moorhen 3, Mallard 153, Gadwall 4, Teal 71, Little Grebe 1, Robin, Woodpigeon
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory Garden and Visitor Centre
Mallard 10, Oystercatcher 4, Teal 3, Jackdaw 10
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Little Egret 2, Teal 105, Oystercatcher 42, Black-headed Gull 5, Mallard 3, Black tailed Godwit 3, Jackdaw 21, Moorhen 1, Grey Heron 1, Greenshank 3
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Moorhen 1, Raven 2 (flying over), Mistle Thrush (flying over), Wren
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Little Grebe 4, Teal 1, Robin 1
Brickworks
Black-headed Gull 5 (flying over), Jackdaw 1
Limestone Lake
Black-headed Gull 1 (flying over), Moorhen 3
Peninsula Saltmarsh
No birds seen
Peninsula Field
No birds seen
Woodland
Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Blackcap, Song Thrush, Chaffinch
Sensory Garden
Blackbird, Robin, Woodpigeon, Blue Tit, Goldcrest
