Recent Sightings 22nd September 2025
The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a rising tide. This week’s bird of the week is the Eider Duck. Eiders are large sea ducks which can often be seen swimming in flocks off the coast. Females are brown in colour and males are black and white with green on the back of their necks, their eyes are set high on their head and they have a sloping forehead. These ducks eat shellfish which they will dive up to 20m to reach, they swallow them whole and they are crushed in the bird’s gizzard. The down feathers they use to line their nests is used by us to stuff pillows and duvets as it is incredibly soft and warm.
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Little Egret 7, Brent Goose 1051, Curlew 50, Shelduck 40, Redshank 21, Hooded Crow 2, Greenshank 2, Common Gull 31, Oystercatcher 239, Herring Gull 31, Black-headed Gull 196, Great Black-backed Gull 2, Lesser Black-backed Gull 2, Eider Duck 11, Cormorant 1, Great Crested Grebe 5
Main lake - visible from Sensory Garden and Visitor Centre
Moorhen 4, Shoveler 3, Tufted duck 1, Teal 19, Little Grebe 1, Mallard 144, Blackbird, Grey Heron 1, Woodpigeon, Rook 7
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory Garden and Visitor Centre
Greylag Goose 32, Jackdaw 1, Black-headed Gull 1, Moorhen 2, Cormorant 1, Mallard 49
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Redshank 4, Little Egret 1, Black-headed Gull 1, Teal 2
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Mute Swan 3 (1 Cygnet), Moorhen 1, Teal 15
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Little Grebe 4
Brickworks
Woodpigeon 1, Jackdaw 2, Robin
Limestone Lake
No birds seen
Peninsula Saltmarsh
Black-headed Gull 1
Peninsula Field
Meadow Pipit
Woodland
Robin, Wren, Goldcrest, Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Long Tailed Tits
Sensory Garden
Robin, Wren, Coal Tit
