Recent Sightings 23rd February
The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a rising tide. The bird of the week is the Greenfinch. These birds are quite distinctive, males have light green feathers with some yellow on their wings and grey and black wingtips, female are a light brownish colour with some yellow and black feathers. Both have a thick pinkish beak which they use to eat seeds, small fruits and buds. Greenfinches are often found in small groups, but outside the breeding season they will often join mixed-species flocks with other finches. A frequent visitor to garden feeders, they have suffered severe declines in recent years due to Trichomonosis, a parasitic infection which is fatal to these birds. Greenfinches often become unwell after using bird feeders which have been used by sick birds. The best way to protect Greenfinches in your garden is to regularly clean feeders with warm soapy water, and to stop feeding birds for several weeks if you see birds which look unwell.
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Brent Goose 88, Shelduck 127, Oystercatcher 98, Teal 1, Dunlin 2, Redshank 7, Hooded Crow 6, Great Black-backed Gull 3, Black-headed Gull 104, Herring Gull 6, Common Gull 24, Lesser Black-backed Gull 4, Curlew 6
Main lake - visible from Sensory Garden and Visitor Centre
Little Grebe 1, Gadwall 13, Mallard 23, Black-headed Gull 3, Moorhen 5, Teal 2, Robin, Bullfinch, Wren, Blackbird, Jackdaw 2, Dunnock
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory Garden and Visitor Centre
Teal 12, Mallard 19, Gadwall 16, Moorhen 2, Cormorant 2
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Moorhen 3, Teal 18, Redshank 2, Robin
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Tufted Duck 2, Teal 19, Mallard 6, Gadwall 2
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Little Grebe 2, Mallard 2
Brickworks
Robin, Chaffinch, Greenfinch 2, Linnet 6, Pied Wagtail 2
Limestone Lake
Gadwall 3, Moorhen 1, Woodpigeon, Blue Tit, Robin, Goldfinch
Peninsula Saltmarsh
Wren
Peninsula Field
Meadow Pipit, Greenfinch, Song Thrush, Blackbird
Woodland
Robin, Woodpigeon, Chaffinch, Blackbird, Siskin, Goldcrest, Blue Tit, Dunnock, Jackdaw, Coal Tit, Song Thrush, Great Tit, Wren, Goldfinch, Long-tailed Tit, Jay
Sensory Garden
Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Robin, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Wren, Bullfinch, Chaffinch, Goldcrest, Siskin 2, Magpie, Pied Wagtail, Goldfinch, Jackdaw 3
