Recent Sightings - 29th March 2021
The following sightings were taken on Monday from the reserve at Castle Espie on a low tide. Nest building has begun and is evident from many birds on the reserve including Blue tits using some of the many nest boxes, Jackdaws building in the old chimneys of the brickworks, and Black-headed gulls building in the Freshwater lagoon, to name a few. The number of waders roosting on the reserve has also been building this past few weeks with most notably, Black-tailed godwit and Knot making up most of the numbers, and can be seen on the Shingle bank, and on the Islands in the Freshwater lagoon, particularly at high tide. A surprising spot during the week was a Long-eared owl, seen perching on a Fir tree in the woodland. Not usually seen during the day, these owls have striking yellow/orange eyes which make the bird stand out. Despite its name, the ‘ear tufts’ are large head feathers which become raised when the bird is alarmed and are not real ears which are tucked under the feathers.
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Shelduck 8, Light-bellied brent goose 31, Black-headed gull 48, Little egret 1, Herring gull 1, Hooded crow 2
Main lake - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Mallard 12, Coot 2, Tufted duck 3, Little grebe 1, Black-headed gull 36, Moorhen 1, Teal 8, Goldeneye 1, Lesser black-backed gull 1
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Lesser black-backed gull 2, Black-headed gull 151, Teal 5
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Black-headed gull 7, Redshank 3
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Mallard 4, Black-headed gull 250, Black-tailed godwit 210, Knot 49, Gadwall 2, Redshank 1, Wren 1, Teal 2, Coot 2
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Black-headed gull 89, Mallard 1, Greenshank 1
Brickworks
Black-headed gull 1, Goldfinch 4, Grey wagtail 2, Jackdaw 3, Mistle thrush 3
Limestone Lake
Moorhen 2, Black-headed gull 2, Mallard 1
Peninsula Saltmarsh
Black-headed gull 7, Shelduck 2
Peninsula Field
Jackdaw 1
Woodland
Songthrush, Blackbird, Wren, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Robin, Blue tit, Coal tit, Wood pigeon, Great tit, Goldcrest, Mistle thrush
