Recent Sightings 29th September 2025
Monday Bird Count 29/09/2025
The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a receding tide. The bird of the week this week is the Spotted Redshank. This wader is much rarer than its close relative the Redshank; only a couple of hundred of these birds will over winter in the UK each year. In the summer the Spotted Redshank is much easier to identify, it is black with white wing spotting, however in the winter it looks similar to the Redshank. Spotted Redshanks are slightly larger, with a greyish back, pale underparts and a darker eye stripe, but they both share distinctive red legs and bill. This species is highly unusual as it fits into just 1% of bird species where the female will lay her eggs and then leave the male bird to brood and rear the chicks on his own. Most Spotted Redshank winter in equatorial Africa.
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Brent Goose 1781, Wigeon 129, Curlew 13, Little Egret 8, Oystercatcher 18, Redshank 32, Spotted Redshank 1, Black-headed Gull 4, Lesser Black-backed Gull 4, Great Black-backed Gull 1, Herring Gull 1, Rook 1, Hooded Crow 1, Common Gull 2, Eider Duck 27, Black Tailed Godwit 1, Grey Heron 1, Greenshank 1, Great Crested Grebe 19, Red Breasted Merganser 2, Cormorant 47, Dunlin c.50, Knot c.150
Main lake - visible from Sensory Garden and Visitor Centre
Mallard 97, Black-headed Gull 1, Shoveler 3, Moorhen 4, Tufted Duck 2, Kingfisher 1, Blackbird, Robin, Jackdaw
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory Garden and Visitor Centre
Gadwall 2, Mallard 66
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Teal 17, Moorhen 5, Robin
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Mute Swan 4 (3 cygnets), Teal 6, Moorhen 4, Coot 1
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Grey Heron 1, Little Egret 1, Little Grebe 4, Pied Wagtail 1
Brickworks
Goldfinch c.30, Linnet 6, Robin, Blue Tit
Limestone Lake
Little Grebe 1, Jackdaw, Kingfisher, Great Tit
Peninsula Saltmarsh
Teal 4, Black-headed Gull 1, Robin
Peninsula Field
Robin, Coal Tits. Long Tailed Tits
Woodland
Robin, Wren, Goldcrest, Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Long Tailed Tits
Sensory Garden
Jackdaw
