Recent Sightings 2nd March 2026
The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a rising tide. The bird of the week is the Little Egret. The Little Egret is a white heron which has two plumes of feathers at the back of its head, and they have black legs with yellow feet. In the 1800s these birds were sadly hunted for these plumes, which were used for decorative hats. Little Egrets eat small fish and crustaceans and are comfortable living inland, either along rivers, lakes and canals or by the coast. Little Egrets will stalk aquatic prey in the water, but will take advantage of prey like amphibians and small reptiles on land. These birds used to be infrequent visitors to the UK, but since they were first recorded breeding in Dorset in 1996, their numbers have been steadily increasing. They are often seen in groups and will roost communally, but they will squabble with others over access to food.
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Brent Goose 2, Black-headed Gull 106, Cormorant 4, Oystercatcher 328, Common Gull 20, Shelduck 65, Hooded Crow 3, Eider Duck 2, Curlew 20, Redshank 1, Grey Plover 1, Dunlin 50, Knot 20, Bar-tailed Godwit 108, Little Egret 2
Main lake - visible from Sensory Garden and Visitor Centre
Little Grebe 1, Gadwall 11, Mallard 28, Tufted Duck 1, Teal 1, Moorhen 6, Little Egret 4, Woodpigeon, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Robin, Chaffinch, Dunnock, Blue Tit, Siskin
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory Garden and Visitor Centre
Teal 26, Cormorant 2, Gadwall 16, Mallard 15, Moorhen 2
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Redshank 15, Oystercatcher 1, Greenshank 4, Teal 13, Black-headed Gull 1, Black-tailed Godwit 3, Robin
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Little Grebe 1, Little Egret 1, Teal 24, Moorhen 1, Mallard 5, Gadwall 8, Woodpigeon, Robin, Dunnock, Wren
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Little Grebe 1
Brickworks
Jackdaw 8, Pied Wagtail 1, Buzzard 1, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Wren, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Mistle Thrush
Limestone Lake
Cormorant 1, Little Grebe 1, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Blackbird, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit
Peninsula Saltmarsh
Greenshank 1, Shelduck 1, Black-headed Gull 4, Meadow Pipit 5
Peninsula Field
Grey Heron 1, Robin, Blackbird, Magpie
Woodland
Robin, Woodpigeon, Chaffinch, Blackbird, Siskin, Goldcrest, Blue Tit, Dunnock, Great Tit, Wren, Goldfinch, Long-tailed Tit, Chiffchaff, Raven
Sensory Garden
Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Robin, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Wren, Chaffinch, Dunnock
