Recent Sightings 30th May 2022
A pair of Shelduck (pictured) are an easy spot on the Main Lake and a pleasant welcome as you enter Castle Espie from the Visitors Centre. They’ve now recently been joined by their newest arrivals – Shelducklings! The youngsters look strikingly like the adults with their bold black and white pattern. They are one of our largest ducks in the UK, and nest in tree hollows and old rabbit burrows.
Two Little grebe have also been seen together on the Main Lake recently, diving down for food and emerging some time later making them tricky to spot. For such a small bird, they can make a loud noise and their ‘whinnying trill’ is often heard before they are seen.
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Redshank 8, Shelduck 3, Jackdaw 9, Little egret 3, Black-headed gull 24, Lesser black-backed gull 3, Common gull 1, Herring gull 46, Cormorant 3, Greater black-backed gull 1, Great crested grebe 1, Oystercatcher 31, Curlew 3, Eider 12 (10 ducklings), Common tern 1
Main lake - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Black swan 1, Mute swan 2, Shelduck 2(8 ducklings), Mallard 14, Moorhen 2, Little grebe 2, Black-headed gull 10, Oystercatcher 6
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Black-headed gull 23, Greylag goose 2 (8 goslings), Oystercatcher 119, Moorhen 1
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Black-tailed godwit 1, Black-headed gull 6
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Moorhen 2(with chicks), Coot 3, Mallard 5, Mute swan 2, Gadwall 6, Black-headed gull 111, Lesser black-backed gull 2, Grey heron 1, Swallow, Sedge warbler
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Redshank 31, Black-headed gull 95, Greylag goose 5 (11 goslings), Mallard 2
Brickworks
Limestone Lake
Black-headed gull 15, Moorhen 1, Mallard 1
Peninsula Saltmarsh
Lesser black-backed gull 1, Black-headed gull 2, Shelduck 1, Redshank 1
Peninsula Field
Goldfinch, Reed bunting, Meadow pipit
Woodland
Blackbird, Wood pigeon, Blue tit, Great tit, Goldcrest, Robin, Blackcap, Mallard (and duckling)
