The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a low tide. The featured bird this week is the Black-tailed godwit. These birds are large, elegant wading birds that use the rich mudflats and sheltered waters of Strangford Lough as an essential staging post and winter refuge. Standing tall with long legs and straight bills, flocks of these red-listed migrants arrive from places like Iceland to probe the lough's sediment for invertebrates during the winter months and migration periods.
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Black-headed Gull 24, Lesser Black-backed Gull 3, Curlew 18, Oystercatcher 180, Common Gull 4, Herring gull 10, Black-tailed godwit 10, Little egret 7, Shelduck 16, Hooded crow 2, Cormorant 11, Eider 5, Greater black-backed gull 1,
Main lake - visible from Sensory Garden and Visitor Centre
Little Grebe 21, Mallard 187, Gadwall 8, Pintail 1, Shoveler 4, Teal 12, Moorhen 1, Black-headed gull 2, Kingfisher 2, Herring gull 2, Lesser black-backed gull 1, Grey Heron 2, Swallow, House martin, Robin, Blue Tit, Blackbird, Jackdaw 3
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory Garden and Visitor Centre
Mallard 59, Moorhen 1, Black-tailed godwit 3, Teal 3, Little egret 20
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Mallard Teal 28, Black-headed Gull 5, Black-tailed godwit 4, Redshank 4
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Mallard 2, Jackdaw 2, Swallow
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Common Tern 2 (plus 2 chicks), Little Grebe 3
Brickworks
Jackdaw 3, Goldfinch 50,
Limestone Lake
Little grebe 1
Peninsula Saltmarsh
No birds seen
Peninsula Field
Hooded crow 2, Swallow
Woodland
Long-tailed Tit, Goldcrest, Blue Tit, Woodpigeon, Robin,
Sensory Garden
Robin, Woodpigeon, Swallow, Goldcrest, Raven
