Recent Sightings - 31st May 2020
The following sightings were taken yesterday from the reserve at Castle Espie at High Tide. The terns continue to be busy on the Saline lagoon with 7 pairs now establishing territories and nesting. A few pairs of Gadwall, Mallard, Tufted duck and Shelduck are also all present on the freshwater and saline habitats. The prolonged dry spell has left much reduced water levels in our ponds and lakes, and the Black-tailed godwit have been taken advantage by feeding in the mud in the Freshwater lagoon. The warm weather has also meant that Bats have been very active around the wetlands and taken advantage of the abundance of insects.
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Black-headed gull 2, Lesser black-backed gull 1
Main lake - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor centre
Greylag goose 12, Tufted duck 6, Mallard 2, Moorhen 2, Black-headed gull 58, Gadwall 2, Coot 6, Little grebe 2, Sandwich tern 1
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor centre
Oystercatcher 340, Black-tailed godwit 32, Black-headed gull 25, Cormorant 1, Mallard 42, Lesser black-backed gull 2
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Black-headed gull 5, Shelduck 2, Swallow 2, Teal 3 ♂, Linnet 2
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Black-headed gull 144, Black-tailed godwit 15, Mallard 4, Moorhen 2, Gadwall 2
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Black-headed gull 64, Redshank 11, Common tern 10, Tufted 2
Brickworks
Sedge warbler 1, Wren 1, Jackdaw 5
Limestone Lake
Little grebe 3, Moorhen 2
Peninsula Saltmarsh
Meadow pipit 1, Black-headed gull 1
Peninsula Field
Meadow pipit 1, Reed bunting 2, Rook 20, Jackdaw 2
Woodland
Blackbird, Buzzard, Wren, Grey crow, Magpie, Chaffinch, Robin, Blue tit, Bullfinch, Great tit, Wood pigeon, Blackcap, Goldcrest, Mistle thrush
Other
The wood white butterfly is again active on the edge of the Brickworks, and common blue and speckled wood are also common sightings throughout the reserve
