Recent Sightings 4th May 2026
The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a receding tide. The bird of the week this week is the Sand Martin. Sand Martins are the smallest of the Hirundine family (Swallows and Martins) found in the UK. Sand Martins can be tricky to distinguish when in flight, particularly from House Martins. Sand Martins have a brown back and white underparts, with a brown stripe across their breast which helps to separate them from similar species. House Martins and Swallows also have a white underbelly but glossy black upper parts. Swallows have a red throat and forehead and a deeply forked tail, and House Martins have a white rump. Sand Martins nest in colonies, and will lay their eggs in burrows they excavate in steep sandy cliffs, the burrows can be up to a meter long! These birds will even nest in sand and gravel extraction quarries, and their numbers saw a large increase after increasing demand for construction materials post-WW2. Sand Martins spend the winter in sub-Saharan Africa.
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Little Egret 2, Curlew 1, Lesser Black-backed Gull 8, Oystercatcher 120, Brent 3, Eider 12, Black-headed Gull 24, Hooded Crow 1, Herring Gull 122, Common Tern 5, Great Crested Grebe 12
Main lake - visible from Sensory Garden and Visitor Centre
Little Egret 1, Coot 1, Moorhen 1, Greylag Goose 1, Lesser Black-backed Gull 2, Little Grebe 4, Mallard 6 (with 9 ducklings), Gadwall 2 (with 6 ducklings), Goldeneye 2, Tufted Duck 2, Shelduck 6, Hooded Crow 1, Mute Swan 2, Long-tailed Tit, Blackbird, Wren, Dunnock, Blue Tit, Great Tit, House Martin, Barn Swallow, Jackdaw, Mistle Thrush, Chaffinch, Pied Wagtail
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory Garden and Visitor Centre
Mallard 3, Grey Heron 1
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Black-headed Gull 2, Cormorant 5 (flying over), Wren, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Barn Swallow, Woodpigeon, Song Thrush, Sand Martin
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Mallard 5, Coot 2, Moorhen 2, Teal 1, Black-headed Gull 4, Common Tern 1, Dunnock, Pied Wagtail, Goldfinch, Blackbird, Barn Swallow, Reed Bunting, Sedge Warbler
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Mallard 1, Gadwall 1, Black-headed Gull 12, Woodpigeon, Blackbird
Brickworks
Blackbird, Barn Swallow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Blackbird, Robin, Woodpigeon, Magpie, Goldfinch, Jackdaw
Limestone Lake
Moorhen 2, Coot 1, Black-headed Gull 4, Blackbird, Chaffinch, Robin, Woodpigeon, Barn Swallow, Willow Warbler
Peninsula Saltmarsh
Meadow Pipit, Linnet, Black-headed Gull 1, Reed Bunting, Little Egret 1, House Sparrow
Peninsula Field
Moorhen 2, Magpie 2, Jackdaw 1, Barn Swallow 1, Blackbird
Woodland
Chaffinch, Goldcrest, Chiffchaff, Blackbird, Woodpigeon, Robin, Willow Warbler, Wren, Black Cap, Great Tit, Blue Tit, House Sparrow, Mistle Thrush
Sensory Garden
Magpie 1, Blackbird, Barn Swallow, Mistle Thrush, Wren, Chaffinch, Great Tit, Woodpigeon, Robin, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Chiffchaff, Greenfinch
