Recent Sightings 6th July 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 Pintail. These ducks are very distinctive, with a long, slender neck, dark bill and a long black central tail feather, which can be as long as 4 inches. Outside the breeding season, when the male is in eclipse plumage, they lack the long tail feather. Female Pintails lack them entirely, and are distinguishable by a darker bill and brown feathers all over. Pintails have one of the largest ranges of any duck species, they breed in Arctic regions from Alaska to Russia and then over winter in South America, Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia. They have a quick and graceful flight, and can even take off directly from water without running along the surface. As many natural wetlands in their wintering range are threatened, these birds have started to forage more on agricultural wetlands. Pintails have a particular liking for rice which they forage for on paddies, they also eat freshwater invertebrates.
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Great Black-backed Gull 1, Lesser Black-backed Gull 1, Herring Gull 11, Black-headed Gull 12, Little Egret 2, Oystercatcher 2, Linnet
Main lake - visible from Sensory Garden and Visitor Centre
Kingfisher 1, Common Tern 3 (plus 2 chicks), Gadwall 3 (plus 6 ducklings), Tufted Duck 1 (plus 8 ducklings), Coot 1, Moorhen 3 (plus 4 chicks), Little Grebe 3, Mallard 66 (plus 4 ducklings), Grey Heron 1, Blackbird, Sand Martin, House Martin, Swallow, Greenfinch, Sedge Warbler, Goldfinch
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory Garden and Visitor Centre
Little Egret 1, Pintail 1, Gadwall 4, Mallard 74, Shelduck 1 (plus 1 duckling), Grey Wagtail 1, Jackdaw 7
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Shelduck 1 (plus 3 ducklings)
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Mute Swan 1, Little Grebe 1, Swallow
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Common Tern 23, Tufted Duck 1
Brickworks
Sedge Warbler, Chaffinch, Wren, Swallow, Magpie
Limestone Lake
No birds seen
Peninsula Saltmarsh
House Martin
Peninsula Field
No birds seen
Woodland
Blue Tit, Goldcrest, Woodpigeon, Blackcap
Sensory Garden
Robin, Swallow, Wren, Woodpigeon, Chiffchaff, Goldfinch, Goldcrest, Dunnock, Song Thrush
