Recent Sightings 7th July 2025

Monday Bird Count 07/07/2025

The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a rising tide. The bird of the week is the Sparrowhawk. Sparrowhawks are small birds of prey, and as their name suggests they prey on sparrows and other small birds. They are particularly suited to hunting in confined areas like woodlands and gardens. Female birds of prey are always larger than males and in sparrowhawks they are up to 25% bigger, which is actually the largest sexual size difference of any bird.

All birds counted by Ricky, Steph, Keith, Jonny and Gabby

Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory

Common Gull 1, Cormorant 8, Little Egret 2

Main lake - visible from Sensory Garden and Visitor Centre

Mallard 83 (plus 6 ducklings), Gadwall 1 (plus 4 ducklings), Teal 1, Moorhen 5, Little Grebe 3, Lesser Black Backed Gull 1, Tufted Duck 1, Little Egret 4, Swallow 1, Jackdaw 1, Kingfisher 1

Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory Garden and Visitor Centre

Little Egret 15, Mallard 17, Lesser Black Backed Gull 1, Moorhen 2, Grey Heron 1, Cormorant 1, Oystercatcher 243, Jackdaw 7, Black-headed Gull 6, Herring Gull 84, Common Gull 16

Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide

Common Gull 52, Black-headed Gull 116

Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg

Mute Swan 2 (plus 3 cygnets), Moorhen 3, Mallard 7, Gadwall 1 (plus 3 ducklings), Swallow 1, Sedge Warbler 2

Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory

Black-headed Gull 52, Common Tern 18, Little Grebe 1

Brickworks

Swallow 1

Limestone Lake

Woodpigeon, Jackdaw 1, Common Tern 3, Magpie 1

Peninsula Saltmarsh

Black-headed Gull 1, Starling 3, Hooded Crow 1

Peninsula Field

Woodpigeon, Swallow 1

Woodland

Goldcrest, Wren, Woodpigeon, Chaffinch, Black Bird, Magpie, Sparrowhawk (plus 3 chicks)

Sensory Garden

Robin, Woodpigeon, Swallow