Recent Sightings - 8th March 2021
The following sightings were taken on Monday from the reserve at Castle Espie at high tide. The past week has seen the return of the Black-tailed godwit to the reserve at Castle Espie. These birds prefer the Wadermarsh and Shingle bank habitats during the Spring months. The reconstructed saltmarsh and mudflat provides good opportunity for this species to forage for food, roost and shelter from the elements, with over 100 birds recorded recently. The bird gets its name from the black bar on the tail feathers, which is very visible in flight, and can be a useful distinguishing feature to separate it from its close cousin the Bar-tailed godwit. The long legs and long beak enable this classic wader to search for food in deeper water, and lower in the mud than other species. It is interesting to note the different strategies for feeding by the other waders that use the marsh, with Curlew, Redshanks and Greenshank all regularly frequenting the habitat, and each adopting a different strategy as they forage in the same areas.
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Hooded crow 3, Oystercatcher 38, Shelduck 7, Light-bellied brent goose 47, Black-headed gull 23, Little egret 1, Dunlin 90, Greenshank 1, Curlew 2, Black-tailed godwit 25, Redshank 50
Main lake - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Mallard 10, Coot 2, Tufted duck 1, Little grebe 2, Black-headed gull 3, Moorhen 1, Teal 3
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Mallard 2, Black-headed gull 78, Moorhen 1, Coot 1, Jackdaw 1, Lesser black-backed gull 2
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Black-headed gull 11, Moorhen 4, Curlew 1, Redshank 10, Greenshank 3, Black-tailed godwit 106, Teal 19
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Coot 2, Teal 2, Moorhen 4, Black-headed gull 60, Black-tailed godwit 2, Lesser black-backed gull 1,
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Greenshank 1, Curlew 1, Little egret 1, Moorhen 1, Black-headed gull 14
Brickworks
Jackdaw 2, Goldfinch 1
Limestone Lake
Gadwall 2, Moorhen 1, Little grebe 1
Peninsula Saltmarsh
Black-headed gull 1
Peninsula Field
Jackdaw 9, Grey heron 2, Raven 1, Magpie 1
Woodland
Songthrush, Blackbird, Wren, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Robin, Blue tit, Coal tit, Wood pigeon, Great tit, Long-tailed tit, Raven 3, Goldcrest, Raven, Song thrush, Jackdaw
