Recent Sightings - 24th September 2018
The following sightings were recorded today at Low tide from the reserve at Castle Espie.
Another large influx of Brent Geese have arrived on the Lough from Iceland, many thousands can now be heard calling across the Lough to Castle Espie. A lovely little Grey Wagtail has been moving between all the habitats during the weeks; usual wagging it's tail as it searches for insects on the edge of the Freshwater lagoon and in the Brickworks. Finally, amazingly there is still plenty of Butterflies on the reserve! Plenty of Common Blues still in the grassland and one spectacular painted Lady was seen just this morning. The hot summer has certainly allowed plenty of adults to emerge this year.
Estuary – visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Brent Goose c.1000, Little Egret 1, Black-headed Gull 24
Main lake – visible from Sensory garden and Visitor centre
Mallard 128, Tufted duck 20, Greylag 1,Teal 16, Goldeneye 1, Grey Heron 1, Moorhen 2, Little Grebe 1
Shingle bank – visible from Sensory garden, Wadermarsh and Visitor Centre
Mallard 6, Black-headed Gull 1, Teal 3, Moorhen 3, Oystercatcher 1
Wadermarsh – visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Black-headed gull 1, Moorhen 1
Freshwater Lagoon – visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Mallard 20, Coot 3, Moorhen 4
Saline Lagoon – visible from Limekiln observatory
Little Grebe 5
Limestone Lake
Mallard 1, Moorhen 2
Peninsula Field and Saltmarsh
Black-headed Gull 1
Brickworks
Grey Wagtail, Painted Lady Butterfly, Common Blue Butterfly
Woodland
Blackbird, Wren, Wood pigeon, Robin, Blue tit, Great tit, Coal tit, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Hooded Crow
Butterflies and Moths on the reserve
Speckled Wood, Common Blue, Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Silver Y
