News
Bean Goose
The official first day of spring turned out well, and with light winds in the morning the sun felt warm. The birds however definitely had winter feel to them. A Bean Goose dropped in with ~ 1000 Pink-footed Geese late morning and promptly fell asleep. Th
20 March 2018
Wildlife sightings - 20/03/2018
a.m. tide level: low Wader Lake Avocet 2 Kestrel 2 Lapwing 26 Shoveler 8 Grey heron 25 Mute swan 2 Lesser black-backed gull 2 Herring gull 5 Oystercatcher 5 Eurasian teal 18 Tufted duck 24 Saline Lagoon Oystercatcher 2 Canada goose 2 Reed bunting (singing
20 March 2018
Today's Highlights
Red kite-with wing tags Bean goose Greylag Whooper swan Mute swan Crane Black-tailed godwit Lapwing Black-headed gull Shelduck Shoveler Wigeon Teal Coot Moorhen Tree sparrow Goldfinch Reed bunting Oystercatcher Snipe Redshank Avocet Merlin Sparrowhawk
20 March 2018
Post 'mini-beast'
Luckily for our wildlife the latest cold snap didn't freeze into the ground or the surface water allowing bird species to forage for food. It didn't last as long as the previous Siberian blast but still had an impact on bird behaviour, some movements we
20 March 2018
Reserve Update Tuesday 20th March
A bright, sunny morning with plenty of birds singing and some starting to gather nesting materials. Several Linnets were heard singing down the Avenue, with the males starting to come into their summer plumage. No sign of the male Garganey this mor
20 March 2018
Wildlife sightings for 20th March 2018
3 Shelduck - main lake, wader scrape 3 Jack Snipe - wader scrape, grazing marsh 3 Snipe - wader scrape, grazing marsh 1 Goldeneye - reservoir lagoon 2 Siskin - entrance area 1 Water Rail - sheltered lagoon 2 Pintail - reservoir lagoon February/
20 March 2018
Wildlife sightings - 19/03/2018
a.m. Tide level: mid Wader Lake Avocet 8 (one pair noted mating) Lapwing 19 Mute swan 1 (juvenile) Shelduck 62 Shoveler 4 (2 pairs) Stock dove 1 Kestrel 1 (male) Grey heron 10 Gadwall 1 (male) Black-headed gull 35 Saline Lagoon Avocet 2 Shelduck 2 Hawth
19 March 2018
Bird News
An adult Mediterranean Gull (with a metal ring on it's right leg) was on the Mere this morning, along with the 105 Ruff, 40+ Avocets, and about 100 Black-tailed Godwits. A lot of Pink-footed Goose activity today with at least 1,500 birds moving around the
19 March 2018
Fire/Ice
Only small traces of the chaos of the combined forces of the Beast from the East and Storm Emma remain and thankfully it is now possible for me to have a cup of tea without altering my normal brew with coconut milk or reverting to frost burnt bread at th
19 March 2018
Today's Highlights
Lapwing Black-headed gull Greylag geese Tree sparrow Goldfinch Reed bunting Snipe Pochard Wigeon Teal Tufted duck Coot Whooper swan Mute swan Shoveler Crane-2 Goldeneye Mallard Black-tailed godwit Moorhen Dunlin Cormorant Redshank Merlin Skylark Pintail G
19 March 2018
Recent Sightings – 19th March 2018
A calmer day here at Castle Espie, after a very cold and windy St.Patrick's Day weekend! The following sightings were recorded today at low tide: Estuary – visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory Brent goose 15, Black-headed gul
19 March 2018
Wildlife sightings for 19th March 2018
2 Common Scoter - reservoir lagoon 1 Hen Harrier (female) - flew over marsh (early p.m.) 1 Short-eared Owl - flew over main lake heading SW (1600hrs) 7 Siskin - wildside (singing) 1 Chiffchaff - sheltered lagoon 7 Fieldfare - south route 3 Shelduck - ma
19 March 2018
Today's sightings
Tundra bean goose - 1 Main hide Tree sparrow House sparrow Goldfinch Reed bunting Great tit Blue tit Robin Dunnock Song thrush Fieldfare Starling Lapwing Dunlin Snipe Black tailed godwit Redshank Whooper swan Greylag goose Wigeon Pochard Teal Shoveler She
18 March 2018
Wildlife sightings for 18th March 2018
2 Shelduck - main lake 3 Jack Snipe - wader scrape 5 Snipe - grazing marsh, wader scrape 6 Pintail - main lake, sheltered lagoon, wader scrape 1 Goldeneye - reservoir lagoon 1 Redshank - grazing marsh 1 Water Pipit - wader scrape 3 Sand Martin - wader sc
18 March 2018
Bar Tailed Godwit
Holden Tower Some great birdwatching from here with birds crowding in very close to the tower to try and get out of the wind. Whitefronted Goose 124 Redbreasted Goose 1 Wigeon 800 Teal 48 Shoveler 32 Pintail 46 Lapwing 60 Black Tailed Godwit 14o Bar Taile
17 March 2018