News
Crane families doing well
South Lake Both adult Cranes present and apparently feeding young but difficult to see in tall vegetation, Please tweet in if you get sightings of the young. The Black Tailed Godwit flock (59) are feeding close to the hide. Avocet 57 in total and several
16 June 2018
Wildlife sightings for 16th June 2018
2 Common Tern - reservoir lagoon 2 Teal - wader scrape 6 Blackcap - sheltered lagoon, wildside 10 Swift - main lake 1 Kestrel - South route 1 Hobby - hunting around wildside May/June bird highlights: Temminck’s Stint, Jack Snipe, Green Sandpiper, Comm
16 June 2018
Sightings
An adult and juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker were showing from the Janet Kear hide today also a Treecreeper nearby and good numbers of juvenile Tree Sparrows around the reserve. Both Little and Great Crested Grebe have young on view from the Harrier Hi
15 June 2018
Friday 15th June - Avenue closed beyond Teal Pond Hide until further notice
The Avenue will remain closed beyond the Teal Pond Hide until further notice due to an unsafe tree which requires a tree surgeon to attend. This means there is no access to the Avenue Tower. We will let you know when it is likely to reopen. Apologies for
15 June 2018
Recent Sightings (13th-15th June)
British Steel Hide An adult Curlew Sandpiper was on the lagoons on the 15th, as well as 5 Whimbrel, 96 Curlew, 11 Lapwing, 18 Redshank and 3 Black-tailed Godwits. 2 Spoonbills were still present, as well as 5 Mediterranean Gulls in amongst 165 Black-heade
15 June 2018
Today's Highlights
Mute swan + 7 cygnets Whooper swan + 2 cygnets Greylag geese Great white egret- Main Obs Grey heron Little egret Black-tailed godwits Avocet + chicks-Nelson/Lyle hide Oystercatcher Greenshank Redshank Moorhen Lapwing Coot Little ringed plover-2 Shelduck +
15 June 2018
Latest Sightings - Friday 15th June - Avenue still closed, everywhere else open as normal
It's a calm start to the day after yesterday's wild weather. Everywhere is open as normal except for the Avenue which is still closed at the Teal Pond Hide due to a fallen tree further down. We will get this cleared as soon as possible. Today's high tide
15 June 2018
Wildlife sightings for 15th June 2018
1 Redshank - grazing marsh 3 Common Tern - reservoir lagoon 5 Teal - wader scrape 1 Hobby - hunting over wader scrape 20 Swift - mostly over main lake May/June bird highlights: Temminck’s Stint, Jack Snipe, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Redshank,
15 June 2018
Wildlife sightings for 14th June 2018
1 Green Sandpiper - grazing marsh 1 Redshank - grazing marsh 3 Common Tern - reservoir lagoon 60+ Swift - site count 6 Teal - wader scrape 1 Red Kite - over reserve May/June bird highlights: Temminck’s Stint, Jack Snipe, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandp
15 June 2018
Gulls just want to have fun
Every Spring hundreds of Black Headed Gulls check-in to Castle Espie to nest. So far, 2018 has been no different! This year our busy reserve team have recorded more than 650 nests on-site, with the lagoon surrounding the Crannog their favourite spot. Alth
14 June 2018
Latest Sightings - access restrictions due to strong winds and tree damage - Thursday 14th June
Due to the strong winds & tree damage we have closed part of the site. No access in the Avenue beyond the Teal Pond Hide, no access to the River Walk during the high tide and no access to the Peter Scott Trail until further notice. Sorry for any inco
14 June 2018
Today's sightings
Mute swan Whooper swan Greylag Shelduck Shoveler Tufted duck Gadwall Mallard Teal Wigeon Coot Moorhen Cormorant Redshank Black tailed godwit Avocet Snipe Lapwing Common tern Black headed gull Swallow House martin Starling Blackbird Pied wagtail Tree sparr
14 June 2018
Red Kite
Todays highlight was a Red Kite that flew past the In Focus shop late afternoon, it looked like an immature bird from the previous year so almost certainly the same individual that has been present in the wider area for a year or so. Other raptors today
13 June 2018
Today's sightings
Mute swan + 7 cygnets Whooper swan + 2 cygnets Shelduck + 8 chicks Shoveler Mallard Pintail Gadwall Wigeon Teal Pochard Tufted duck Cormorant Coot Moorhen Cranes Grey heron Little egret Black-tailed godwit Redshank Avocet Little ringed plover Lapwing Comm
13 June 2018
Wildlife Sightings 13/06/18
Wader Lake Time/AM Tide/Low Avocet - 32 & 1 chick Oystercatcher - 2 & 1 chick Gadwall - 3 female & 3 ducklings Shelduck - 9 & 20+ ducklings Common Tern - 150+ & 7 chicks Canada Goose - 10 Grey Heron - 34 Redshank -
13 June 2018