News

Today's Highlights

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'

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Today's Highlights

Today's Highlights

Wigeon Teal Shelduck Shoveler Pochard Tufted duck Pintail Gadwall Lapwing Coot Moorhen Little grebe-3 Oystercatcher Avocet-4 Redshank Dunlin Snipe Little egret Great egret-2 on Lady fen Great crested grebe Black-tailed godwit Grey heron Cormorant Black-he

17 March 2018

Latest Sightings - Saturday 17th March - Garganey again

Latest Sightings - Saturday 17th March - Garganey again

The drake Garganey is still on the Teal Pond this morning, but patience is required.  Patience is still required, and it is worth looking from upstairs in the Peter Scott Observatory first as it is sometimes only visible from there and not the Teal Pond

17 March 2018