Recent Sightings - 10th August 2020
Very exciting news this week from the reserve. A Spotted Sandpiper has been...spotted, using the edges of the the lagoons to forage for food.
Spotted sandpipers are an american sandpiper species, that over there, occupy the same niche as our European Sandpipers. It has somehow found it's way across the Atlantic to arrive here a Castle Espie. There are only around 3 Spotted Sandpipers seen in the UK every year and there is less 60 all Ireland records for this species, so it is a very rare visitor indeed!
It a very small wader, the same size as a Common Sandpiper, with similar markings, except its white breast is spotty not unlike a thrush. After initially been seen squabbling with the Common Sandpiper, both birds have settled in each others presence and can be seen together feeding on the edges of the lakes and islands on nearly all pour water bodies. In particular though, the Saline and Freshwater Lagoons.
Image: Common Sandpiper (left) and Spotted Sandpiper (right) neath the Sea Aster on the Saline Lagoon island. Credit: Stewart Rosell
Count taken at low tide. 10/8/2020 AM
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Black-headed gull 11, Herring gull 1, Common Gull 8, Oystercatcher 2, Little Egret 2, Curlew 2
Main lake - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor centre
Mallard 16, Tufted duck 5, Goldeneye 5, Gadwall 1, Coot 2, Moorhen 1, Little grebe 2
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor centre
Black-headed gull 2, Mallard 27, Tufted Duck 2, Moorhen 1, Coot 2, Greylag 2, Little Egret 1
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Black-headed gull 10, Moorhen 4, Shelduck 2, Coot 1
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Mallard 2, Teal 8, Shoveler 2, Gadwall 2, Coot 3, Moorhen 5, Common Sandpiper 1, Spotted Sandpiper 1, Jackdaw 3
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Moorhen 1, Grey Heron 1
Brickworks
Goldfinch 3
Limestone Lake
Moorhen 1, Kingfisher 1
Peninsula Saltmarsh
Black-headed gull 1
Peninsula Field
Swallow 6
Woodland
Blackbird, Wren, Robin, Great tit, Blue tit, Coal tit, Willow Warbler, Wood pigeon, Magpie, Sparrowhawk
