Recent Sightings - 10th February 2020

10 February 2020

Storm Ciara is a nightmare if you're a wading bird. Being so small and light, you'll get blown all over the place when you move from your roost to your preferred feeding grounds. However, whenever waders do decide to take to the air, they produce some magnificent aerial displays. Knot is one such species.

Knot, or to give them their full name "Red" Knot, winter in huge flocks in the UK and breed in Eastern Europe/Scandinavia. At their breeding grounds their plumage is a bright red rust colour, but here in the winter, they are grey all over, with green legs and wings etched black in flight.

In Strangford Lough they gather in large flocks to feed and take shelter from the winter elements. Over the weekend flocks of knot featuring 500+ birds were seen braving the winds and putting in some spectacular displays over the estuary and the pier.

With the storms continuing throughout the week, now will be the best time to witness large flocks moving to and from the Castle Espie pier. (Best seen from the Limekiln observatory).

Count taken low-tide.

Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory

Brent Geese 5, Shelduck 32, Curlew 3, Redshank 3, Oystercatcher 25, Little egret 1, Herring Gull 2, Lesser Black-back Gull 1, Greater Black-backed Gull 1

Main lake - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor centre

Mallard 63, Tufted duck 5, Greylag goose 1, Coot 1, Moorhen 3, Teal 45

Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor centre

Black-headed Gull 17, Cormorant 2, Moorhen 3, Teal 26, Gadwall 8

Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide

Redshank 16, Greenshank 2, Black-tailed Godwit 9, Moorhen 6

Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannog

Tufted duck 1, Mallard 1, Teal 2, Coot 2, Moorhen 2

Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory

Redshank 19

Peninsula field and marsh

Black-headed Gull 1