Recent sightings - 11th December
The following sightings were recorded today by Maurice Turley, Jenny McKee and Toni Castello, near high tide, and as part of our monthly contribution to the WEBs counts, which we perform in coordination with other counters around Strangford Lough. This time we have detected lower numbers of Brent geese, as they have started to move to other wintering grounds (e.g. Dublin, France), while good number of other waterfowl such as Shelduck, Teal and Wigeon are still around. A beautiful orange light in a mild, calm morning, accompanied us during the first minutes of the count. Priceless.
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Brent geese 590, Shelduck 340, Teal 520, Merganser 4, Eider 8, Oystercatcher 561, Curlew 178, Dunlin 100, Knot 7, Lapwing 335, Black-headed gull 23, Greater black-backed gull 1, Lesser black-backed gull 1, Common gull 2, Herring gull 1, Whooper swan 8, Redshank 206, Little egret 10, Cormorant 8, Shag 4.
Main lake - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor centre
Mallard 50, Pintail 1, Shoveler 1, Tufted 10, Common teal 10, Black-headed gull 4, Gadwall 2, Coot 3, Grey heron 1, Cormorant 1.
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Oystercatcher 1, Coot 4, Teal 1.
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannog
Mute swan 3, Coot 2.
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Little grebe 1, Black-headed gull 1, Redshank 1.
Brickworks
Goldfinch 3, Wren 1, Robin 1.
Woodland
Goldcrest 5, Wren 3, Great tit 1, Blue tit 1, Chaffinch 1.
