Recent Sightings 12th July 2021
The following sightings were taken on Monday from the reserve at Castle Espie during low tide. The reserve is now relatively quiet compared to the last few months with most of the Black-headed gulls and terns now vacated their nesting areas.The Terns can still be seen around the Saline lagoon and the Black-headed gulls are frequently seen on the Wadermarsh, loafing on the islands and edge of the shingle in the company of Oystercather. Look out for a small group of Common gulls which are frequently seen at high tide on the Shingle and distinguished from the smaller Black heads by their yellowish green legs, white heads and yellowish bills. Elsewhere, a few Dabchick can be seen on the Limestone lake and in the Saline lagoon, with their display call also heard, so there may be a chance of a late brood to come. A pair that were in the Limestone lake earlier in the season were unsuccessful in their first brood and may make another attempt before the end of the summer. These birds dive quickly underwater when threatened with a plunging motion, swim for a distance and then and pop up again in another spot. They are wetland specialists, and nest mostly on floating plant material, within dense vegetation at the edge of shallow, lakes and ponds. We are lucky in that the wetland habitats at Castle Espie attract both summer and wintering birds and can be seen here all year round.
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Black-headed gull 13, Lesser black-backed gull 2, Little egret 2, Oystercatcher 1, Shelduck 1
Main lake - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Black-headed gull 1, Mallard 7, Mute swan 1, Moorhen 5
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Mallard 15, Black-headed gull 4, Coot 1, Greylag goose 8
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Black-headed gull 6, Lesser black-backed gull 1, Jackdaw 3
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Mallard 2, Moorhen 1, Swallow 1, Sedge warbler 1
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Kingfisher 2
Brickworks
House martin 1
Limestone Lake
Moorhen 2 adults and 2 chicks, Mallard 3, Little egret 1
Peninsula Saltmarsh
Jackdaw 1
Peninsula Field
Starling 6
Woodland
Blackbird, Wren, Chaffinch, Coal tit, Robin, Blue tit, Wood pigeon, Raven, Hooded crow
