Recent Sightings - 14th September 2020
The following sightings were taken yesterday from the reserve at Castle Espie at high tide. The WeBS counts have resumed this year and the wintering birds are returning in numbers to the Lough including good numbers of Light-bellied brent geese, Redshank and Curlew. Unusually, for the north side of the Lough, there were a few Gannet fishing and loafing in the area, but a very welcome addition to the usually suite of wintering waders, ducks and geese. The familiar sound of the Greenshank can be heard along the estuary and in the reserve again. Look out for this wader on the outflow from the Freshwater lagoon, best viewed from the Brent Discovery Hide. A small flock of Dabchick have taken up residence in the Saline Lagoon and they are as confusing as ever to count as they periodically disappear under the water to forage for food.
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Brent goose 1900, Black-headed gull 70, Little egret 20, Curlew 256, Herring gull 2, Oystercatcher 80, Black-tailed godwit 15, Grey heron 3, Teal 9, Common gull 5, Lesser black-backed gull 1
Main lake - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor centre
Mallard 24, Grey heron 1, Greylag 2, Tufted duck 2, Little grebe 1
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor centre
Black-headed gull 1, Mallard 66, Moorhen 5, Teal 19, Black-tailed godwit 1, Pied wagtail 1
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Moorhen 8, Little egret 1, Teal 1
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Robin 1, Mallard 13, Coot 2, , Tufted duck 2, Moorhen 4
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Black-tailed godwit 3, Little grebe 5, Little egret 1, Moorhen 1, Teal 1
Brickworks
Goldfinch 10, Jackdaw 6
Limestone Lake
Swallow 6, Kingfisher 1, Moorhen 1
Peninsula Saltmarsh
Black-headed gull 1
Peninsula Field
Jackdaw 6
Woodland
Blackbird, Wren, Chaffinch, Robin, Great tit, Wood pigeon, Goldcrest, Wren,
Other
There is still quite a lot of flora of interest on the reserve including Lax-flowered sea lavender, which is showing well on the edges of the Saltmarsh, and the handsome Viper’s-bugloss which can be found in the Sensory garden.
