Recent Sightings - 15th March 2021
The following sightings were taken on Monday from the reserve at Castle Espie at low tide. This week has seen an increase in Black-headed gulls on site, as they build on their breeding grounds. Within the flock there is an occasional Mediterranean gull present, recognizable initially by its call which varies slightly from the Black-headed gull, and with it plumage on closer inspection. There have also been pairs of Shelduck, Teal, Tufted duck and Gadwall in various parts of the reserve, gearing up for the season ahead. Normally overlooked, all the species of corvid can be found at the reserve at Castle Espie with Jackdaw as the most commonly seen species. This bird takes advantage of the good nesting habitat provided by our historic buildings on site, and is busy this time of year around the brickworks and beyond. Magpie and Jay are frequently present in the woodland, while Hooded and Carrion crows can be seen on the estuary. A particular habit for these birds is to feed on shellfish, especially, mussels by flying high with the shells, and dropping on the stone from the seawall to access the edible soft tissue within. Ravens are also commonly seen and heard on the reserve as they perch high on the tall pine trees that flank the site.
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Hooded crow 1, Shelduck 6, Light-bellied brent goose 5, Black-headed gull 50, Curlew 1, Black-tailed godwit 17, Common gull 2, Herring gull 1
Main lake - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Mallard 7, Coot 2, Tufted duck 6, Black-headed gull 17, Teal 14
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Black-headed gull 120, Moorhen 2, Jackdaw 1, Little egret 1, Teal 5, Woodpigeon 1
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Black-headed gull 30, Moorhen 2, Redshank 4, Black-tailed godwit 1, Jackdaw 2
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Coot 2, Mallard 3, Moorhen 4, Black-headed gull 140, Black-tailed godwit 1, Mediterranean gull 1
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Black-headed gull 15
Brickworks
Jackdaw 8, Magpie 1, Black-headed gull 1
Limestone Lake
Gadwall 2, Little grebe 1
Peninsula Saltmarsh
Black-headed gull 2
Peninsula Field
Jackdaw 7, Moorhen 1, Hooded crow 1, Black-headed gull 1
Woodland
Songthrush, Blackbird, Wren, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Robin, Wood pigeon, Great tit, Goldcrest, Raven, Song thrush, Pheasant, Mistle thrush, Hooded crow
