Recent Sightings - 16th November 2020
The following sightings were taken yesterday from the reserve at Castle Espie on a rising tide. The number of Shelduck on the estuary has visibly increased, while the number of Brent continues to drop as birds move on in their migration. The unsettled weather has seen a lot of movement of birds, particularly as birds settle on their hidh tide roost and we have been rewarded with some great views of the various waders that are present at this time of year, including Golden plover, Bar-tailed godwit, Turnstone, Dunlin, Knot, Redshank, Ringed plover, and Greenshank. Look out for Red and Greenshank, which can be seen regularly on the Saline lagoon edges and in the Wader marsh, particularly at high tide. A nice addition to our bird fauna recently has been Twite, often seen foraging on saltmarsh vegetation. This is a scare enough winter visitor and difficult to distinguish with Linnet, which is also frequent on the reserve. Look out for the small yellow bill and un-streaked throat to assist distinguishing from Linnet.
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Brent goose 210, Shelduck 93, Oystercatcher 70, Wigeon 23, Herring gull 3, Greenshank 4, Herring gull 1, Bar-tailed godwit 4, Curlew 8, Lesser black-backed gull 1, Redshank 44, Little egret 2, Dunlin 70, Black-headed gull 4, Great-crested grebe 1
Main lake - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor centre
Mallard 64, Tufted duck 21, Moorhen 2, Coot 1
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Mallard 8, Moorhen 2, Gadwall 14
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Mallard 1, Moorhen 6, Black-headed gull 2, Coot 3, Little egret 1, Teal 38
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Mallard 4, Moorhen 3, Coot 1, Mistle-thrush
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Little grebe 4
Brickworks
Jackdaw 18
Limestone Lake
Kingfisher 1
Peninsula Saltmarsh
Black-headed gull 2
Peninsula Field
Jackdaw 2
Woodland
Blackbird, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blue tit, Wood pigeon, Chaffinch, Great tit, Coal tit, Goldfinch, Goldcrest, Magpie
