Recent Sightings - 17th Aug 2020
The following sightings were taken yesterday from the reserve at Castle Espie on a rising tide. The Spotted sandpiper is still around on the reserve and has been seen mainly in and around the Freshwater lagoon area. We are delighted that such a rare visitor has been on site for the last couple of weeks, and many of our visitors have been able to get a good glimpse of the bird. We are starting to see more of our typical wintering birds around the site, with Teal increasing in numbers and the familiar sound of the Curlew heard over the estuary. We also had a sighting of the Comma butterfly for the 2nd time after the first in early spring. This is a very significant development for such a rare butterfly here, and may be evidence of potential breeding.
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Black-headed gull 19, Common gull 12, Curlew 6, Oystercatcher 9, Dunlin 1, Black-tailed godwit 1
Main lake - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor centre
Mallard 69, Black-headed gull 5, Common gull 1
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor centre
Black-headed gull 62, Mallard 13, Oystercatcher 2, Common gull 7, Black-tailed godwit 2
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Black-headed gull 2, Teal 2, Mallard 1, Coot 1, Moorhen 3
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Black-tailed godwit 19, Mallard 24, Teal 3, Coot 2, Moorhen 2, Spotted sandpiper 1
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Greenshank 1
Limestone Lake
Little grebe 1
Peninsula Saltmarsh
Black-headed gull 1
Woodland
Blackbird, Wren, Chaffinch, Robin, Great tit, Wood pigeon, Goldcrest, Dunnock, Blue tit, Black cap, Great tit
Other
A Comma butterfly has been spotted on the reserve not normally resident in Northern Ireland, this is only the 4th record of a sighting here this year, the 3rd ever for Castle Espie, and the 2nd time it has been seen on the reserve this year.
