Recent Sightings - 18/10/2021
A great time to see birds at Castle Espie is High Tide. Once the water covers all the mudflats, many birds go to roost to rest, before returning to the mudflats once the tide recedes. Lots of waders gather on the Pier. Ducks, like Teal, prefer to roost on the marshes or Shingle Bank. Monday morning however produced a high Count of Little Egrets; 44 in total across the whole of Castle Espie.
Little Egrets are large birds in the heron family, although smaller than Herons. They are elegant and graceful when hunting in the edges of lakes, marshes and rivers. They can be seen often in our Wadermarsh and Saline lagoon, but also out in the streams on the estuary. In these places, they will hunt for mainly fish, but will also catch amphibians or invertebrates if they get the chance. Stalking their prey, they are silent and slow, but will speedily stab their long beaks into the water to snap up prey. Bright yellow feet at the end of black legs, help them blend into the murky waters, aiding their stealth attacks.
Despite their long legs, they will go to roost in trees, where they lose all elegance and grace. Trees that overhang our lakes are a favourite spot for sheltering from the elements and waiting out the tides. How many can you spot on your visit to Castle Espie?
Count Taken High Tide 18/10/2021
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Little egret 22, Grey Heron 1, Brent 575, Wigeon 6, Eider 56, Turnstone 34, Lapwing 30 Oystercatcher 200, Redshank 2, Curlew 2, Whimbrel 8, Herring gull 1,
Main lake - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Mute swan 3, Mallard 69, Tufted duck 8, Moorhen 5, Little Egret 21
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Teal 115, Mallard 22, Gadwall 6, Oysterctacher 20, Moorhen 5
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Teal 1, Moorhen 5, Little Egret 1
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Coot 3
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Little grebe 1, Little Grebe 6
Brickworks
Jackdaw 2
Limestone Lake
Little Grebe 1
Peninsula Saltmarsh
Black-headed Gull 1
Peninsula Field
Meadow Pipit 1
Woodland
Wren, Robin, Blackbird, Chaffinch, Great tit, Coal tit, Blue tit, Long-tail Tit, Wood pigeon, Goldcrest, Magpie, Raven 1
