Recent Sightings - 18th March 2019
As the days get longer, most of our winter visitors begin to disperse and disappear; the duck flocks on the main lake are much reduced, there is only a handful of Brent on the estuary and the Little Grebes are becoming elusive once more.
However the tides for the coming week are sure to bring one of our largest wintering birds close to the reserve hides; the Eider Duck. Strangford Lough is a great wintering spot for Eider ducks; sheltered and rich in food. Our high count from Castle Espie this year put their numbers close to a thousand! At this time of year they, mostly, leave the lough and disperse around the coastline and islands all round the British Isles to breed. Despite this, Eider are still out on the estuary presently and with high tides being during peak visiting times, this week is a great chance to spot these birds before they depart to breed.
Count was taken at Mid- High Tide.
Estuary – visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Brent 5, Shelduck 20, Eider 5, Black-tailed Godwit 119, Dunlin 26, Redshank 15, Black-head Gull 51, Lesser Black-backed Gull 2, Common Gull 3, Herring Gull 1
Main lake – visible from Sensory garden and Visitor centre
Teal 35, Tufted Duck 10, Gadwall 7, Mallard 87, Greylag goose 1, Moorhen 1, Coot 1, Little Egret 1, Raven 1, Black-headed Gull 1
Shingle bank – visible from Sensory garden, Wadermarsh and Visitor Centre
Cormorant 1, Oystercatcher 2, Greylag goose 1, Gadwall 3, Teal 10, Mallard 3, Black-head Gull 57, Lesser Black-backed Gull 2
Wadermarsh – visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Greenshank 1, Redshank 1, Teal 4, Black-headed Gull 18, Moorhen 6
Freshwater Lagoon – visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Mallard 11, Tuft 2, Coot 3, Moorhen 3, Black-headed Gull 78, Lesser Black-backed Gull 1
Saline Lagoon – visible from Limekiln observatory
Mallard 1, Black-headed Gull 2
Limestone Lake
Little Grebe 2,
Peninsula Field and Saltmarsh
Jackdaw 6
Brickworks
Mallard 4, Blackbird 1
Woodland
Blue tit, Great tit, Coal tit, Long-tailed Tit, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Wren, Blackbird, Robin, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Wood Pigeon
We were also lucky enough to have a very special sighting of a Spoonbill, reported to us by 9yr old and 6yr old – Niall and Cara Mulvenna. It was seen just after 1:30pm it was feeding at the end of the pier at the limekiln observatory where they were sheltering from a heavy shower. It then took flight and moved to the distant south of the view from the lime kiln.
*Share your sightings with us though Facebook, Twitter or Instagram at @WWTCastleEspie
