Recent Sightings - 18th November 2019
Although there weren't any present this morning, this week we've had a proper wildfowl treat on the reserve; Northern Pintail.
Male Pintail are gorgeous; distinct elongated "pin-like" tails, elegant thin necks, lovely silver feathering, a bright yellow patch at the tail base, brilliantly blue beaks and a chocolate brown head with green and pink iridescence. The females are also lovely; with mallard like browns more suited to camouflage than display, but are far slimmer and elegant looking than their cousins.
There has been a handful of individuals hanging around in the daytime on the Freshwater Lagoon and Main lake. However there has been a small flock of birds roosting on the wetlands overnight. It is most likely that these birds have migrated from Eastern Europe/ Russia/Scandinavia to spend the winter in Strangford Lough. Like most wintering wildfowl in the UK and Ireland, our milder winters and large estuaries are warmer and more bountiful with food, than their summer breeding grounds concurrently.
Pintail don't tend to stay on the reserve for very long and will probably move on in a couple of days. Until then, we will enjoy all they have to offer.
Count taken at low tide this morning.
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Brent Geese 64, Shelduck 227, Oystercatcher 13, Curlew 3, Redshank 2, Moorhen 2
Main lake - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor centre
Mallard 141, Greylag goose 1, Tufted duck 21, Teal 6, Gadwall 8, Shoveler 1, Little Grebe 1, Mute Swan 2, Moorhen 8
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor centre
Mallard 16, Teal 21, Gadwall 2, Shoveler 3, Black-headed Gull 1, Moorhen 2
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Teal 27, Moorhen 5, Redshank 2
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannog
Mallard 12, Teal 4, Coot 2, Moorhen 2, Raven 2
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Little Grebe 5
Woodland
Blackbird, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blue tit, Great tit, Coal tit, Long-tailed Tit, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Magpie, Jackdaw, Woodpigeon
