Recent Sightings - 19th October 2020

20 October 2020

The following sightings were taken yesterday from the reserve at Castle Espie at low tide. Over the weekend we have had a rare visitor, the Great White Egret turn up on the Peninsula Saltmarsh, coming in at high tide with a group of Little Egrets. Compared to the Little Egret, the Great White egret is huge, almost as large as a grey heron, but with long legs and a very long neck. The distinctive yellow, dagger-like bill stands out among other egrets. A few years ago, records of Great White Egret were uncommon, but more and more we are seeing them appear in our local wetlands. This is the first record of Great White on site and we are delighted it has turned up on our constructed saltmarsh habitat. The shallow pools of the wetland are perfect for this bird as it stalks for fish and invertebrates and spear them with its dagger-like bill, and it really demonstrates that if you create healthy wetlands it will attract wildlife.

Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory

Brent goose ~300, Little egret 2, Shelduck 18, Wigeon 49, Black-headed gull 11, Herring gull 1, Greylag goose ~100

Main lake - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor centre

Mallard 39, Tufted 11, Moorhen 1, Greylag 3

Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre

Mallard 19, Teal 1,

Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide

Moorhen 3, Teal 55, Black-headed gull 2, Mallard 3, Jackdaw ~30, Coot 2

Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg

Mallard 14, Tufted duck 1, Moorhen 3, Grey heron 1

Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory

Little grebe 6, Moorhen 2