Recent Sightings - 20th July 2020
The following sightings were taken yesterday from the reserve at Castle Espie during low-tide. A few birds not seen that often turned up on the habitat count including Treecreeper, Jay and Spotted flycatcher. The flycatcher, although draply coloured, is easily recognised as it will perch on a bush or tree and dart out into open ground to catch insects on the wing, and then return to their perch. They are summer visitors to these shores and most commonly seen around their breeding season in May and June. The Common sandpiper, unlike other waders migrating is a summer migrant. These birds can be recognized by their brown upperparts and white underside, with a distinctive white patch on the shoulder. They are typically seen on stony ground beside water, moving their tail up and down in a ‘bobbing motion’ as they move.
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Black-headed gull 17, Black-tailed godwit 21, Little egret 1, Common gull 2, Hooded crow 2
Main lake - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor centre
Greylag goose 7, Mallard 37, Woodpigeon 2, House martin 2, Little grebe 2, Coot 2, Moorhen 1
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor centre
Black-headed gull 12, Mallard 22, Moorhen 1, Shelduck 7, Greylag 25, Common gull 1, Little egret 1, Jackdaw 2
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Black-headed gull 22, Mallard 5, Black-tailed godwit 4, Greylag goose 2
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Common sandpiper 1, Swallow 4, Mallard 5, Grey heron 1,
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Black-headed gull 4, Common tern 7,
Brickworks
Goldfinch 2, Jackdaw 12, Moorhen 1
Limestone Lake
Little egret 6, Black-headed gull 1, Sedge warbler 2
Peninsula Saltmarsh
Black-headed gull 1
Peninsula Field
Linnet 3, Meadow pipit 1
Woodland
Blackbird, Wren, Chaffinch, Robin, Blue tit, Coal tit, Great tit, Wood pigeon, Willow warbler, Magpie, Blackcap, Spotted flycatcher, Tree creeper, Jay, Mistle thrush
