Recent Sightings 20th June 2022
At low tide today, Castle Espie was alive with action in the sky and on the water. The Kingfisher was busy fishing on the Main Lake and on the Saline Lagoon, flashing bright in the hot summer sunshine we experienced today. There were also aerial displays from Swallows, House martins and Sand martins. Sand martins (pictured) are a summer visitor to the UK, and can often be seen feeding on the wing over water bodies and perching on overhead wires and branches.
The newest arrivals to the reserve are a family of Tufted duck ducklings! The ducklings will stay with the female and learn how to feed. You can spot her around the Saline Lagoon and Limestone Lake - although she does not have the distinctive white flank and bold tuft that the male has, she does have a small tuft on the back of the head, brown flanks and bright yellow eyes.
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Lesser black-backed gull 8, Shelduck 6, Little egret 1, Black-headed gull 35, Herring gull 11, Hooded crow 3, Jackdaw 4, Grey heron 1, Curlew 4, Black-tailed godwit 4, Oystercatcher 11, Rook 44, Sand martin 2 (flying over)
Main lake - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Mallard 47, Gadwall 7, Moorhen 2, Mute swan 2, Kingfisher 1, Black-headed gull 2
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Jackdaw 11, Shelduck 2, Black-headed gull 9, Hooded crow 1
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Black-headed gull 2, Moorhen 1, Jackdaw 2, Greylag goose 2 (4 goslings)
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Shelduck 2 (2 ducklings), Black-tailed godwit 1, Moorhen 4 (3 chicks), Gadwall 1 (2 ducklings), Black-headed gull 1, Mallard 12 (9 ducklings), Mute swan 2, Swallow, Goldfinch
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Tufted duck 1 (4 ducklings), Redshank 1, Shelduck 2 (4 ducklings), Kingfisher 1, Black-headed gull C.20
Brickworks
Graylag 1 (2 goslings)
Limestone Lake
Mallard 2, Greylag goose 3, Black-headed gull 5
Peninsula Saltmarsh
Pied wagtail 4, Meadow pipit 2, Swallow 2, Shelduck 1, House martin 3
Peninsula Field
Woodland
Blackbird, Robin, Coal tit, Goldfinch, Chiffchaff, Wood pigeon, Chaffinch, Blue tit, Wren
