Recent Sightings 21st June 2021
The following sightings were taken on Monday from the reserve at Castle Espie at high tide. A breezy start to the week saw lots of gulls in the air around the reserve. Gulls have been a familiar feature on the reserve at Castle Epsie for a number of years as the Black-headed gull colony has grown steadily. They are however not the only gulls on site with a number of other birds from this group frequently seen on the reserve from small terns to the massive Greater black-backed gulls. A few Common gull, slightly bigger than a Black-headed gull but smaller than a Herring gull have been remaining on the Shingle bank and Wadermarsh this past few weeks.The adult birds have a pale plumage with light grey upperparts and white underparts. Common Gull adults have a yellowish bill and yellow-green legs, and give a more ‘delicate’ appearance than other gulls. These gulls like many others are ground nesting and will use islands, cliff tops and shingle banks as well as some man-made structures. Their breeding success has seen a fluctuation in numbers in recent years, especially on inland colonies, which are susceptible to ground based predators such as mink. Locally the birds breed in colonies on Strangford Lough and the Copeland islands.
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Black-headed gull 2
Main lake - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Coot 2, Common gull 1, Black-headed gull 12, Greylag goose (2 adults and 5 goslings), Mallard 14
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Greater black-backed gull 1, Black-headed gull 26, Mallard 12, Greylag goose 3, Oystercatcher 2
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Black-headed gull 199, Shelduck 1, Common gull 2
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Mallard 5, Black-headed gull 176, Tufted duck 4, Moorhen 4 adults and 2 chicks, Sedge warbler 1, Swallow 2, Lesser black-backed gull 2
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Black-headed gull 40, Common tern 2 adults and 1 chick
Brickworks
Rook 3, Woodpigeon 2, Hooded crow 1
Limestone Lake
Tufted duck 1, Black-headed gull 1 adult and 2 chicks
Peninsula Saltmarsh
Little egret 1, Black-headed gull 6
Peninsula Field
Reed bunting 2
Woodland
Blackbird, Wren, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Great tit, Robin, Blue tit, Wood pigeon, Goldcrest, Blackcap, Goldfinch, Song thrush
