Recent Sightings - 23rd December 2019
A common winter sight at Castle Epsie is the subtly beautiful Greenshank. Long slender green legs, olive brown wings and bright white belly, make them stand out even at a distance on the mudflats and the Wadermarsh. Their bright bellies and understated colouration, gave them a very clean and elegant appearance as they delicately probe the mud for invertebrates to eat.
In the British Isles, Greenshanks breed in the highlands of Scotland and then spend the winter around the coasts of Britain and Ireland. In the autumn, continental birds can be seen on migration, as the move from their summer breeding grounds to Africa in the winter.
Greenshank are very commonly seen at Castle Espie in the winter. Far less numerous than their smaller cousins, the Redshank who flock in large numbers on Strangford Lough, Greenshank only gather in small groups and tend to be quite solitary. Here at Castle Espie, a small flock 4-8 roost over night in our Saline lagoon and then spread out around the reserve and the surrounding mudflats to feed during the day.
Check out the Saline Lagoon, the Wadermarsh and the estuary for a chance to see these lovely wading birds.
Count taken at High Tide
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Brent Geese 27, Shelduck 62, Curlew 8
Main lake - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor centre
Mallard 136, Tufted duck 56, Scaup 2, Gadwall 2, Shoveler 1, Greylag goose 1, Cormorant 2
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor centre
Mallard 3, Teal 38, Shoveler 1, Cormorant 2
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Moorhen 9, Teal 36, Redshank 2, Greenshank 2, Black-headed gull 2, Oystercatcher 1
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannog
Coot 2
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Little Grebe 3, Greenshank 5, Redshank 2, Moorhen 1, Curlew 1
Peninsula field and marsh
Redshank 2, Heron 1, Black-headed Gull 2, Little Egret 1
Woodland
Blackbird, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blue tit, Great tit, Coal tit, Long-tailed Tit, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Bullffinch, Magpie, Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, Woodpigeon,
