Recent Sightings 25th July 2022
Blue skies but very strong winds here at Castle Espie today made counting, and hearing, sheltering birds quite a challenge! However, plenty of our feathered friends were not put off by the gales. A female Northern shoveler was on Freshwater Lagoon this morning, with its distinctive, large, ‘shovel-shaped’ bill. The UK is home to approximately 30% of the Eupoean population of this impressive duck, so it’s always nice to see one visiting the reserve. You can watch the Freshwater Lagoon quite clearly from the Roundhouse – whilst also sheltering from the wind!
The Sparrow hawks (pictured) from the Woodland are also a beautiful sight to see over the reserve – if you don’t hear their loud, earie screeches beforehand! They can be quite elusive birds, and are one of the UK’s smallest birds of prey, but you should be able to catch a glimpse of them darting through the trees above the Woodland. They feed mainly on small birds like tits and finches, but the females can catch larger prey as they are bigger than the males.
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Mallard 1, Lesser black-backed gull 1, Eider 4, Grey heron 1, Oystercatcher 30, Herring gull 6
Main lake - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Mute swan 11, Cormorant 1, Little egret 3, Tufted duck 3 (3 ducklings), Mallard 56 (1 duckling), Jackdaw 4, Black-headed gull 5, Little grebe 1, Moorhen 2 (1 chick), Oystercatcher 2, Redshank 5
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Sparrow hawk (flying) 2, Mallard 21, Oystercatcher 140, Shelduck 6, Black-headed gull 1, Lesser black-backed gull 1, Common gull 5, Black-tailed godwit 8
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Moorhen 1, Common gull 7, Black-headed gull 74, Herring gull 1, Wood pigeon 1
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Moorhen 2, Lesser black-backed gull 1, Mallard 16 (12 ducklings), Black-tailed godwit 3, Shoveler 1, Gadwall 8 (2 ducklings)
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Little grebe 2
Brickworks
Limestone Lake
Peninsula Saltmarsh
Lesser black-backed gull 3, Black-headed gull 1
Peninsula Field
Woodland
Magpie, Robin, Blackbird, Wren
