Recent Sightings - 25th March

The reserve is becoming a hive of activity again for some of our most important breeding birds; Black-headed Gulls. Castle Espie's reserve hosts one of the largest colonies in Northern Ireland, so it's great to see the birds back again scouting out their preferred nesting sites.

Black-headed Gulls are Red Listed in Ireland and Amber Listed in Great Britain. This means that in Ireland they are endangered, vulnerable in Great Britain, as a breeding bird after serious declines. Gulls, although now a common sight in our towns and cities, have been forced to abandon their traditional breeding grounds of coastal beaches and clifftops for man-made "concrete cliffs" and rooftops. And the bountiful supply of our leftovers replace their traditional food sources.

Numbers are still quite low here, but it is still early in the season and so soon enough birds will begin building nests and laying eggs again. Right now the birds are all displaying to their partners; an elegant dance that consists of many bows, calls and posturing.

Estuary – visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory

Brent 13, Shelduck 17, Black-headed Gull 23, Lesser Black-backed Gull 3, Mallard 3, Hooded Crow 1

Main lake – visible from Sensory garden and Visitor centre

Teal 22, Tufted Duck 9, Mallard 40, Greylag goose 1, Moorhen 3, Coot 2, Black-tailed Godwit 1

Shingle bank – visible from Sensory garden, Wadermarsh and Visitor Centre

Oystercatcher 1, Mallard 12, Black-head Gull 23, Moorhen 2

Wadermarsh – visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide

Redshank 1, Teal 3, Black-headed Gull 25, Moorhen 2, Black-tailed Godwit 3

Freshwater Lagoon – visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg

Mallard 7, Coot 2, Moorhen 2, Black-headed Gull 89, Shelduck 2, Heron 1

Saline Lagoon – visible from Limekiln observatory

Moorhen 1, Little Grebe 1

Limestone Lake

Little Grebe 1, Tufted Duck 2

Peninsula Field and Saltmarsh

Black-headed Gull 3

Brickworks

Wood Pigeon, Jackdaw, Blackbird

Woodland

Blue tit, Great tit, Coal tit, Chaffinch, Wren, Blackbird, Robin, Dunnock, Mistle Thrush, Wood Pigeon, Jackdaw, Jay, Buzzard

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