Recent Sightings - 25th November 2019
If you've followed the blogs over the past few weeks you'll have noticed a reoccurring theme; birds arriving from colder climes to wait out the winter. This is one of the reasons the British Isles are fantastic for bird life! The climate is great for a vast range of species and throughout the year there is always new species to see! This week is no different at Castle Espie, with more arrivals every day.
Thrushes are less conspicuous than our wintering wildfowl but many thousands choose to fly from Scandinavia to spend their winters in UK and Ireland. Thrushes are a medium sized passerine bird and many species are resident all year here. Many are very well known too, such as; Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush and Mistle Thrush.
In the winter, our resident Thrushes are joined by birds seeking a less "arctic" winter and gorge themselves on our bushes with bountiful berry crop. Castle Espie is alive with the distinctive rattling call of migrant Mistle Thrushes this week. Amongst the new arrivals there is also thrush species which do no breed in the UK.
Redwing were seen this morning around the Main lake edge. Redwing are around the same size of a Song Thrush, with streaky chests, strong cream eye stripes and warm orange/red patches on their flanks just under their wings. Over 8 million of these birds winter in the UK every year. There are plenty of trees and bushes full of berries at Castle Espie at the moment, make sure to check them for these wonderful winter visitors.
Count taken at mid tide this morning.
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Brent Geese 173, Shelduck 182, wigeon 12, Eider 28, Oystercatcher 37, Curlew 5, Redshank 73, Greenshank 6, Black-headed Gull 4, Lesser black-back gull 2, Little Egret 1
Main lake - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor centre
Mallard 89, Tufted duck 16, Teal 6, Gadwall 2, Moorhen 1, Coot 1, Redwing 1
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor centre
Mallard 32, Teal 11, Gadwall 5, Shoveler 2, Cormorant 1
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Teal 67, Moorhen 4, Redshank 1, Oystercatcher 3, Grey Heron 1, Rook 4, Carrion Crow 1
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannog
Mallard 12, Coot 2, Moorhen 1, Tufted duck 1
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Little Grebe 3, Greenshank 1, Moorhen 1
Brickworks
Jackdaw 6, Goldfinch c.20
Peninsula field and marsh
Grey Heron 1, Shelduck 1, Little Egret 1, Buzzard 1
Woodland
Blackbird, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blue tit, Great tit, Coal tit, Long-tailed Tit, Treecreeper, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Magpie, Jackdaw, Woodpigeon
