Recent Sightings 29th August 2022

29 August 2022

Two female Pintails were seen on the Main Lake this morning, best viewed from the Collection area and the Garden Hide. The female duck does not have the striking white front and elongated tail feathers of the male, but they still have a pointed tail and a graceful, elongated neck compared to other dabbling ducks. They are a welcome visitor to Castle Espie, as their breeding numbers in the UK are not as high as they used to be.

A small group of Ringed plover (pictured) were out feeding and scuttling around on the Estuary. Ringed plover are a pretty little wading bird, similar to the Little ringed plover but are slightly larger in size and lack the yellow eye ring. Ringed plovers are often found in sandy areas and feed on invertebrates and crustaceans. See if you can spot them from the Brent Hide, running across the mudflats!

Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory

Common gull 24, Black-headed gull 61, Little egret 6, Grey heron 1, Jackdaw 4, Rook 30, Ringed plover 11, Lesser black-backed gull 2, Oystercatcher 824, Herring gull 6, Curlew 18, Hooded crow 1, House martin 4

Main lake - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre

Mute swan 3, Mallard 97, Cormorant 2, Little egret 1, Greylag goose 11, Little grebe 5, Widgeon 9, Oystercatcher 1, Tufted duck 5, Teal 32, Gadwall 1, Moorhen 3, Pintail 2, Pied wagtail, Wood pigeon

Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre

Greylag goose 3, Oystercatcher 1, Black-headed gull 1, Teal 9, Swallow

Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide

Greylag goose 3, Oystercatcher 1, Black-headed gull 1, Teal 9, Swallow

Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg

Mute swan 4, Moorhen 5, Mallard 2, Coot 1

Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory

Little grebe 3, Black-headed gull 3, Black-tailed godwit 1

Brickworks

Limestone Lake

Kingfisher 1

Peninsula Saltmarsh