Recent Sightings 2nd October 2023

3 October 2023

A few winter visitors arrived on the Pier for the first count of October this year, with the tide fully in on Strangford Lough and an autumnal chill in the air. Turnstone (pictured) are small waders named for their tendency to flip over small rocks in the search for food. Although small populations are resident here year round, their numbers increase during the colder months. Look out for these little stone turners on the Estuary from the Brent hide or the Limekiln Observatory.

Large numbers of Teal gather in the Wadermarsh when the tide is in, and the males are starting to show off their beautiful red and green head plumage. Teal are small dabbling ducks which fly together in large flocks and can lift very quickly into the air – hence why the collective noun for them is a spring!

Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory

Light-bellied brent goose ~1500, Eider 140, Shelduck 1, Little egret 18, Lesser black-backed gull 1, Redshank 1, Oystercatcher 15, Great-crested grebe 1, Wigeon 5, Greater black-backed gull 1, Grey heron 2, Black-headed gull 1, Herring gull 1, Turnstone 7

Main lake - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre

Coot 2, Mallard 74, Tufted duck 2, Shoveler 5, Black-headed gull 3, Lesser black-backed gull 1, Little grebe 1, Greylag goose 5, Teal 4, Moorhen 3, Little egret 1

Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre

Teal 39, Moorhen 4, Mallard 61, Black-headed gull 130, Little egret 2, Greenshank 1, Herring gull 1, Greylag goose 2, Common gull 24

Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide

Teal 80, Moorhen 3, Oystercatcher 1, Black-headed gull 5, Common gull 1

Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg

Mallard 1, Moorhen 13

Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory

Little egret 1, Mallard 1, Little grebe 7

Peninsula Saltmarsh

Black-headed gull 1

Brickworks

Robin