Recent Sightings - 30th November 2020
The following sightings were taken on Monday from the reserve at Castle Espie on a rising tide. The cold weather has set in, and we are currently seeing a wide range of wading birds on the estuary. There are large flocks of Dunlin and Knot, which commonly associate together on the mudflats, moving with the rising and receding tide. Dunlin is a winter visitor from northern tundra, with some passage migrants from Greenland (heading south towards Africa).The number of birds on the Lough generally peak around Christmas, with birds spending the winter along our coastlines and mudflats, and the northern side of Strangford Lough is a good place to spot this bird. Dunlin is a small dumpy bird, with a greyish uniform plumage in winter, with wild underparts, black legs and a longish bill, which has a slight down curve when viewed up close. The bird is almost always seen in large flocks during the winter.
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Brent goose 118, Shelduck 143, Oystercatcher 504, Black-tailed godwit 2, Curlew 39, Redshank 43, Little egret 2, Black-headed gull 2, Hooded crow 6, Little egret 3, Knot 30, Herring gull 2, Greenshank 5, Turnstone 1, Dunlin 49, Grey plover 1, Eider 4, Wigeon 17,
Main lake - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor centre
Mallard 54, Tufted duck 44, Moorhen 2, Coot 4, Teal 17, Gadwall 4, Shoveler 1
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Teal 53, Mallard 15, Gadwall 4
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Moorhen 3, Redshank 1, Black-headed gull 1, Curlew 1
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Mallard 4, Moorhen 6, Coot 1
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Little grebe 4, Black-headed gull 1, Little egret 1, Woodcock 1
Brickworks
Jackdaw 9, Song thrush 1
Limestone Lake
Moorhen 1
Peninsula Saltmarsh
Redshank 1
Peninsula Field
Jackdaw 2
Woodland
Blackbird, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blue tit, Wood pigeon, Goldcrest, Great tit, Coal tit, Goldcrest, Buzzard 1
