Recent Sightings 31st Jan 2022
The following sightings were taken yesterday from the reserve at Castle Espie on a high tide. Many will be very familiar with the common sight of Eurasian teal on the reserve. They have started to come into the reserve in numbers in recent years, and although they are quite skittish, they can be seen in those areas that are least disturbed like the far side of the main lake and the wadermarsh. Teal are an important wintering bird on Strangford Lough with a couple of thousand regularly visiting the Lough each year. The flock at Castle Espie has recently been joined by an American cousin, the Green-winged teal. Although, the two species evolved differently, they are quite similar in appearance, particularly the female and young. However, the male has subtle differences to distinguish it from the resident teal. The adult male has a white vertical stripe on its flank, a feature which is not present in the Eurasian teal. The adult male also does not have the obvious horizontal white stripe across the body, and in addition, the yellow band on the head is much reduced. The Green-wing is a fairly uncommon vagrant to Ireland and has been staying amongst the flock on the reserve. The bird has been most often spotted in the sheltered side of the shingle bank, particularly at high tide.
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Turnstone 7, Oystercatcher 168, Redshank 5, Dunlin 10, Hooded crow 2, Light-bellied brent goose 14, Redshank 80, Golden plover 270, Black-headed gull 3, Curlew 4, Great-crested grebe 1, Eider 56, Greenshank 5, Shelduck 20
Main lake - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Mallard 118, Tufted duck 10, Teal 7, Moorhen 3, Black-headed gull 1, Gadwall 4
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Mallard 53, Teal 35, Green-wing teal 1, Cormorant 1, Pintail 1
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Moorhen 10, Redshank 5, Teal 2
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Moorhen 1, Mallard 9, Little grebe 1
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Teal 9, Little grebe 1, Redshank 1, Black-headed gull 1, Hooded crow 1
Brickworks
Jackdaw 1
Limestone Lake
Moorhen 2
Peninsula Saltmarsh
Redshank 2, Meadow pipit 1, Greenshank 1, Little egret 1
Peninsula Field
Mistle thrush 1
Woodland
Blackbird, Wren, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Great tit, Siskin, Robin, Blue tit, Wood pigeon, Magpie, Bullfinch, Goldcrest, Coal tit
