Recent Sightings 31st May 2021
The following sightings were taken on Monday from the reserve at Castle Espie on a receding tide. The warmer weather has seen a lot of the birds loafing in various areas around the reserve including the Shingle bank. Oystercatcher continue to come into the Shingle bank at high tide in good numbers. Pairs of graylag can be seen on the bank and Main lake with the goslings in the family group developing quickly. This week has also seen the emergence of another pair of Shelduck with ducklings on the Freshwater lagoon with, the pair on the Saline lagoon now moved out onto the estuary. Other birds are also now with young or on eggs including Mallard, Coot, Moorhen and Gadwall. The swallows are busy collecting flying insects around the Crannóg as their young in the roundhouse demand to be fed.Elsewhere, the Sedge warbler can be heard singing from perched in the Peninsula field and Crannóg. The less vociferous Reed buntings can be heard in similar areas as they also continue to raise their young. Unusual sighting this week included a male Garganey passing through and there was a Dark-bellied brent goose spotted on the Shingle bank. Light-bellied brent are the main species of Brent found around the centre but there are always a few of the dark-bellied race every year, so worth looking out for in amongst the usual birds.
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Black-headed gull 9, Swallow 1, Lesser black-backed gull 2
Main lake - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Coot 1, Tufted duck 4, Black-headed gull 38, Mallard 6, Greylag goose 9, Gadwall 1, Shelduck 3, Little grebe 2
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Jackdaw 2, Black-headed gull 7, Oystercatcher 195, Mallard 16, Dark-bellied brent goose 1, Lesser black-backed gull 2
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Black-headed gull 12, Lesser black-backed gull 1
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Mallard 5, Black-headed gull 130, Mute swan 1, Black-tailed godwit 1, Tufted duck 3, Moorhen 2, Wood pigeon 1, Sedge warbler 1,
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Black-headed gull 64, Common tern 5, Sedge warbler 1
Brickworks
Reed bunting 2, Linnet 2, Blue tit 1, Wren 2, Song thrush 1, Swallow 2, Jackdaw 4
Limestone Lake
Little grebe 1, Black-headed gull 1
Peninsula Saltmarsh
Sedge warbler 1
Peninsula Field
Hooded crow 1
Woodland
Blackbird, Wren, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Great tit, Robin, Blue tit, Wood pigeon, Goldcrest, Blackcap, Goldfinch, Jackdaw, Magpie, Coal tit, Song thrush, Willow warbler
