Recent Sightings 31st October 2022
A very windy Halloween here at Castle Espie today! Most birds were hiding from the gales this morning but a few were braving the wind. We have some nice visitors on the Main Lake including a solo Widgeon and a couple of male Northern shovelers. The male Shoveler has an iridescent green head and a white chest, but the females can be easily mistaken for female mallards – apart from the characteristic shoveler beak!
The Brent geese are still out feeding in large numbers on the Lough, accompanied by small groups of Shelducks. The Shelduck (pictured) is one of the UK’s largest ducks, and can be found along our coastlines or beside reservoirs and flooded gravel pits. The males have a distinctive bill knob, whereas the females do not. Interestingly, the collective noun for Shelducks is a ‘dopping’ or a ‘doading’.
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Shelduck 11, Black-tailed godwit 4, Curlew 2, Oystercatcher 8, Black-headed gull 4, Hooded crow 1, Light-bellied brent goose 1415, Little egret 2
Main lake - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Mallard 92, Teal 8, Tufted duck 10, Northern shoveler 2, Widgeon 1, Moorhen 2
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Mallard 37, Teal 36, Little egret 1
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Moorhen 3, Little egret 3, Teal 138
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Coot 1, Mute swan 2
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Little grebe 11, Little egret 1
Brickworks
Limestone Lake
Moorhen 1, Widgeon 1, Grey heron 1
Peninsula Saltmarsh
Peninsula Field
Jackdaw 2, Pied wagtail 1, Hooded crow 1, Black-headed gull 1
Woodland
Long tailed tit, Blue tit, Magpie, Wren, Hooded crow
