Recent Sightings - 31th January 2021
The following sightings were taken on Sunday from the reserve at Castle Espie at low tide. We have seen high levels of precipitation, and coupled with high tides have resulted in some birds moving to new areas to shelter and roost. Waders are very sensitive to disturbance, and during spring tides have limited areas to roost safely. The recent high tides have flooded the peninsula saltmarsh and shore, pushing many of the wading birds including Oystercatcher and Curlew onto the peninsula field to roost. The Curlew is a familiar winter bird, and frequently heard and seen on the estuary around Castle Espie. As a breeding bird however, Curlew has declined by a staggering 96% here, from an estimated population of over 5,000 in the late 1980s.The birds we see in Strangford are mostly wintering birds from Scandinavia and the Continent. These iconic birds, synonymous with the Irish landscape, are wetland specialists, and use wetland habitats during the breeding season and winter months. The future survival of this species is dependent on healthy wetlands and their protection.
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Herring gull 1, Redshank 7, Black-tailed godwit 4, Curlew 1, Little egret
Main lake - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor centre
Mallard 61, Moorhen 1, Tufted duck 17, Coot 1, Teal 13, Black-headed gull 5
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Mallard 39, Gadwall 2, Black-headed gull 19, Teal 15, Moorhen 1
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Teal 22, Black-headed gull 3, Greenshank 2, Redshank 4, Moorhen 5, Curlew 1, Coot 4
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Mallard 7, Teal 2, Coot 3, Moorhen 7, Mistle thrush 2, Redwing 1
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Black-headed gull 1, Moorhen 1, Black-headed gull 1
Brickworks
Jackdaw 7, Starling 1
Limestone Lake
Song thrush 1
Peninsula Saltmarsh
Black-headed gull 1
Peninsula Field
Black-headed gull 1
Woodland
Blackbird, Wren, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Robin, Blue tit, Wood pigeon, Great tit, Coal tit, Goldfinch, Magpie, Siskin, Hooded crow
