Recent Sightings - 3rd February 2020
Black-tailed godwits numbers are beginning to build again on the reserve. The sub species of Black-tailed godwits that are seen on Strangford Lough breed in Iceland and spend the winter in the UK and Ireland. They can be seen all through the winter on the lough, but gather in big numbers here as they arrive and then before their migration back.
In the past week, a flock of around one hundred birds have been regularly. They are often feeding on the estuary and the wadermarsh. Although, unusually so, they are also starting to feed on the peninsula field at high tide. The field has flooded in places and makes a great place to forage for earthworms, if you’re a godwit that is!
Black-tailed godwits are easily identifiable in flight, because their feet stick beyond the end of their black tails. This feature, combined with their long beaks, give them a distinctive silhouette flying over-head. So keep you eyes peeled on the skies above to spot them on your visit. One can get wonderful views of the flocks flying in at high tide from the limekiln and the peninsula look out.
Count taken mid-tide.
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Brent Geese 50, Shelduck 103, Wigeon 5, Curlew 19, Redshank 35, Oystercatcher 35, Black-tailed Godwit 83, Knot 39, Dunlin 12, Little egret 1
Main lake - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor centre
Mallard 95, Tufted duck 11, Gadwall 2, Greylag goose 1, Coot 2, Moorhen 5, Little Grebe 1, Little Egret 3
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor centre
Black-headed Gull 22, Cormorant 1, Moorhen 1, Teal 11
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Redshank 4, Greenshank 2, Black-tailed Godwit 22, Moorhen 4
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannog
Tufted duck 8, Mallard 5, Coot 1
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Little Grebe 1
Peninsula field and marsh
Black-headed Gull 1
Brickworks
Song thrush 1
Woodland
Blackbird, Song Thrush, Wren, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Bullfinch, Robin, Blue tit, Great tit, Coal tit, Long-tailed tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Woodpigeon
