Recent Sightings - 3rd May 2020

4 May 2020

The following sightings were recorded today from the reserve at Castle Espie at High Tide. The Terns are now showing interest in the raft and the island in the Saline lagoon and we hope they settle soon. The Mediterranean gulls are still visiting the site but they have not settled amongst the Black-headed gulls yet. The graylag have been a regular feature on site with some of the pairs nesting. There are still around 200 Godwit roosting on the islands in the Freshwater Lagoon, but most of the Knot have gone, with only a few amongst the flock. The last of the Brent have left the Lough, and that familiar sound on the estuary will be absent for another while. Hedgehogs have been spotted during the day on a few occasions in the woodland and Limestone lake edge.

Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory

Black-headed gull 51

Main lake - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor centre

Raven 2, Goldeneye 1, Greylag goose 3, Tufted duck 5, Mallard 7, Little grebe 1, Black-headed gull 193

Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor centre

Shelduck 2, Coot 1, Mallard 2, Moorhen 1, Cormorant 1, Black-headed gull 44, Black-tailed godwit 15

Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide

Black-headed gull 3, Black-tailed godwit 7, Redshank 1, Swallow 1

Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg

Black-headed gull 345, Mediterranean gull 2, Tufted duck 2, Mallard 11, Moorhen 3, Greylag goose 3, Black-tailed godwit 181, Knot 7, Lesser black-backed gull 2, Grey heron 1

Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory

Black-headed gull 54, Common tern 5

Brickworks

Wren 1, Linnet 4, Dunnock 1, Song thrush 1

Limestone Lake

Cormorant 1

Peninsula Saltmarsh

Black-headed gull 1, Meadow pipit 1

Peninsula Field

Sedge warbler 1, Meadow pipit 2, Reed bunting 2

Woodland

Blackbird, Wren, Magpie, Chaffinch, Robin, Blue tit, Bullfinch, Great tit, Coal tit, Wood pigeon, Raven, Willow warbler, Goldfinch