Recent Sightings - 4th March 2019
Now that we are moving into Spring, lots of waders and wildfowl are beginning to congregate around Strangford lough; Brent gathering before they migrate back to arctic Canada, immature Oystercatchers gathering in preparation for flocking together in the summer and lots of waders gathering so that they can fly to their breeding grounds with safety in numbers.
Black-tail Godwits are one such bird whose numbers begin to build in and around Castle Espie at this time of year. Many will be moulting into their radiant rusty red breeding plumage as well; fiery beacons amongst a flock of their grey/brown counterparts.
A ringed Godwit was spotted amongst a c.300 strong flock on the wader marsh,on Saturday 2/3/19 . Unfortunately, the bird never revealed it's right leg and the bird could not be identified to an individual. However the left leg tells us that the bird was ringed as a chick in Iceland in 2010! So this bird, coming nine years old, is probably gathering with other members of it's species, in preparation for flying back to it's breeding grounds in Iceland. It's easy to forget when we are watching birds, that each individual has a story and to think how many miles it's travelled to be where you are seeing it now. This bird has probably stopped here to rest and fatten up, after undertaking the long journey from it's summer in, probably, Africa.
Ringing birds, allows scientist to gain valuable information, on bird movements, which help us learn more about them and how to conserve them. If you see a ringed bird on the reserve, record the colours, the order they descend down the leg, the placement on the legs and if there is a symbol on them and report them to a member a staff. Help contribute to ongoing ornithological research!
Count Taken at Mid - High tide.
Estuary – visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Oystercatcher 80, Shelduck 40, Brent goose 25, Redshank 80, Black-head Gull 306, Lesser Black-backed Gull 2, Common Gull 4, Herring Gull 3, Greenshank 1, Knot 70, Dunlin 150, Black-tailed Godwit 120. (Numbers all estimates as count disrupted by Buzzard (1) overhead)
Main lake – visible from Sensory garden and Visitor centre
Teal 34, Tufted Duck 7, Shoveler 1, Mallard 49, Moorhen 4, Coot 4, Greylag goose 1, Little Egret 5
Shingle bank – visible from Sensory garden, Wadermarsh and Visitor Centre
Teal 15, Gadwall 7, Mallard 13, Shelduck 2, Cormorant 2, Oystercatcher 1,
Wadermarsh – visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Moorhen 8, Oystercatcher 9, Redshank 7, Curlew 1, Gadwall 3, Little Egret 2
Freshwater Lagoon – visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Mallard 11, Coot 2, Moorhen 4, Tufted duck 3, Mute Swan 2, Little Grebe 1
Saline Lagoon – visible from Limekiln observatory
Little Grebe 1, Redshank 2
Limestone Lake
Little Grebe 1, Mallard 1
Peninsula Field and Saltmarsh
Empty
Brickworks
Blackbird, Goldfinch, Jackdaw
Woodland
Jay, Magpie, Blue tit, Great tit, Coal tit, Long-tailed tit, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Goldcrest, Wren, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Robin, Dunnock, Wood Pigeon
