Recent Sightings 4th October 2021
The following sightings were taken yesterday from the reserve at Castle Espie during a rising tide. Brent numbers continue to swell and they are the dominant sound on the estuary presently. In addition to the Brent, other geese species including the Greylag are now a familiar site, and their noisy call heard as they enter and leave the reserve. It is worth having a closer look at these flocks as there may be Pink-footed goose or even Bean goose within these flocks. A few Pink-foot were spotted on the estuary, unusually, amongst a flock of Brent, and not with the flocks of Greylag geese, in which they usually associate. Pink-footed geese are similar to Greylag, and can often be difficult to distinguish. The Pink foot is smaller and has a darker head and neck, in addition to a darker beak than its close cousin the Greylag. The birds are not very common in Ireland and the occasional bird will turn up with other geese species. The goose breeds in Iceland and Greenland during the summer and winters in estuaries around the UK, but occasional turns up in places like Strangford Lough.
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Black-headed gull 78, Little egret 17, Brent 930, Oystercatcher 300, Redshank 40, Curlew 17, Eider 5, Shelduck 6, Black-tailed godwit 6, Common gull 25, Herring gull 26, Lesser black-backed gull 3, Pink-footed goose 2
Main lake - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Mute swan 1, Mallard 39, Tufted duck 1, Shoveler 1, Shoveler 2, Greylag goose 2, Canada goose 1, Wigeon 2, Mute swan 3
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Greylag goose 80, Teal 38, Mallard 17, Moorhen 3, Gadwall 3, Herring gull 1, Common gull 1
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Black-headed gull 1
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Little grebe 1, Moorhen 5, Coot 1, Pied wagtail 1, Teal 4
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Little grebe 9, Little egret 1
Brickworks
Jackdaw 15
Limestone Lake
Moorhen 1
Peninsula Saltmarsh
Little egret 2, Shelduck 1
Peninsula Field
Linnet 2, Meadow pipit 3, Snipe 3, Skylark 1
Woodland
Blackbird, Wren, Chaffinch, Great tit, Coal tit, Robin, Blue tit, Wood pigeon, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Magpie, Jay 1
