Recent Sightings - 7th December 2020
Although Castle Espie is currently closed to the public, the nature reserve remains a safe haven for wildlife. The warden, over the past week as spotted lots of birds taking advantage of the peace and quiet: Merlin hunting along the shoreline, a Water Rail sulking around the roundhouse, a Scaup paddling in the main lake and the resident Kingfisher, flying boldly between the ponds. The woodland is currently hosting a roaming mixed flock of Siskin and Redpoll. These small finches love searching for seeds hidden in the cones of the tall larch trees. They are a commonly seen at Castle Espie in the winter and should remain for some weeks.
If you follow us on facebook and twitter, you would know about the success of our recent webs counts. Last month featured a large count of Snipe. It would appear they are still around. The reserve warden disturbed 7 Snipe that were roosting in the Peninsula Saltmarsh this morning, as they carried out their regular maintenance checks. Snipe are perfectly camouflaged for hiding in tall grass during the daytime, as is their habit. They are most active at night; foraging around the edge of ponds, in ditches and on the fringes of the estuary. When they sense danger approaching, they burst from the undergrowth with much speed and sound flying away a short distance to safely, where they then settle down again until sundown.
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Brent goose 105, Shelduck 101, Oystercatcher 10, Black-tailed godwit 3, Curlew 15, Redshank 12, Little egret 1, Black-headed gull 4,Greenshank 1, Turnstone 6, Dunlin 70, Grey plover 1, Wigeon 18, Common Gull 1
Main lake - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor centre
Mallard 79, Tufted duck 24, Coot 2, Teal 6, Gadwall 3, Goldeneye 1. Greylag Goose 1, Grey Heron 1
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Teal 39, Mallard 17, Tufted duck 1, Moorhen 1, Black-headed Gull 4
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Moorhen 7, Redshank 1, Black-headed gull 1, Curlew 1, Greylag Goose 1, Teal 14, Coot 1
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Teal 5, Mallard 14, Moorhen 1, Coot 1
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Little grebe 2, Tufted duck 1, Little Egret 1
Brickworks
Jackdaw 5, Meadow pipit 1
Limestone Lake
Moorhen 1, Little Grebe 2
Peninsula Saltmarsh
Redshank , Black-headed Gull 1, Snipe 7
Peninsula Field
Skylark 2
Woodland
Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Mistle thursh, Song Thrush, Great tit, Blue tit, Coal tit, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Siskin, Redpoll, Jay, Jackdaw, Magpie, Pheasent, Wood Pigeon
