Recent Sightings - 7th February 2021
The following sightings were taken on Sunday from the reserve at Castle Espie on a receding tide. A bracing easterly wind has forced the birds to seek shelter on the islands and rocky outcrops, and they have been fully utilizing the shelter afforded by the seawall on Castle Espie Reserve. We are seeing good numbers of Dunlin lately on the estuary in front of the Brent hide, and as the tide recedes, flocks of hundreds of Dunlin come in to feed on the newly exposed mud. Their actions always give the impression they are impatient and urgently need to get somewhere. In land, in the woodland, a flock of about 20 Siskin have been present and lively, particularly around the swamp area. The reserve is prefect for these mostly, continental visitors with plentiful alder and conifers to forage food during the winter. This small finch can be recognized in flight by the ‘tew’ call and its forked tail. An up-close view reveals a stunning yellow and black plumage, the female being slightly more muted than the male. A recent close encounter observed the Sparrowhawk attacking the flock in flight, unsuccessfully, only to be mobbed by other birds in the flock for its trouble.
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Herring gull 1, Redshank 53, Dunlin 100+, Black-tailed godwit 4, Curlew 15, Oystercatcher 198, Shelduck 13
Main lake - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor centre
Mallard 47, Moorhen 1, Tufted duck 18, Gadwall 9, Teal 14, Black-headed gull 48, Lapwing 1
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Teal 57
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Black-headed gull 1, Redshank 1, Oystercatcher 2,
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Coot 6
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Black-headed gull 2, Little grebe 1, Little egret 1
Brickworks
Redwing 1, Jackdaw 1
Limestone Lake
Moorhen 1
Peninsula Saltmarsh
Black-headed gull 1
Peninsula Field
Black-headed gull 1
Woodland
Bullfinch, Siskin, Blackbird, Wren, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Robin, Blue tit, Wood pigeon, Great tit, Coal tit, Goldfinch, Magpie, Pheasant
