Recent Sightings 7th June 2021
The following sightings were taken on Monday from the reserve at Castle Espie on a rising tide. A drake Shoveler were spotted on the Freshwater lagoon. This duck is mainly a winter visitor and now breeds in only small numbers, having experienced a massive decline over recent years. Strangford lough remains one of the best places to see this species, during the winter months, and occasionally seen throughout the summer. The male Shoveler has very distinctive plumage, with a bottle-green head, white breast, and red underside and belly. The distinctively large spatulate bill, wider at the tip than the base, is a key identification feature for this duck. The female like many duck species has drab, mottled brown plumage but the spatulate bill is a key identifying feature. They prefer shallow freshwater areas, with marginal vegetation and they use their unusual bill to filter food from the water.
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Black-headed gull 54, Swallow 1, Lesser black-backed gull 2, Curlew 2, Mallard 3, Shelduck 4, Herring gull 1, Little egret 2, Eider 6 (4 adults + 2 ducklings)
Main lake - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Coot 1, Tufted duck 2, Black-headed gull 11, Mallard 12, Greylag goose 7 (2 adults and 5 goslings), Gadwall 1, Little grebe 1, Mute swan 1, Moorhen 2
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Tufted duck 1, Black-headed gull 58, Mallard 11, Common gull 4, Lesser black-backed gull 2, Greylag goose 2,
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Black-headed gull 49, Oystercatcher 2, Shelduck 2, Rook 8, Linnet 1, Jackdaw 2
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Mallard 9, Black-headed gull 190, Shoveler 1, Tufted duck 2, Moorhen 1, Grey heron 1, Swallow 5, Lesser black-backed gull 1
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Black-headed gull 79, Common tern 2, Redshank 10
Brickworks
Goldfinch 2, Song thrush 1, Jackdaw 4, Hooded crow 3, Pied wagtail 1
Limestone Lake
Tufted duck 6 (2 adults & 4 ducklings), Black-headed gull 2, Little egret 1, Mallard 4, Swallow 2
Peninsula Saltmarsh
Sedge warbler 1, Reed bunting 2 (pair)
Peninsula Field
Rook 3
Woodland
Blackbird, Wren, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Great tit, Robin, Blue tit, Wood pigeon, Goldcrest, Blackcap, Goldfinch, Jackdaw, Jay, Song thrush
