Recent Sightings 7th March 2022
The windy and cold weather at low tide on Monday had some birds tucked away, but there were still a few interesting visitors to our ponds, lakes and estuary at Castle Espie. The Green-winged teal was once again spotted on the edge of the shingle bank amongst the usual collection of Gadwall, Mallard and Common teal. The Main Lake also played host to a male Common Goldeneye at the weekend which is an unusual but welcome sight. Common Goldeneye ducks are slightly different to our Barrow’s Goldeneye collection ducks, as they have a green iridescent head and a much smaller white patch behind the beak. They are a diving duck, usually seeking out aquatic invertebrates and insects beneath the surface.
Out on the Estuary, a small group of Black-tail godwit were spotted busily searching for food on the mudflats with their specialized beaks. These birds are just starting to lose their winter plumage, and are slowly starting to exhibit an orangey brown colour to their necks and chest in time for the summer.
The Limestone lake was occupied once again by a pair of Little grebes. This attractive little bird is a small diver, often disappearing and resurfacing some distance away, making it hard to find and observe - but rewarding when spotted! You can get a good view of Limestone lake from the Woodland lookout, the bench near the gunpowder store in the Liberties and from the path next to the Amphitheatre.
And finally, on the Peninsular Saltmarsh, amongst the reeds, was a Reed bunting (pictured). Reed buntings are true to their name, and are often found in reed beds and wetlands, feeding on seeds and invertebrates. The lookout onto the saltmarsh at the end of the reserve is a good place to spot these little passerines.
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Herring gull 6, Oystercatcher 132, Redshank 13, Hooded crow 1, Light-bellied brent goose 32, Black-headed gull 13, Curlew 15, Shelduck 32, Lesser black-backed gull 4, Little egret 2, Black-tail godwit 23, Common gull 2, Eider 24, Dunlin (flying) ~60
Main lake - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Mallard 19, Tufted duck 3, Teal 21, Moorhen 3, Coot 1, Little grebe 1, Shelduck 2
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Mallard 14, Teal 37, Gadwall 10, Oystercatcher 2, Green-winged teal 1, Herring gull 1, Black-headed gull 1, Hooded crow 1, Moorhen 2
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Moorhen 3, Teal 7
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Moorhen 1, Mallard 8, Teal 2
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Redshank 1
Brickworks
Jackdaw 4
Limestone Lake
Mallard 2, Little grebe 2
Peninsula Saltmarsh
Black-headed gull 1, Reed bunting 1
Peninsula Field
Woodland
Blackbird, Wren, Chaffinch, Great tit, Siskin, Robin, Blue tit, Wood pigeon, Goldcrest, Coal tit, Goldfinch, Magpie
