Recent Sightings 7th November 2022
The rising tide bought a lot of birds up Strangford Lough and into the reserve this morning, including a small group of Knot (pictured) that were just clinging to the last of the exposed mudflats before the tide lifted them. Knot are small waders, which are grey and white in their winter plumage in comparison to their bright orangey brown summer plumage. They have sturdy, black beaks for poking around for their prey of shellfish and worms.
Lapwing were also sheltering in the Peninsular Saltmarsh amongst some Curlew. These pretty little birds have a very distinctive crest on their head and beautiful iridescent plumage. The collective noun for Lapwings is a ‘desert’ or a ‘deceit’.
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Redshank 55, Knot 8, Little egret 1, Light-bellied brent goose 445, Shelduck 12, Widgeon 99, Lapwing 12 (flying over), Eider 2, Oystercatcher 1, Common gull 1
Pier – visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Oystercatcher 142, Grey heron 1, Little egret 4, Turnstone ~30
Main lake - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Mallard 117, Teal 8, Northern shoveler 3, Moorhen 2, Widgeon 3, Tufted duck 4, Kingfisher 1
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Mallard 52, Teal 31, Moorhen 1, Oystercatcher 11, Black-headed gull 1, Pied wagtail, Teal 13
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Little egret 8, Moorhen 10, Teal 23, Oystercatcher 3, Redshank 1
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Teal 20, Moorhen 4, Greenshank 1 (flying over), Blue tit, Mallard 2, Redshank 1, Mute swan 2, Great tit
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Little egret 1, Oystercatcher 1, Little grebe 11, Redshank 1, Greenshank 1, Grey heron 1
Brickworks
Limestone Lake
Moorhen 1, Little grebe 1
Peninsula Saltmarsh
Curlew 4, Little egret 1, Black-headed gull 2, Lapwing 3
Peninsula Field
Woodland
Blackbird, Goldcrest, Wood pigeon, Robin, Blue tit, Wren, Goldfinch, Great tit, Chaffinch
