Recent Sightings - 9th March 2020
Spring is definitely closing in in! Our Black-headed Gull colony have started to return again. Overnight the Freshwater Lagoon islands were transformed; one morning they were barren and empty and then the next, were bursting with life and noise.
Black-headed gull return every year to breed at Castle Espie. In the last 12 years the colony has grown from 1 pair to over 800! Black-headed Gulls are red listed in Ireland, meaning as a breeding bird they are endangered here. As their preferred coastal breeding grounds have been claimed by humans and suffered from disturbance. Castle Espie is a safe haven for these birds with all the lagoons, shingles and islands making perfect nesting areas for them. Every year their return is welcomed and is a sign that Spring is fast approaching.
Lots are coming into their breeding plumage now! Having lost their black heads, or rather chocolate brown heads, for the winter months. Come down to Castle Espie now to see the gulls has they establish territories and perform mating displays with potential partners.
Count taken Low tide.
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Brent Geese 34, Shelduck 2, Curlew 3, Redshank 4, Turnstone 5, Black-tailed Godwit 37, Bar-tailed Godwit 29, Oystercatcher c.50, Little Egret 2, Black-headed Gull 21, Common Gull 2
Main lake - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor centre
Mallard 41, Tufted duck 16, Teal 35, Greylag goose 1, Moorhen 2, Coot 4, Black-headed Gull 32, Lesser Black-backed Gull 1, Little Egret 3
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor centre
Cormorant 1, Gadwall 2, Teal 3, Mallard 2, Moorhen 2, Black-headed Gull 113
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Teal 5, Black-tailed godwit 20, Redshank 4, Greenshank 1
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannog
Tufted duck 4, Mallard 19, Teal 2, Coot 4, Moorhen 5, Black-headed Gulls 127
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Black-headed Gull 9, Mall 3, Gadwall 2, Teal 1, Little Egret 3, Curlew 1, Moorhen 1, Rock Pipit 2
Brickworks
Jackdaw 4
Peninsula Field and Marsh
Black-headed Gulls 3, Heron 3
Woodland
Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Bullfinch, Redpoll, Coal Tit, Blue tit, Great tit, Long-tailed tit, Woodpigeon, Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, Magpie
