Recent Sightings 16th December 2024
The following sightings were taken today from the reserve at Castle Espie during a rising tide. The weather conditions were cold and slightly cloudy with a gentle breeze. The bird of the week is the Jay. This colourful member of the crow family can be seen in the woodland area of the reserve. It is a pinkish grey brown bird with small, bright blue panels on its wings. It has a large white rump patch and this is often the most conspicuous feature when seen moving among trees. Its call is a loud, hoarse sounding scream which is often heard before the bird is seen.
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Pheasant 1, Shelduck 177, Eider 56, Common gull 2, Black-headed gull 4, Herring gull 8, Black-tailed godwit 83, Wigeon 17, Light-bellied Brent Goose 17, Curlew 2, Redshank 21, Oystercatcher 295, Knot 15, Hooded Crow 2, Little Egret, Great crested Grebe 2, Grey plover 1, Dunlin 12, c.100 flying over
Main lake - visible from Sensory Garden and Visitor Centre
Mallard 132, Tufted duck 16, Gadwall 14, Teal 15, Moorhen 3, Grey Heron 1, Wigeon 1, Coot 1, Kingfisher 1
Sensory Garden
Jackdaw 19, Robin, Woodpigeon, Blue tit, Mistle Thrush, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Blackbird
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory Garden and Visitor Centre
Mallard 45, Teal 21, Cormorant 2, Moorhen 3
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Teal 35, Redshank 4, Moorhen 2, Greenshank 7, Black-headed Gull 1, Black-tailed Godwit 1, Little Egret 1, Light-bellied Brent Goose 1
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Mallard 2, Teal 4, Moorhen 1
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Little grebe 4, Kingfisher 1, Redshank 1, Lapwing (flying over)
Brickworks
Jackdaw 3, Robin, Blackbird, Pied Wagtail, Moorhen, Goldfinch, Dunnock
Limestone Lake
Little grebe 1, Magpie, Blackbird,
Peninsula Saltmarsh
Redshank 2
Peninsula Field
Raven 1 (flying over)
Woodland
Blackbird, Dunnock, Wren, Chaffinch, Great tit, Robin, Blue tit, Goldfinch, Goldcrest, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Siskin, Bullfinch, Woodpigeon
