Recent Sightings 2nd September 2024

9 August 2024

The following sightings were taken yesterday from the reserve at Castle Espie during a rising tide. With the arrival of the first Brent to the shores of Strangford Lough, there is a definite feel that the winter season has started. The change in seasons has been reflected in the bird fauna currently on the reserve. The Kingfisher that was very elusive during the summer has made itself very visible moving from perch to perch and fishing in the various water bodies, availing of a varied diet from the freshwater fish of the Limestone lake, to the shrimp in the Wadermarsh, this bird is utilizing the wetland habitats on site to great avail. Look out for the blue flash as it flies speedily from place to place, and the piercing whistle is a good sign you are about to catch a glimpse. Not all the summer visitors are gone with the Sedge warbler and a family of Swallows just fledged from a nest in the Freshwater lagoon. The swallows seem to be breeding later and later each season as they avail of the late abundance of insects on our wetlands. At first impression, the extended breeding season and potential for more than one brood can seem like a distinct advantage, however, the change in migration patterns can have adverse impacts on some birds as movements do not coincide with food availability.

Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory

Herring gull 4, Oystercatcher 5, Black-headed gull 4, Curlew 3, Lesser black-backed gull 3, Little egret 2, Black-tailed godwit 1, Common gull 4, Redshank 1, Eider 5, Heron 1, Mallard 3, Light-bellied brent geese 47

Main lake - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre

Mallard 84, Tufted duck 1, Teal 4, Moorhen 4, Gadwall 4, Coot 6, Little egret 22, Little grebe 2, Common gull 2, Heron 1, Greylag 60, Lesser black-backed gull 1, Black-headed gull 1, Goldcrest, Wren, Long-tailed tit,

Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre

Mallard 56, Moorhen 2, Heron 1, Black-headed gull 6, Common gull 5, Lesser black-backed gull 1

Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide

Black-headed gull 1, Teal 1, Moorhen 2, Mallard 4, Black-tailed godwit 5, Shelduck 10, Redshank 15, Greenshank 1

Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg

Moorhen 1, Mallard 4, Swallow (juv) 2, Heron 1, Teal 4, Dunnock 1

Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory

Little grebe 4

Brickworks

Bullfinch 1, Goldfinch ~17, Woodpigeon, Goldcrest, Bluetit, Blackbird, Robin

Limestone Lake

Little grebe 2, Woodpigeon, Great tit, Little egret 2