Recent Sightings 23rd June 2025
The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a high tide. The bird of the week is the Sand Martin. The Sand Martin is a relative of the Swallow and the House Martin and shares their small size and agile flight. This species is a summer visitor and it spends the winters in tropical Africa. It is a dull grey-brown above and white below. It's grey-brown colouring is one of the main differentiating factors between it and House Martins and Swallows which have a navy-blue as their dominant colour when seen from a distance. It is an infrequent visitor to Castle Espie as it does not nest on-site. They are most commonly seen hunting for insects in low flight over water such as in our Main Lake and Freshwater Lagoon.
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Shelduck 1, Black-headed Gull 4, Lesser Black-backed Gull 1,
Main lake - visible from Sensory Garden and Visitor Centre
Mallard 15 adults and 13 ducklings, Moorhen 1, Coot 2, Little Grebe 2, Tufted Duck 1, Black-headed Gull 1, Lesser Black-backed Gull 1, Shelduck 1 adult and 7 ducklings, Kingfisher 2, Grey Heron 1, Little Egret 11, Jackdaw, Rook, Swallow, House Martin, Sand Martin 3, Dunnock, Woodpigeon, Starling 6, Greenfinch, 22, Sedge Warbler, Blue Tit
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory Garden and Visitor Centre
Oystercatcher 90, Mallard 86, Moorhen 2, Shelduck 1, Little Egret 1, Lesser-black-backed Gull 6, Black-headed Gull 3, Common Gull 2, Great-black backed Gull1, Herring Gull 120, Jackdaw 6, Hooded Crow 1,
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Oystercatcher 191, Black-headed Gull 97, Herring Gull 12, Moorhen 1
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Black-headed Gull 2, Mallard 2, Moorhen 1, Mute Swan 2 adults and 3 ducklings, Gadwall 3, Sedge Warbler, Sand Martin, Goldfinch
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Black-headed Gull 36, Common Tern 10, shelduck 2, Little Grebe 1, Lesser-black backed Gull 1
Brickworks
Goldfinch, Chaffinch
Limestone Lake
Common Tern 2
Peninsula Saltmarsh
Black-headed Gull 2, Starling 12. Meadow Pipit 2, Reed Bunting 1, Linnet 5
Peninsula Field
No birds seen
Woodland
Blackbird, Chaffinch, Robin, Goldcrest, Woodpigeon, Song Thrush, Blackcap, Long-tailed Tit, Long-eared Owl
Sensory Garden
Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Goldcrest, Chaffinch, House Martin, Swallow, Coal Tit, Song Thrush, Rook, Pied Wagtail, Mallard 3 adults and 7 ducklings
