The following sightings were taken from the reserve at Castle Espie during a receding tide. The bird of the week this week is the Rook. This large corvid is all black with a purplish blue sheen on its feathers, it has a distinctive white patch of skin as the base of its greyish beak which is the easiest way to tell it apart from a Crow or Raven. Young birds have feathers over this patch of skin which they gradually moult. Studies have shown that young Rooks will recognise their siblings by their calls but adults will recognise each other by appearance. Rooks are large birds, males have a wingspan of about 90cm, females are slightly smaller. Its Latin name Corvus frugilegus translates to Raven that picks fruit, which refers to the birds’ appearance and the fact that over half of the Rook’s diet comes from fruit, berries, and acorns, with insects and small vertebrates making up the rest. Rooks are highly gregarious (meaning they spend time in groups with others of their own species) and will nest in busy rookeries of up to tens of thousands of birds. Rooks will mate for life and spend the whole year with their partner, they don’t seem to disagree with each other and will defend each other in fights with other birds. Young birds around three months old (capable of feeding themselves) will form partnerships, some birds form same sex partnerships but they swap to a partner of the opposite sex before they leave care of their parents.
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Brent 845, Shelduck 29, Oystercatcher 53, Curlew 24, Wigeon 132, Herring Gull 3, Little Egret 3, Greenshank 1, Lesser Black-backed Gull 1, Black-headed Gull 7, Redshank 40, Lapwing 86, Golden Plover 611, Jackdaw 2
Main lake - visible from Sensory Garden and Visitor Centre
Grey Heron 1, Kingfisher 1, Gadwall 5, Mallard 70, Teal 22, Little Grebe 1, Moorhen 4, Robin, Woodpigeon, Bullfinch, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Dunnock, Hooded Crow 12, Coot 1
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory Garden and Visitor Centre
Mute Swan 4, Mallard 18, Teal 18, Little Egret 1, Wigeon 1, Moorhen 1
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Teal 24, Redshank 4, Moorhen 1, Pied Wagtail 2
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Pied Wagtail 1, Jackdaw 1, Gadwall 2, Mallard 6, Moorhen 2, Reed Bunting
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Little Grebe 6, Herring Gull 1, Kingfisher 1
Brickworks
Meadow Pipit 2, Stonechat 2, Jackdaw 5, Robin, Long-tailed Tit
Limestone Lake
Little Grebe 1, Blue Tit, Woodpigeon
Peninsula Saltmarsh
Black-headed Gull 1
Peninsula Field
Hooded Crow 3
Woodland
Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, Dunnock, Siskin, Robin, Chaffinch, Goldcrest, Blackbird, Woodpigeon, Goldfinch
Sensory Garden
Goldcrest, Woodpigeon, Rook, Robin, Wren, Dunnock, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Blackbird, Chaffinch, Mistle Thrush
