Noticed it was speckled (7)
I believe the answer is:
spotted
This clue might be a double definition.
'noticed' is the first definition.
(spot can mean to notice or realise)
'speckled' is the second definition.
(thesaurus)
'it was' acts as a link.
I am not very happy about this link. Some or all of it may belong to one of the definitions.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for spotted that I've seen before include "Saw, caught sight of" , "Seen; saw" , "Saw; speckled" , "Dappled - saw" , "Noticed" .)