Tag Archives: birds

Lincolnshire 2010

January 19, 2011Uncategorized2010, Barn Owl, bird, birds, black swans, Black-tailed godwit, frampton, Garden Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler, lincoln, lincolnshire, Little Ringed Plovers, nightingale, peregrine, red legged partridge, ringed plovers, rspb, Sparrowhawk, Stoat, trips, Wheatear, Whimbrel, Yellow WagtailCarol

After having picked up various passengers the two cars left Nottingham at about 8.15 am and we made our way to Whisby Nature Park near Lincoln for 9.15 am were we met up with Jack Driver. The early rain that fell on Nottinghamshire was now falling on Lincolnshire so we donned our waterproofs and set off to find our target bird of the day – Nightingale.

According to the sightings board there were six singing males on the site. Looking on the nearest lake Pete found a pair of Little Ringed Plovers changing over nest duties while in the background a Nightingale was singing. A Sparrowhawk shot past the group so fast that not all of us managed to see it. We looked for the singing Nightingale without success so it was decided to go to the area where I had seen them on previous visits.

Having turned the corner at the northern end of Coot Lake we were deafened as one was singing very close to the path and it wasn’t long before Pete had found it. What a stunning bird – in full view. The problem was that not all the group had seen it and nobody had brought a camera as it was thought that they would only be heard and not seen.

We moved on, hearing three or four more before Pete again located one competing with a very high pitched Grasshopper Warbler, that not all the group could hear, and a Garden Warbler. The Nightingale was about 50 metres away over the railway. After watching the Nightingale I decided that I would leave the group and see if I could see or hear the Grasshopper Warbler on my own. I managed, after a few minutes, to get a short snatch of its song before the Nightingale drowned it out again. We made our way back to the car park, the sun shining now. Three Nightingale were seen with at least a further five heard.

With the trip list now standing at 26 we said our goodbyes to Jack Driver and made our way to RSPB Frampton near Boston, seeing Red-legged Partridge and Hare on the way.

The first birds seen at Frampton were a pair of Black Swans, obviously escaped from a collection but seemed to be doing well in the wild. We were surprised to see that the Brent Geese were still in the area as we had expected them to have gone to their breeding grounds by now. After a break for lunch and a cuppa we set off down the path towards the hides. On a small tree a Corn Bunting was singing while a Whimbrel was seen to land on the wet meadow. Steve spotted a Stoat as it ran from the meadow and over the road – our second mammal of the day. As it tried to rain again we made our way towards the first hide but stopped again as a photogenic Corn Bunting sat on a post for us. As we were about to go into the hide several Twite were seen on the wires. In all we counted 15. We were told that during the winter there were several hundred on the reserve. Also seen from the hide were two White Wagtail, Ruff and Black-tailed Godwit. Meadow Pits were singing as we left the hide to go back to the cars. Jackie spotted a female Wheatear on a fence post. From the car park I looked at the Barn Owl box through my binoculars and thought I saw part of the face of the Barn Owl. Sure enough as soon as a telescope was trained on the box the head of the bird could be seen. We were doing well as we had seen 63 species on the day.

We made our way north of Boston to Freiston RSPB reserve. Upon arriving we noticed a Pale-bellied Brent Goose in among the Dark-bellied. Although only a sub-species I would not be surprised if it is not split in a few years time to be a species in its own right.

We made our way to the sea wall as high tide was due at about 4.00 pm. The tide didn’t cover the marsh but birds were being moved all the while giving reasonable views of Knot, Eider, Curlew and Grey Plover. A Peregrine was seen as were two Fulmar. Near the car park the fields were scanned and Jackie spotted a fairly distant Yellow Wagtail.

Overall 81 bird species were seen taking the year’s list to 137 compared with 102 this time last year. The mammal list is at 6 (5 in 2009). Only one butterfly has been seen that of a Large White. This time last year 8 had been seen.

Barn Owl – 18th January

January 18, 2011Recent wildlife sightings18th January, 2011, Barn Owl, birds, Cettis Warbler, Deep Pit, Little EgretPete Smith

The Barn Owl was seen again this evening, hunting over the grassland around the gravel pits. A Cetti’s Warbler was heard in the Deep Pit and a Little Egret was seen on the Ouse Dyke. PS. DM.

Glaucous Gull – 12th January

January 12, 2011Recent wildlife sightings12th January, 2011, birds, Black Swan, Deep Pit, Glaucous Gull, Large Gravel Pit, Mitigation Field, Slurry Lagoon, Tree Sparrow, water railPete Smith

This afternoon, as I worked in the Deep Pit with my volunteer, a Black Swan flew over the site, with three Mute Swans, giving a pathetic squeak as it passed. Later two adult and two juvenile Mute Swans landed on the ice on the Slurry Lagoon, skidding as they landed accompanied by hilarious screaming from a Water Rail. As we were preparing to go, an immature Glaucous Gull flew over the site, possibly from the Large Gravel Pit, and headed towards Holme Pierrepont. PS. DM.

Earlier in the day two Tree Sparrows were seen in S.T. hedge line near to the Mitigation Field. JMD.

Merlin – 6th January

January 6, 2011Recent wildlife sightings2011, 6th January, birds, Cettis Warbler, Merlin, peregrine, Small Gravel Pit, water rail, Willow titPete Smith

This morning up to six Water Rail were heard or seen around the site. A Peregrine flew over and a Cetti’s Warbler was heard calling near the Small Gravel Pit. DM.

This afternoon a Willow Tit was seen near the Irish Bridge, AE, and a Merlin flew over towards Colwick, PS, DM.

Brambling – 17th December

December 17, 2010Recent wildlife sightings17th December, 2010, birds, Brambling, Heron, kingfisher, Little Egret, Ouse Dyke, Slurry LagoonPete Smith

The Ouse Dyke is loosing its attraction to fishing birds now and only two Little Egrets were seen this afternoon, with two Herons and a Kingfisher. There were five Bramblings in the bushes on the north bank of the Slurry Lagoon and some were heard calling by the Haven. PS.

Barn Owl – 8th December

December 8, 2010Recent wildlife sightings2010, 8th December, Barn Owl, birds, Curlew, Kestrel, Little Egret, Mitigation Field, Ouse Dyke, Snipe, Sparrowhawk, water railPete Smith

This afternoon a Barn Owl was seen along the Ouse Dyke. JMD.

The fishing spot is getting even more popular, with seven Little Egrets, four Herons and two Kingfishers trying their luck. Water Rail and Snipe were also seen.

Whilst looking over the ‘Mitigation’ field two Little Egrets flew past, then a Kestrel, then a male Sparrowhawk, which flew into a sunlit tree and fluffed out its white under-tail coverts like a pom-pom, then a female Sparrowhawk started quartering the field like a Harrier, landing on the ground twice as she formed her next plan of attack. Shortly afterwards a Curlew flew along the power lines and straight overhead. PS.

Little Egrets – 21st November

November 21, 2010Recent wildlife sightings2010, 21st November, birds, Cettis Warbler, Golden Plover, Large Gravel Pit, Lesser Redpoll, Little Egret, Red-crested Pochard, Slurry LagoonPete Smith

At least four Little Egrets have been attracted to the Ouse Dyke by the shoal of Dace. There were two male and two female Red-crested Pochard on the Large Gravel Pit, three Golden Plover flew over and four Lesser Redpoll were present. One Cetti’s Warbler was singing from the Slurry Lagoon. PS.

Later in the afternoon another male Red-crested Pochard was spotted bringing the total to five – three males and two females. As dusk approached skein after skein of geese flew in to roost on the Slurry Lagoon. JMD.

Shelduck – 18th November

November 18, 2010Recent wildlife sightings18th November, 2010, birds, Cettis Warbler, Deep Pit, Gadwall, Goldeneye, Large Gravel Pit, Mallard, Shelduck, Shoveler, Slurry Lagoon, teal, water rail, WigeonPete Smith

The Large Gravel Pit had over 200 Coots on it this afternoon with good numbers of Gadwall and some Wigeon. Amongst the throng was an out of place Shelduck. They normally prefer the Slurry Lagoon, which had good numbers of Shoveler and Teal on it as well as the gull roost. On the Deep Pit were about 50 Mallard and a male Goldeneye, and Cetti’s and Water Rail were heard calling.

Merlin – 9th November

November 9, 2010Recent wildlife sightings2010, 9th November, birds, crows, Deep Pit, gulls, Merlin, peregrine, Slurry Lagoon, StarlingsPete Smith

A male Merlin was seen today coming from the Railway Land and accelerating into the Deep Pit, its wings whirring round like propellers. The fields where the sweet corn has recently been harvested were covered with birds and flocks of geese, ducks, crows and starlings were filling the air above them. A Peregrine sliced through this spectacle and flew up to its favoured perch on one of the pylons. On the Slurry Lagoon the roost of “large gulls” had increased significantly in size. PS.

Woodcock – 7th November

November 7, 2010Recent wildlife sightings2010, 7th November, birds, Black-headed Gull, Cettis Warbler, Deep Pit, Geese, Lapwing, Large Gravel Pit, peregrine, Snipe, WoodcockPete Smith

A Woodcock was flushed from near the metal gates this morning and two Snipe flew over the Lower Path, calling. All three Cetti’s were heard singing but there was no sign of the Red-crested Pochard, or the Ross’s Goose, despite most of the Grey-lag and Canada Goose flock coming onto the Large Gravel Pit. A Peregrine flew through, causing mayhem. It put up the Lapwings and Black-headed Gulls on the Slurry Lagoon before dropping into the Deep Pit, screaming as it went, and then flying up to perch on a pylon.