Further to web reports and photos (plus an email from Mandy West), I decided to try my luck today (Fri) with the Cleethorpes Snow Buntings.
I arrived late morning and parked at the Discovery Centre to lessen the distance between the reported area boundaries : the Leisure Centre and Buck Beck. After negotiating the feral Greylags and the flock of BH Gulls in the Car Park area, I crossed the green bridge towards the saltmarsh noting :
Drake Goosander
Cormorant
6 Pochard
in that part of the Boating Lake.
Arriving at the saltmarsh, for some time I watched a distant lone birder out in front on the distant shingle/sand, obviously scoping something interesting.....which then flew : a large flock of Snow Buntings, landing 50 or so yards further ahead of him on the shingle......more or less in front of me and the Discovery Centre but still across the saltmarsh... My boots were made for walking rather than squelching but with no alternative for closer views, I set out across the saltmarsh - just about negotiable but wellingtons would have been preferable.
Approaching the flock ,I eventually had good views and the birds certainly numbered 100+. They then took off , climbed and circled around surprisingly high up before making for a shingle/sandy ridge to my left and way out from the Leisure Centre, landing near some loafing Gulls.
Also including :
Little Egret
Curlew (several)
Redshank.
(I've read Dave Bradbeer's post today where he estimates the Cleethorpes Snow Buntings must now total c. 200 : surely the largest number reported on the UK web so far this Autumn.
}.....also, if I'd parked at the Buck Beck Car Park I might have had even closer views and drier feet.
On my way back to BBH, I made a detour to Fillingham Lake, just N of Lincoln to check out the Goosander flock that Dean Nicholson reported recently (30 Nov). Further to Murphy's Law, they were at the very farthest end of the Lake from the approach bridge, meaning a walk through the N bank field and the wood to get a good view of the birds. Dean reported 25 Goosander including 17 drakes and, given one or two birds, I reckon I saw about the same number....despite the frequent diving.
On my way back, I noted 8 Egyptian Geese feeding in a field with Greylags........and that the Goosander flock was moving towards the centre of the Lake and away from the very far end.
All in all, a good day out with some 'good' birds.
Freddy
