The Lincolnshire Bird Club

A sea watch 0915-1130 (HT0930) proved interesting. Moving north were 40 Gannets, 8 Cormorants, 8 Brent Geese, 12 Teal, one Eider, 31 Common Scoters, 4 Wigeon, 21 Sandwich Terns, 3 Common Terns, one Slavonian Grebe, 2 Red-throated Divers, one Great Northern Diver, one Guillemot and 5 distant auks. To the south were 49 different Gannets, 9 Cormorants, 5 Brent Geese, 4 Common Terns, 5 Red-throated Divers, 2 Great Crested Grebes and a Great Skua. A feeding movement of Little Gulls was also observed. Ca. 80 in one flock came in from the north, leisurely picking from and pattering along the surface of the sea. They gradually drew further out to sea and returned to the NE in buoyant twisting and turning flight.

A further 45 Common Scoters and a Red-throated Diver were seen on the sea, as was the Slavonian Grebe initially. Birds onshore included 10 more Cormorants, 11 Sanderling, 80 Dunlin and 146 Curlews.

Earlier 42 Pink-footed Geese and 11 Whooper Swans flew south. Of note on the dunes between Stonebridge and Quad 3 at the south end were 4 Wheatears, 21 Goldcrests, 8 Chiffchaffs, Blackcap, Common Redstart, 4 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 3 Mistle Thrushes, 4 Song Thrushes, Brambling, 35 Reed Buntings, 250 Skylarks 550 Goldfinches, 3 Kestrels and 2 Common Buzzards.

SL with James Siddle.

Highlights from the afternoon at Donna Nook:

1 hour seawatch 15.00 - 16.00:
4 Red-throated Diver
1 Little Grebe close in
6 Gannet
10 Common Scoter
8 Teal
4 Guillemot
A feeding flock of 38 terns included 36 Commons and 2 Arctics
18 Little Gull
4 Skylark in off

Other highlights:
37 Little Egret
1 Greenshank
7 Wigeon (on flashes at Quad 3)
1 Water Rail (Quad 3)
2 Common Buzzard (from Pyes)
1 Peregrine
1 Little Owl
1 Short-eared Owl
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker (Quad 3 & base)
1 Redstart (Quad 2)
1 Wheatear (between Stonebridge & Pyes)
4 Redwing
3 Song Thrush
8 Chiffchaff
12 Goldcrest
2 Redpoll
1 Brambling (base)
100+ Goldfinch

regards

Chris

I can add 2 Red Breasted Merganser going north at about 2:30pm. Also 4 Bar tailed godwits.

_________________
http://anthonybentleywildlifephotography.blogspot.com/

UK life list 310 (Harlequin Duck)
Lincolnshire List 246 (Puffin)
Village (Brigsley) list 99 (Shelduck)

Thanks Anthony

Another quiet morning this morning 7.10.12. Two lapland Buntings were at Pye's and also noted were 4 Brambling, 10 Goldcrests, 6 Brent Geese, 180 Dunlin, 26 Bar-tailed Godwits and a Sparrowhawk in-off the Humber.

James

http://donnanookbirding.blogspot.co.uk/

It was similarly quiet on the southern dunes this morning (7th). Most birds were in reduced numbers, most notable being 2 Redwings, 3 Mistle Thrushes, 4 Blackbirds, Wheatear, 5 Robins, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Blackcaps, 6 Goldcrests, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Water Rail, 200 Skylarks and 2 Common Buzzards.

Seawatching was more interesting between 0830 and 1230, high tide at 1010. Movement was mostly to the north, hence 290 Little Gulls, one Kittiwake, 200 Black-headed Gulls, 130 Herring Gulls, 76 Gannets, 32 Brent Geese, 57 Common Scoters, Pintail, 7 Wigeon, 28 Teal, Mallard, Red-breasted Merganser, 8 Red-throated Divers, 2 Guillemots, Razorbill, 7 auks sp., 2 Common Terns and an Arctic Skua. To the south were 131 Gannets, Shelduck, 2 Eiders, Goldeneye, 72 Pink-footed Geese, Guillemot, 4 auks sp. and 3 Sandwich Terns. 32 Cormorants were on the sea or on the shore where waders were 47 Curlews, Bar-tailed Godwit, 35 Knot, 29 Dunlin, 4 Sanderling and a Little Stint.

An afternoon seawatch off Sea Lane, Saltfleet 13.15 - 16.45 (7/10) produced:

1 Manx Shearwater N
1 Arctic Skua N
4 Great Skua 3N, 1S
160+ Gannet
8 Guillemot
10 Red-throated Diver
6 Great Crested Grebe
84 Pinkfeet S
23 Dark-bellied Brent Geese N
2 Red-breasted Merganser
2 Velvet Scoter
81 Common Scoter
2 Wigeon

A Great Spotted Woodpecker and Coal Tit at the end of Sea Lane were probable migrants + a Redstart just south of there.

regards

Chris