The Lincolnshire Bird Club

Today's Highlights:

Serin 1 (flying around the West Dunes early morning, flew south then u-turned and disappeared off northwards)
Short-eared Owl 1
Jay 92 (per K.Wilson)
Willow Warbler 8
Marsh Harrier 1 (male, in off)
Fieldfare 1
Redwing 3
Brambling 1
Whitethroat 40
Lesser Whitethroat 3
Blackcap 1
Sedge Warbler 4
Yellow Wagtail 30 (including 1 Blue-headed on the saltmarsh this evening at high tide)
Swift 2 (south)
Black-tailed Godwit 15 (Tennysons)

High Tide wader counts:
Knot 12000
Bar-tailed Godwit 1000
Oystercatcher 400
Grey Plover 1000
Turnstone 50
Whimbrel 10
Redshank 130
Common Sandpiper 1

Cheers,

Richard

Richard,

I don't know what sex/time your bird was but I had a male Serin fly north with Linnets this morning at Marsh Yard just north of Anderby at 0700hrs

James

http://huttoftbirding.blogspot.co.uk/

Hi James,

The Serin was just a fly over unfortunately so I couldn't age it, it called several times which alerted me to its presence. I heard it the first time about 07:20, must be a different bird.

Cheers,

Richard

Also at Gib yesterday (Thurs) there was a Richardson's Canada Goose visible from Harveys hide.

Kev

is the 80+ Jays correct Richard? if so this must be one of the highest if not the highest ever spring passage totals in Lincs

There has been a massive Jay influx during the past week or so. With a peak count of 100+ on the 30th April, which included a single flock of 70 birds!!

Other bits today (01/05)
Grasshopper Warbler 10
Jays everywhere!!
Wood Lark 1
Cuckoo 5
Turtle Dove 2
Marsh Harrier 1
Peregrine 1

Porpoise 1 (offshore)

Richard

The number of grasshopper warblers is amazing after such a poor arrival last spring. The previous max day count at Gib was 7 in May 1971

Also, a crane in from the west and south at 1345

Kev

Any thoughts on where these Jays are coming from or going to? None? Being reported from other coastal sites?
Seem to be good numbers of Groppers about at present which contrasts with a very mediocre arrival of most other migrants like Sedge and Reeds, still not had a Cuckoo or Turtle Dove up here or a Garden Warbler.

It is strange that the jay situation is not happening elsewhere - it is difficult to make sense of. There could be new birds moving through on a daily basis - or there could just be around 100 or so flying round and round in circles in the Gib area (i'm inclined to think the latter!) The largest single flock involved 70 birds - a remarkable sight , bit they are moving regularly in groupsof 30+. They are very reluctant to move out over the open sea and a group of c30 were seen to fly south down the Wash banks for c 5km and then U-turn.

Perhaps these spring birds are related to last Autumns influx ? - continental birds ?

Kev