The Lincolnshire Bird Club

A male seen from the train between Sleaford and Spalding yesterday morning just before the site of the
disused station at Helpringham. What an exciting surprise!
As you would expect not much larger than a Mistle Thrush which alone precludes confusion with other falcons.
The upper parts were slate-blue and the flight was buoyant, impetuous and dashing with
noticeable dips and swerves close to the ground. There was a temporary speed restriction
at this point at milepost 58 otherwise I may have missed the falcon altogether as it
was the train which flushed it presumably from a nearby perch.
My very few winter records over many years have always been coastal ones and regrettably
female. Has anyone over the last few years had an inland record in the County?

Another surprise recently was a Grey Wagtail at a farmyard slurry pit near Ruskington.

If you've got the past couple of years' Lincolnshire Bird Reports, have a look at the Merlin entries. Even though we're pretty certain there has been a decline in wintering numbers, there still are some inland records. In 2013, for which we're currently working on the LBR, there were records for example at Anwick Fen and Dunsby Fen, not that far from Helpringham. One factor contributing to the paucity of inland records is almost certainly the low levels of coverage. Not surprisingly, people concentrate on the coast and major wetlands, and tend to ignore the wide open spaces of the fens and other 'ordinary' landscapes. My guess would be that Merlins still occur throughout the fens in winter, but at low densities. But anyone working an area there regularly is likely to find them.

had a merlin chasing pipits near binbrook approx. 2 years ago but that's the only one
terry whalin

Merlin pretty regular at Dunsby Fen. My last sighting was a female on 13th December.

Merry Christmas!

Ian

a TSR at MP58 gives me all sorts of nightmares --