The Lincolnshire Bird Club

In the absence of recent postings on LBC - just to confirm that the first year male Bluethroat is still at Willow Tree Fen this morning - 300 metres straight out on track from main car park.

Alan

Bluethroat still present this morning.

Also, plenty of fieldfares and shoveler .

There were also sightings of single marsh harrier and whooper swan

Bluethroat singing weakly at times today.

Also Cetti's Warbler today within 20' of Bluethroat, and at least 3 Stonechat (2x Male, 1 x Female) present

Alan

I hope it hangs on until Saturday as that'll be my first chance to get down there

Some observers have been putting down mealworms for the benefit of the bluethroat.

However, this practice has caused controversy over whether it is appropriate/ ethical to interfere with its feeding behaviour.

Is this any different from putting out food for garden birds?

Are any risks being posed to the health of the bluethroat? Is it being made lazy in its hunting? Might it become vulnerable to a passing raptor?

I seem to recall similar contention when people supplied food a few years back for Grimsby's long staying American Robin that fell victim to a sparrowhawk.