The Lincolnshire Bird Club

TIME: 14:00 - 15:45
WEATHER: very cold. Frost in some areas still on ground.

A slightly shorter birdwatch at Freiston produced the following:

Greylag Goose (15)
Canada Goose (loads)
Brent Goose (3 large flocks)
Barnacle Goose (1 with Canadas)

Shelduck (60)
Mallards (usual group by car park)
Wigeon (200)
Little Grebe (15)
Little Egret (1)

Golden Plover (2 large flocks containing many thousands)
Lapwing (about 1000)
Redshank (25)
Curlew (3)

No luck with raptors or owls

No luck with the Kingfisher that's supposed to be there

Herring Gull (3)
Black-headed Gull (100)

Blackbird (4)
House Sparrow (2)
Magpie (2)
Starling (25)
Pheasant in fields (4)

There may be the opportunity to have an excursion to Cut End this week - will I see different birds there?

I'm also feeling that I've exhausted all species at Freiston.... should I keep with the place or go elsewhere? Perhaps one of you could help me maximise my time at the reserve?

You should always remain faithful to your "local patch" Katherine but it never hurts to discover somewhere new. That is one of the joys of our hobby.

One never knows what will turn up locally. Yellow Legged Gull at Whisby (just my second or third in this country) just 3 miles from my front door this morning. It has been there a month and I had no idea because I hadn't been to my patch since April. There is also a danger of not really looking closely because it has become so familiar

Your patch can become somewhat boring but a different route around it can give a new perspective

I suspect Cut End will be similar to Frieston and unless the tide is in the birds could be somewhat distant. If you go to Cut End on the Frampton side I suspect you will see some different species. Its a fair distance to walk as well