The Lincolnshire Bird Club

Hi

Forgot to mention that i took a walk along the Haven from Wyberton Marsh to Boston Tip on the 31st. Highlights were 2 Barnacle Geese on Wyberton Marsh with brents. Maybe these are associated with the influx into the SE of many Dutch Barnies? Or perhaps they've just hopped over from Nene Mouth?! Also, 1 Lapland Bunting over there.

Of most interest was a Green Sandpiper coming from Fishtoft Sewage Works and landing somewhere on the tip. Seems like they may regularly overwinter in this area, as i had one in Jan 2006 nearby as well.

Cheers,

Hi Paul

For the last 10 years I've noticed single Green Sands wintering on the inner marsh streams at Louth and Covenham and I've often wondered how widespread in the county this is. No doubt the results of the winter atlas will give us a much better idea!

We get a few Green Sands overwintering in the midlands, easily overlooked as they spend most of the time feeding in wet ditches and fly off at the slightest disturbance.
Geoff

I actually forgot that i also had one on my BTO tetrad visit in November on Frampton Roads, Frampton. This is about 2.5 km from the tip, and while conceivably the same bird, i'd guess that they were different.

Is that walk rich in birdlife?

I might do the walk one day - how long is it and what amount of time should I allow?

Hi Katherine

It took me about 5 hours to walk from my house to the tip and back, but you could easily walk in along the Haven from near Somerfields in Boston. There is a footpath alongside the Haven there that will take you right down past the tip and on as far as Witham Mouth if you have the time and the energy! Not sure how long it would take in a straight walk, but it is approx 2km from Somerfields to the tip, then a further 2km to the start of Frampton Marsh and a final 2.5km to Witham Mouth. There are certainly birds along the Haven, with the number and diversity increasing the closer you get to the Wash. As its a long walk, there are not many people. I didn't meet anyone else (and no dogs!) in my 5 hour trip.

The tip is great if you like gulls, but seems to have an uncanny ability to repel "white-winged" gulls. Maybe next time...

Their are usally 2 or 3 green sands in the local ditche around Theddlethorpe, and i have seen 2 over the past week, John.

What exactly is Slippery Gowt and what does it's name mean? I've seen Slippery Gowt Lane on Google Earth and the land at the end looks very interesting, is it a nature reserve?
Geoff

Painful disorder brought on by too much corporal punishment!

Slippery Gowt is the name of Boston Tip and of the adjacent farm and lane. There is no nature reserve yet, but i guess that there may be one there in 100 years time, when the landfill is full!

I used to do the tip regularly in the early 90s and never once saw a wwg there, it does seem odd when you consider its position alongside the Haven and its proximity to the wash !

Trev

In the 80's and 90's Alan Ball organized several Gull Cannon Netting Sessions at Slippery Gowt. There were some very interesting controls of Scandinavian and other European Gulls. However, my abiding memory was extracting a good catch of assorted "big" gulls on a warm summer afternoon from an area that had been specially baited with rotten onions and unmentionable bits and bobs from the local abbatoir!! Happy days.