The Lincolnshire Bird Club

Last week I was out in the field in Lincolnshire every day. I visited Far Ings, Worlaby Carrs, Kirkby Pits twice, Theddlethorpe N.R., Nocton Fen 3 times, Hagnaby Lock and Frieston Shore. I only spotted 2 Herons during the whole week, are they all in hiding ? Often there are 5 resting on the "Gull Pit" at Kirby and generally I see 3 or 4 on Nocton Fen. Little Egrets were also very thin on the ground I only saw 1 at Frieston and 1 at Theddlethorpe, it was on the bank of the Great Eau and not on the saltmarsh ! The question is was I unlucky or have other people noticed their absence ? and if so does anybody know what they are up to ?

Best Wishes
Derek

Derek, Herons are early colonial breeders and will be on eggs at the moment. Consequently they will tend to feed nearer the Heronry. Little Egrets also breed colonially but a bit later than Herons.

Hello Derek,

Yesterday on way home along Cadney Road had two Grey Heron within fifty feet of each other, both fishing on edge of River Ancholme near Brigg.

Most I've ever seen was last year in Scotland they were everywhere!

Cheers

Max

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Little Egret numbers are certainly low in the Grainthorpe Marsh area at present, with me seeing on average about half a dozen birds, though admittedly I haven't carried out any roost counts which would no doubt produce higher numbers.
Well into late autumn I was generally seeing 15+ birds & I had peak counts of 25 birds on 18/10/08 & observed 20 flying to roost 28/12/08).
One feasible reason is the sustained cold weather we have witnessed has caused some dispersal from their regular coastal haunts - presumably most retreating south, though records of inland birds has increased markedly.

Chris

Grey Heron seen last Saturday at Frampton Marsh.

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Many thanks Stuart & Chris for your informative answers to my question.

Best Wishes
Derek