The Lincolnshire Bird Club

It has become apparent (per John Shaughnessy) that yellow wagtails are flying to roost on farmland to the south of the reserve in the evenings. Up to 145 were counted last week. Last night, I counted flocks of 61, 45 and 35 moving to the roost over Mill HIll and smaller groups amounting to an overall total of 196. This is close to the all time high count of 200 here in 1953.

I am sure that I would have missed quite a few too, as I only covered about an hour on and off between 1800 and 2000. Hoping to do a co-ordinated count this evening.

Today, a light arrival of migrants including redstart and 16 spotted flycatcher with slight increase in willow warbler and blackcap numbers

Cheers

Kev

there has been up to 130 (counted) and probably a lot more at Alkborough of late in spite of the fact that only 2 pairs bred there this year so it would appear that birds have done well in some favoured locations; I assume you will be picking up the Citrine on call as it flies by Kev

From birds we have seen on the ground during the day, there does seem to be a good proportion of young around.

The evning roost flight involved only 163 birds this evening so maybe it has peaked already. All birds sounded typical - I did have one making a 'buzzy' call in the spring which flew south overhead - this could have been a Citrine or maybe one of the other yellow wag races - I think I read that feldegg does a similar call ?

Cheers

Kev

From lots of feldegg experience in Cyprus in spring I think that their call can sound very similar to Citrine but when you do hear a Citrine its a bit more like a Richard's Pipit! -- the variety of flava wag calls is often not appreciated by observers not familiar with the mix of races in the eastern Med

By good fortune I have them both on Hannu Jannes CD. They do both sound similar and I agree with likening Citrine to Richard's Pipit in quality over the weaker feldegg, but I don't think I will be claiming either on flight call only!

Kev

Numbers from Kev and Graham for the yellow Wagtail coming in to roost at interesting, see my report from Black Toft in the non lincs birding 7th Aug when 160 were counted and recorded by the warden.
Cheers Mike Surr