The Lincolnshire Bird Club

As the mist rolled in!

Norton Disney Lake:

Drake Smew - flew off into the mist
Pair RC Pochard just visible through mist, Drake diving and presenting duck with gifts of weed
A few Goldeneye, Teal, Tufted and Mallard

Thurlby Lake:

Very misty so counts difficult but:

Greylag c200
Canada c50
Mallard c150
Teal - hundreds
Goldeneye c45
Mute Swan 9
GC Grebe 4
Cormorant 7

This was before two canoeists came by and frightened all the wildfowl over to the far side - in the mist.

David

Just a Med Gull in the roost last night ( 5th ) a 1st winter bird. The hybrid duck, a drake is also back in the area -
Tufted x Pochard by the look of it. Same bird as last winter I think.

Regards David

Thurlby Lake

28 Waxwing, in trees near the road side this afternoon.

cheers, Pete

Could someone please give the OS map reference for Norton Disney lake. I can't see any water on my maps in the area other than Thurlby.
Many thanks. Rick

Hi Rick,

i think they mean the relatively new lake created from the many gravel workings in the area; if you go into Norton Disney village and turn down Butt lane follow this for 1/4. mile and then just after the S bends there is the lake on your right, approx 20 acres. If you continue on past the Wood Lane turn then Thurlby Lake is on the right, used by Newark Canoe club and big, maybe 200 acres. Having lived round here for 48 years i'm pretty sure these are the waters that are being referred to. I'm sure i will be corrected if not. Hope this helps.

Cheers

Oliver.

Many thanks Oliver. Sounds easy enough. Not on my 15 year old OS map.
Cheers. Rick

Yes Oliver is right, the Norton Disney lake is only visible on Google maps as a sand pit whereas the Thurlby Lake has had water in for some time.

David

Oliver's directions are correct. Norton Disney Pit is at
53 degrees 07 minutes 43.61 secs
0 degrees 40 minutes 38.41 secs
It is a private site and hardly visible from the road. There is a wooden gate that you may have to climb over but you can see most of the pit without climbing the gate. It is a working area so don't block the entrance if the gate is open
Alternative co-ordinates are roughly SK885600

I park about 100yds or so past the gate/ works entrance on the verge
you can find a way through the spruce tree's and then you have some cover for
viewing from.
[ That is coming in from the A46 side ]
Pete

Norton Disney Pit
Pair of displaying red crested pochard
no smew

Thurlby pit
51 waxwings , mobile, in area between the 2 locked access gates at the southern end. Flycatching from tree tops.
Many thanks to all who gave directions.
Cheers. Rick, with Chris Grimshaw

It was actually y 52 waxwing when I got a bit closer Rick.
3 shelduck there too
goldeneye 10 male 18 female
great crested grebe 10
little grebe 3
gadwall 12
wigeon 14
mute swan 7
shoveler 4
coot c300
tufted duck 88
mallard 123
wood pigeon 150
rook c120

still no sign of the smew when I went back later

Chris and Rick,

52 Waxwings is a great record.
What Map Reference would you give for " in the area between the 2 locked access gates at the southern end"? Is the viewing area from the road?
Many thanks.

Freddy

Freddy
Cross the roundabout at Witham St Hughes and go to the Tjunction at the end. Turn right at the junction as though going to Norton Disney. Pass the houses on the left and the airfield behind the trees on the right. Park by either gate just before the 90 degree left hand corner. The birds flew in from across the ploughed field just round the corner and settled in the trees that are adjacent to the road. Our best views were from the lakeside (through the gate on the left before the bend) they were only 400 yards from the gate. They were not there when I left in poor light about 15:00 before 14:00

Thanks, Chris, for the info.

Regards,

Freddy