The Lincolnshire Bird Club

A day working around the south of the County with bins and scope in tow just in case!

Boston - Skirbeck and Port (Docks) Area

Common Sandpiper - a single bird showing very well along the river bank opposite the docks before flying off calling and lost to view. A big surprise and my first winter sighting of this species anyhere in the UK.
Curlew - 2
Lapwing - 8
Redshank - 12
Cormorant - 8
Mallard - 56
Canada Goose - 33
Greylag Goose - 2
Black-headed Gull - 43
Common Gull - 2

Boatmere (Gedney Drove End)
A quick lunchbreak here produced the following:

Little Egret - 1
Gadwall - 2
Teal - 7
Tufted Duck - 1
Greylag Goose - 34
Coot - 16
Little Grebe - 2
Shelduck - 1
Mute Swan - 2
Curlew - 9 (on adjoining field)

Guys Head

Lesser Snow Goose - 4 (2 ad white morph and 2 intermediate)
Barnacle Goose - 7 (in tight nit group with above)
Dark bellied Brent - 97
All of the above were feeding in a newly sown field of winter wheat just over the seawall.

Nene Mouth
The tight nit group of Lesser Snow Geese and Barnacle Geese had moved over to the east side of the river and were resting on the edge of short turf on the river bank. They were all unringed, were not particularly approachable, becoming wary at c.40-50m range and so therefore must be wild. Clearly these Snow Geese have tagged along with these wild Barnacle Geese from the Greenland population. Ok, maybe not, but should we dismiss such records so glibly? (See Lincs Bird Chat in a few days time for more on these birds and some wild -v- escape assessments)

Other real birds seen included:

Little Egret - 3 (1 along drain and 2 on saltmarsh)
Dark bellied Brent - 192 on saltmarsh
Twite - 45 flew up from disturbed ground on the landward side of the seawall and disappeared over the saltmarsh.

Thousands of gulls coming into roost and several large wader flocks were distant across the mudflats.

All in all not a bad set of records for a non birdwatching day!

Matthew

There was a single Common Sandpiper at the Outfall
of the Hobhole on 6 January but it had vanished without trace by the following day.
This too was my first ever winter record.


I wonder if it was the same bird?

Thoroughly enjoyed reading about your sitings in south lincs.


Regards


George Bishop

Just to follow up on this topic I have unfortunately been a little premature with my goose identification!

I have only just got round to looking at the pictures I took in more detail of the 'Lesser Snow Geese' and Barnacle group when they were much closer on the east side of the river. I had to do a double take as the two white morphs were suddenly very obviously Ross's Geese (not Lesser Snow Geese) whilst those appearing to be the intermediate birds in fact appear to be either Ross'sxBarnacle or SnowxBarnacle hybrids. Structurally they did not look like Ross's Geese when watching them distantantly in the winter wheat field in a 40mph westerly wind so thankfully the photographs obtained have confirmed the true identity. Best to get it right eventually I suppose!

Interestingly I have also picked up on a report from yesterday (6/2) via the pager service that 4 Ross's Geese were seen in fields at Guys Head with 10 Barnacle Geese although unfortunately it did not give details on plumage. Presumably the report refers to these 2 and hybrids unless there are some other Ross's at large in the same area? Is anyone aware of regular feral/escape birds being seen in this area?

Interessting birds nonetheless and it just goes to show the benefits of being able to study photographs at leisure after the event.

Matthew

As I am sure many South Lincs birders will be aware there has been a wildfowl collection at the East lighthouse SB on and off since Sir Peter Scott lived there in the 1930s.
At present the new owners are establishing the Snow Goose Wildlife Project in memory of Sir P S and the ponds to the East of the lighthouse have been enlarged.
Possibly the "rare geese" reported originated from this wildfowl collection. Until quite recently it was not unusual to see a small skein of Red Breasted Geese flying in this area which I always considered surreal on a hot July day.
In Nov '12 I saw approx 7000 pink feet around the mouth of the Nene (11000 were reported) and this resulted in much wildfowling activity, however the 'fowlers are aware of the feral birds and as far as I know none were shot!