Swanpool/Boultham mere 01/03.

Andy Sims · **Posted:** Fri Mar 01, 2013 2:42 pm

Across the patch this morning:-

64 Gadwall, 1 pair mating.
22 Pochard.
21 Tufted Duck.
1 Bittern flew in, high from west, and landed in east reeds where it sat up in the reeds for about a minute before climbing down and out of view.
2 Sparrowhawks chasing each other.
2 Kingfishers, male & female, at sluice on main drain.
7 Skylarks on newly harvested beet field.
1 Mistle Thrush singing.
2 Willow Tits at feeders in west bay.
5 Yellowhammers, 1 singing.

Chris Grimshaw · **Posted:** Sat Mar 02, 2013 5:28 pm

Took a walk across the fields and through the woods to the Mere on a beautiful spring like day
Counted
gadwall 60
pochard 5 only
shoveler 2 males
teal 1
tufted duck 16
sparrowhawk 1, disturbed the 80 or so gulls on the raft
buzzard 1
kestrel 1
kingfisher 2
on the sluice
skylark 3
yellowhammer 1
willow tit 1
nuthatch 1 in Swanpool Woods - only the second one I have ever seen within the city boundary. Actually saw two but suspect this was the same bird counted twice
goldcrest 1
jay 11
no bittern for me again

Andy Sims · **Posted:** Sun Mar 03, 2013 5:57 pm

On my second visit to Swanpool wood today I managed to see the Nuthatch (thanks Chris) which was in the SE corner of the wood, strangely for a Nuthatch it was silent all the time I was watching it. This is my first Nuthatch for the patch in 30 years of watching and as far as I know only the 2nd record for the area.

Also in the wood were 1 Green & 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Treecreeper, 1 Coal Tit and c20 Siskins.

Chris Grimshaw · **Posted:** Sun Mar 03, 2013 8:45 pm

My pleasure Andy - you have pointed me in the right direction many times.
Good day yesterday with this, Waxwings on Birchwood and the two kingfishers. Tried hard for the bittern to round of a perfect day.
I did see one or perhaps two nuthatches in Hartsholme Park about 15 years ago - behind the visitor centre - was that the other record you mentioned?
A not very good photo is in the album for posterity

Andy Sims · **Posted:** Sun Mar 03, 2013 9:19 pm

Hi Chris,
This is the second Nuthatch record for the Swanpool/Boultham mere patch, Steve Botham had one in Swanpool wood about 7 years ago.
They have also occurred in Hartsholme Park and Boultham park.

Andy Sims · **Posted:** Mon Mar 04, 2013 7:41 pm

This afternoon, Monday, there were 2 Nuthatches in the wood and whilst we were watching them a male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker suddenly appeared and we had both in the same field of view.
The Lesser Spotted was silent and we only heard one Nuthatch very briefly.
This is the first record of Lesser Spotted on the patch since April 2010.

With Dean Nicholson & John Hayes.

Pete Scott · **Posted:** Tue Mar 05, 2013 5:25 pm

A walk to mere in the mist P.M.
Catchwater drain to Tritton rd
Lesser Redpoll 4
Greenfinch 4
Starling 15+
Swanpool wood
Redwing 30+
Green wood
G S wood
Treecreeper
Goldcrest
Goldfinch 50 + / Near tip
Jay 2
The usual at mere Gadwall/ Tufted/ Pochard 2/ plus a G C Grebe
--------------------
Bittern still about X two / John Hayes
----------------------------
Pete

Chris Grimshaw · **Posted:** Tue Mar 05, 2013 6:58 pm

Added to Pete's list
Goosander I female
Willow Tit 2 on the feeders
No sign of the nuthatch or lesser spotted woodpecker despite looking for two and half hours
Yellowhammer 6
Egyptian Goose 2 in the flooded field adjacent to Swanpool Wood

The Lincolnshire Bird Club

Swanpool/Boultham mere 01/03.

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