The Lincolnshire Bird Club

Doesn't seem six months since coming out to watch the wildlife excluding holiday in October.

Main reason for going out was a bird I'd never seen before, seen one of it's cousins a few year back at Grainthorpe I took along a mate cos two pairs of eyes are better than one! Thankfully we managed to catch a glimpse as it flew from the top of a small tree into the shaded area to get out of the wind and rain, who can blame it. We had the mobile hide with the heater on In total didn't see many birds at all but left well happy! Nay very happy!

Called at Carr Dyke Pumping Station about 14.30 but very little was seen.

Grid Ref: SE 8307 we spotted the Great Grey Shrike but not long enough to take a snap we searched for it best part of two hours but it kept well out of sight. We drove to Butterwick Hale and spotted 18 Fieldfare and a Buzzard. Didn't stay long it was too cold and windy!

Then went to Black Bank to the "new" road, wow it's a vast improvement! As we went east there were 32 Mute Swan including juvs, drove down past the feeding station and turned back, the feeders need filling There is pull-in on the left where we can look across a field today it had very little except 3 Fieldfare plus two unidentified birds which took off as I pulled in, and they were flying slowly over the low trees which separate the field and the ploughed land looking towards the Silver Birch trees.

It flew as if it was heading south, don't laugh well you can if you want at first it looked like a Gannet as it had black and white on it's wings, sadly Dave didn't see it he was preparing the camera I said it wasn't Shelduck and then said wonder they looked like a White Stork ( or later that week I now believe them to have been a pair of Common Crane) (are you all still laughing),they never came back. Maybe I've been out of action too long!

After leaving BB went to look for the GGS again but no luck, we stayed till 17.15.

Enjoyed the outing but am now paying for it, even though I stayed next to or in the car.

Good luck in finding the GGS, it's been there a while so a little bird told me, odd that I cannot find a record of it in this section, maybe I need new glasses.

Kind regards

John aka Max ably assisted by Dave Johnson

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GETTING OLD HAS IT'S ADVANTAGES BUT I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT THEY ARE lol

An enjoyable read..youve got me thinking what the mystery bird was..hope you get warmed up.

12:00 - 13:40 ; sunny and windy

Had to wait an hour before the GGS put in an appearance, it was about 100 yards away but managed to get half a dozen snaps and a short video, the latter being far better than the snaps In total watched it for twenty or so mins which I enjoyed, at least I didn't have to leave the car!

While there spotted four Buzzard and one Kestrel. Went home for a flask of coffee and cakes and went to pick up DJ at 14.15. We arrived at GGS site just after 14.30 and stayed for an hour or so but it kept out of sight much to the annoyance of DJ Went to B Hale cos he thought it may be there but it wasn't and neither was anything else!

Went to Black Bank but only drove as far as the fishing pond, we spotted a Kestrel with prey on the ploughed land and tried to get a snap but it wasn't playing ball, each it moved we did and then stopped close by, then it moved again and again...

Went back to GGS site in slim hope of seeing it alas we didn't but I wasn't bothered having seen it earlier and showing DJ my footage ( all be it not in GPC's league ) which he was envious of . We spotted c200 Lapwings coming over the Trent towards the Hale.

Will take him to try another day when I've recovered!

Kind regards

JTG assisted by Dave Johnson

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GETTING OLD HAS IT'S ADVANTAGES BUT I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT THEY ARE lol

Coffee & cake's..i will forward my address..beam me up scotty.

Grid ref SE 8307

While out shopping popped down in the chance of seeing the GGS even though it was late afternoon, parked in my usual spot and waited... Had a visit from a Kestrel close by and several farm vehicles, then spotted a raptor in distance ( about 250 yds) half between me and the M180/M181 junction. On my last visit had spotted several Buzzards.

Meanwhile still keeping eye out for the main target, while hoping the raptor came closer but it wasn't playing ball, did manage to do a bit of "Eddie" spotting mostly those going west I text a pal asking if he was down in the area but he was at work, he said there was ten cars at the Hale looking for the GGS but none had found it.

I kept hoping the Buzz would come closer it was perched on the short trees alongside the southern side of the motorway but even though I was using my x25 Spacemaster I couldn't make out enough to say it was a Rough-leg. It looked to have a white part to it's tail and the upper body looked to be browny, why didn't it fly up, it only moved from one tree to another and while it did I was looking for the Shrike

The last time I found a Rough-leg I never told anyone or reported on here and then a few days later someone else found it and claimed the honours, typical So if it does turn out to be one it's my shout right I'm a little out of practice of late except for spotting the garden birds, but I'd sooner report a non-entertity than as previous.

While sat in hope of seeing the GGS and texting my mate a light-coloured bird flew straight past car and into the reeds-ish to my left between the edge of motorway and the wooden fence, I text my mate and told him, but I cannot confirm it was the bird as I never saw it appear, it most likely flew behind me and towards the trees I first saw it in on 21st Feb.

Left at 17:15 and on way home had another Kestrel just landing on prey side of road

Hope to get down again today, it's only a few miles away so as long as I feel okay, why not!

Hope you all find the GGS or maybe the RLB

Kind regards

JTG

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GETTING OLD HAS IT'S ADVANTAGES BUT I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT THEY ARE lol

Reason I went out this time, I've pulled a muscle ( didn't know I had any ) in my back and it hurts like hell every time I move or cough, well don't move or cough I hear you say, easier said than done even sat in chair I have to move sooner or later and I need to cough to get rid of the acid every so often So I thought I might as well be sat in car watching the birds as sat in house.

14.20 - 14.45: Called at Carr Dyke PS first and only spotted 4 Great Tit.

14.55 - 15.10: Then nipped to the my GGS site but nowt doing.

15.20 - 15.50: Black Bank faired a little better, Black-head Gull - 48, Mute Swan - 32, Greylag - 7, Robin - 1, Corvids - c190 plus a few Feral Pigeon.

16.00 - 16.40: Grid Ref SE 8605 - Chaffinch - 4, Common Buzzard - 2, Common Gull - 6, Blue & Great Tit - 2 of each, Blackie - 2, Corvids - 40. Had hoped to get Crossbill maybe.

17.00 - 17.45: Back to GGS site but nowt.

Didn't see a great deal but enjoyed the fresh air and getting out on the "Patch"

Toodle loo

Max

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GETTING OLD HAS IT'S ADVANTAGES BUT I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT THEY ARE lol