The Lincolnshire Bird Club

Yesterday (13th May) I was part of a small group hosted by the Lincolnshire Grazing Marshes Project to look at lowland wet grassland re-creation and management. We visited two sites near Skegness. The first, Middlemarsh Farm, has public access and four bird hides and was a 73ha arable site entered into HLS as wet grassland for breeding waders, the work being completed in 2008. The second, a site on private land, was a 43ha site originally entered into Countryside Stewardship (CSS) in 2003 as wet grassland for breeding waders.

Although both sites have been established for a few years now, it was still welcome to be surrounded by numerous pairs of breeding Lapwing, several pairs of breeding Redshank (chicks of both seen) and several pairs of Avocet. Seeing the latter breeding on what is essentially a wet field, inland, within a predominantly agricultural area still takes some getting used to when, what doesn't seem like that many years ago, they were restricted to selected coastal brackish lagoons. The fact that this species breeds at several other similar sites in Lincolnshire shows the benefits that habitat creation can bring and the adaptability of some species. Although not seen today, Snipe have also bred at these sites, and although no breeding has yet been confirmed for Curlew, the number of birds present and vocal nature of some birds would seem to suggest that it is only a matter of time. To have wet grassland waders returning as regular breeding in some numbers again at inland sites in Lincolnshire is great to see.

Wildfowl highlight was a pair of Garganey whilst a few pairs of Shoveler were also located - this type of habitat also clearly to their liking. An additional welcome sight (and sound) were the numerous pairs of Skylark also taking advantage of this optimum habitat. Believe it or not this was actually a day 'at work', but with bins always around my neck other notable sightings included:

Middlemarsh Farm

Little Stint – 1 sum plu ad
Little Ringed Plover - 2
Dunlin – 3
Black-tailed Godwit – 11
Little Egret – 6
Common Tern – 1
Swift – 5
Swallow – c.10
Sedge Warbler – 2H
Wheatear – 1m


Matthew

Matthew, am I right in assuming that the public site you call Middlemarsh Farm is on the minor road signposted 3 miles to Croft left off the A158 (travelling away from Skegness). There is a small car-park three quarters of a mile down the Croft Road on the left. I for one had called it Croft Marsh perhaps incorrectly. I would be grateful for some clarification

Chris

The name used for the site, as far as I am aware, is Middlemarsh Farm or sometimes just simply Middlemarsh. Locals may also know this as something different however! The site is just to the west of Skegness and is between the A158 and A52. There is a small car parking area on Middlemarsh Road at TF.523.638, or alternatively parking and access can be made just off the A52 and then accessed through Pine Trees Leisure Park at TF.540.625.

Personally, I have always interpreted Croft Marsh to be the land adjacent to Gib. Having a look on the Grazing Marshes website, it would appear they break survey areas down as follows; Saltfleet, Anderby, Burgh Marsh and Croft Marsh. The latter would appear to be anything south of the A52, whilst Burgh Marsh (to which the specific site of Middlemarsh falls) is sandwiched between the A52 and A158.

All very confusing and perhaps does once more raise the need for standardising site names for the purposes of recording. I hope this helps in clarifying your request however.

Matthew

Here is yet another example that all our (discloseable) sites need clarifying. I quite often read of sightings at places Greek to me. We still haven't named the new flood realignment site at Donna Nook although I have had some hilarious suggestions too risque to list here!
Be nice if someone with the time could create a site map?

I call it the DNRS but hope it will be called RSPB Donna Nook.

F

One can only imagine the size of the task to create a Linc's site map.
Has there ever been any attempt made to do one?
A web based site map, with links to maps of all larger, coastal and or most visited sites would be a good start!

How many sites would that entail Colin?

_________________
Regards.
Del.

To err is human. To really louse things up takes a computer

I think I can answer that to a degree. There is over 1600 main sites used for recording in Lincs but that is further complicated when you take in some of the sub-sections of well known sites into consideration
Barton is broken down into a further 16 sections. The Whisby/North Hykeham area has 18. Chambers Farm Woods has a further 11 but which section I am in at any given moment is beyond me. Hence my records are always recorded as Chambers Farm Woods. Not totally satisfactory but much better than nothing. The City of Lincoln has a further four sub-sections but I believe if I sat down with a map I could add at least a further dozen and I am sure most members could do the same for there patch.

The whole question gets more confusing when you don't know the area that well, hence asking for clarification from Matthew. My records will now show Middlemarsh rather than Croft Marsh. Thanks Matthew

I once knew a great birder who sadly lives a long way away now and he had the kind of brain and enthusiasm to be able to pull all this lot together. That's not me, I struggle making sure I've got the right change for a fiver!
There may be someone in the county who likes doing this sort of thing but I know most of us wouldn't/couldn't tackle it. I imagine the first thing to do is list what we already know, start from there. If it takes years so be it, it is still something worth doing IMHO.

Thanks Chris. I think you may have come up with the solution for the new LBC sites page. I'm sure your right about the county sites being complicated but as you suggested most patch workers really could add lots of info. for their local patch. If they were asked too!
So why hasn't someone asked them?

Then all we would need is a page on the LBC website for our sites page incorporating a link for those 1600+ sites, to take members directly to a map of a LBC members local (patch) site.
(Even 16 sections of Baron Pits could be shown, named and numbered if required)

As each of those 1600+ main sites will no doubt have more than one patchworker. Then if each group of parchworkers co-operated to produce an accurate site map for their birding area.
We just need Andrew to sort the IT required to use the links & maps. Simples!!
I'll volunteer to help do Tetney Marshes map, so only 1599 more to go.

_________________
Regards.
Del.

To err is human. To really louse things up takes a computer

I did wonder to myself. Whether someone volunteering all Linc's birders to get involved with a 'Linconshire Reserves Site Map' might prematurely end the thread? Sorry!

_________________
Regards.
Del.

To err is human. To really louse things up takes a computer