What is pretty much an annual event for me is a trip to Gibraltar Point in Lincolnshire for a weekends birding with members of the Bucks Bird Club and also with my daughter Katherine. So thirteen of us attended this year, staying in the Crown Hotel, which is a short drive from the reserve.
Some of the group met at Frampton Marsh on route to Gibraltar Point and enjoyed a mornings birding. Highlights were Little Stint (c8), Curlew Sandpiper (c6), Ruff, Spotted Redshank (1), Dunlin, Avocet, Scaup (1), Wigeon (1000s!), Whooper Swan (2), Marsh harrier and good views of Brent Geese. By mid-afternoon Dave Ferguson, Katherine and myself decided to move on to Gibraltar Point NNR.
We arrived late afternoon and wandered up to the Wash Viewpoint. Nothing of note to see until a Marsh Harrier flew overhead. It was getting dark and a short while later Katherine spotted a Barn Owl on it's way to hunt. It was soon joined by another and we watched them until it was almost dark. A great start to the weekend.
Early Saturday morning five of us (Dave Ferguson, Andrew Noel, Hester Plumridge, Katherine and myself) decided to go out before breakfast and visit Mill Hill to see what birds were moving and to see the high tide wader roost. It did not disappoint! However the sea watch was disappointing.
Knot at Sunrise
Clouds of Knot and other waders making their way to the high tide roost.
Knot performing over the high tide roost
A short video of Knot on the beach and also in flight.
After breakfast we explored the rest of the reserve, taking in the freshwater marshes and the "Plantation". High winds made birding on the beach/dunes a bit of a challenge!
A Curlew attempting to eat a Crab! Unusual diet item?
Success after several attempts.
A brief video of the Curlew
Snipe - Seen from the hide at Tennyson Sands
Avocet - Seen from the hide at Tennyson Sands
Kestrel - A very tame bird seen apparently looking for worms on the ground
Spotted Redshanks - Very busy feeding on the freshwater marshes.
Whooper Swans - About 20 birds flew low over the hide at Jackson Marsh on the Sunday morning.
We got lunch in the cafe on the reserve. A great asset to the reserve and very popular.
Lunchtime - Jim, Katherine, Dave and Andrew
Sunday was a similar routine, although we did get closer to the wader roost which was amazing! Birding was difficult in fairly strong winds but we were alerted of the presence of three Ring Ouzels by Chris Young and we made our way to where they had been seen. Katherine was on her own when she found a female which eluded the rest of us. However Hester and myself had the briefest of views of a male as it flew across the pool near the Pines car park.
All in all an enjoyable weekend with some good birds seen, even though there were no real rarities around (that we could find!).
No comments:
Post a Comment