The Lincolnshire Bird Club

We have a small band of dedicated birdwatchers at Far Ings NNR who have been formed as the FIBG for about 2 years now. We have all levels of capabilites and each person brings their own strengths to our work as bird recorders of Far Ings NNR. This year we have collaborated with Andrew Chick to add our annual records to the Countywide database that is so well organised by the LBC.

We are very keen to make this a success as best as we can within our operating boundaries. I am appealing to any visiting Club member to drop in their sightings (we provide a bird recording form in a box on the back of the Old Centre and the front of the New Centre) if you get a moment to do so before you leave.

I realise that most people are in a rush and that is fine, but I do see a large opportunity being missed as many people enjoy the birds of Far Ings and then take their sigtings away with them.

We as a Group are aiming to improve every year and become an accomplished team. We would be very, very grateful for even the smalllest amount of help. Whether you enter a single sighting of a scarcer bird or a comprehensive day list (please use numbers and not ticks on the forms) it does not matter.


Thank you for any assistance.

Hi Andy

Congratulations on the success of your growing group. I was wondering whether FIBG are contributing records for winter and breeding season for the Far Ings area to the BTO Atlas? The Far Ings square TA02 seems to have a relatively low number of confirmed breeding species (46) and I'm sure your members could make a big impact in this square and adjacent squares too. If you haven't done so already take a look at bto.org.uk and select atlas from the drop down menu on the top left.

Hi Phil,

Thank you for your congratulation on our Group's success. It really has been a worthwhile and enjoyable journey so far. At the beginning of anything new you can place obstacles in the way of making it happen. There has been many reasons and questions as to why we shouldn't form a Group, but equally there have been many reasons why we should. The concept of Grouping efforts together to forge greater rewards has huge support in my own personal philosophy, I always believe a Team can work to greater affect than an individual, in many cases.

Birdwatching, however, can be a very individual interest and it has been very difficult to attract leaders in the field. This is normal and something I was prepared for. We as a Group therefore have started with members who maybe don't classify as leaders but have the commitment and enthusiasm to achieve our collective goal of recording the birds of Far Ings NNR.

We are growing in experience and it is wonderful to see people learning and enjoying birds and birdwatching. As an answer to your question I will say, yes, we'd love to take on the BTO surveys but as a mentor to our Group I will have to say that that project must stay as 'work pending' at the moment. The Group has been cutting it's teeth with a common breeding bird survey each year but are yet to be the absolute finnished article. I do not want to threaten progress by broadening our boundaries just yet but I am very keen to have the extra survey work as a very achievable target in the near future.

The Group has a growing membership and growing expertise. I am very proud of what the Group do and we are in it for the long term.

Cheers

Hi Phil,

I have spoken to Graham Catley about the BTO Atlas and I have not fully understood what it actually is. It highlights my lack of knowledge about the broader bird recording world. I will take a look at the Atlas and see if we can contribute this coming year.