The Lincolnshire Bird Club

Hi

This was found flying into the reedbed at approx 4:50pm by an "unknown birder"! I got the call and was back at Frampton after having left there an hour earlier. Gutted. Anyway, the pratincole was sat in the middle of the reedbed and was viewable from the hide, although pretty distant and obsured. After about 5 mins, the Lapwing flock and the pratincole then flushed for no apparent reason, spent a minute or two hawking insects over the reedbed and then headed off south east. It was lost to view as it dipped below the level of the seabank and was thought to be in the Kirton Marsh area. Myself, Steve Keightley and Paul Sullivan then drove around to try and relocate it. PS did so briefly, and it may have landed in the middle of the saltmarsh at approx TF370375. However, there were no more sightings.

Although views were never great due mainly to the light conditions, between 5-6 of us we got enough to conclusively ID as Collared.

Good luck for anyone trying tomorrow.

Note to self: 9 hours in the field is just not enough...

Collared Pratincole flew back into the reedbed at 13:15 today, and proceeded to show until approx 16:00 when it flew north east, possibly towards Freiston. Lost to view in the distance.

Also today:
Pec Sand still present
Wood Sand - at least 11, possibly more.
Montagu's Harrier - female still (early mornings and evenings seem best)
Snipe - 54+

PF.

For info these are the only previous Lincolnshire Collared / pratincole records
Collared Pratincole;

Branston Hall near Lincoln one shot August 15th 1827
Gib Point May 21st 1973 -- I recall Trevor ?? from Grimsby telling me this was virtually the first bird to be recorded on the newly constructed Mere at Gib

[Trent Falls flew east June 11th 1977 ] -- seen from Blacktoft over the reedbed going east and perhaps a questionable Lincolnshire record in that respect

Donna Nook/Skidbrooke July 11th 1981

as pratincole sp;
Barrow Haven Aug 11th 1980

Blimey - I feel even happier and more privileged to have seen it! Cool................

** Is covered in pinchmarks **

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hi katherine,
well done,ive yet to get one,the one shot in 1827 was by graham catley,hed just started birding!hes learnt the error of his ways since then.
Rog.

The Collared Pratincole appears to have flown south to Swaffham Prior Fen, Cambridgeshire. One was reported there yesterday on Birdguides' Rare Bird Alert thing....

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