The Lincolnshire Bird Club

Let's see the score from today's target bird species....

Whooper Swans? WIN!
Bewick's Swans? WIN!
White-fronted Geese? WIN!
Scaup? FAIL.

Also....

Barn Owl - 1 hunting over the neighbouring fields
Peregrine - 1 perched on post in wet grassland
Kestrel - 1 hunting

Little Egret - 3
Grey Heron - 1

Brent Goose - enormous numbers
Canada Goose - about 100 feeding near the Reedbed Hide
Greylag Goose - small group on wetland.

Pochard - about 15
Pintail - 12
Goldeneye - 3 females

Ruff - about 10 birds on Visitor Centre scrape
Dunlin - 10 mixed in with usual flocks of wildfowl (Wigeon, Teal, Mallard, Gadwall etc)
Common Sandpiper - 2 reported
Lapwing - usual large number
Redshank - usual number

Goldfinch - several small groups
Greenfinch - one on seed feeder
Song Thrush - one singing in hedgerow
Reed Bunting - few near the bird feeders
Tree Sparrow - several feeding from the feeders

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Hello Katherine

You do not say who your informant was regarding the two Common Sandpipers. This species has always been regarded as a passage migrant in Spring and Autumn and rare in Winter. Occasional records do occur during the winter although the great majority go to Africa for the winter months. The first of low key spring movement is usually recorded from the second week in April onwards. This normally accelerates in May. One very sound validation check is I'm sure you know about relates to the ordinary flight of Common Sandpiper in that it is distinct from any other European wader. It is always worth looking for CS on passage near fresh water where other waders are rarely seen. It is less attracted than most waders by swampy ground. I tend to watch north of the river Witham mouth but I will look closely and listen for its distinctive shrill flight note. Not that it necessarily means too much but I have no February record for CS and my records go back to 1966.

Continue to enjoy your bird watching

George

I can't remember the chap's name, sorry....

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