The Lincolnshire Bird Club

WeBs survey on Nocton Fen this a.m.
Gt. Crested Grebe 1
Grey Heron 1
Mute Swan 6 + brood of 5 cygnets
Greylag 6
Shelduck 3
Gadwall 4
Mallard 41
Shoveler 1
Tufted Duck 7
Moorhen 3
Coot 2
Lapwing 37 + 1 young
Kingfisher 1

Common Buzzard up to 5
Kestrel 3
Grey Partridge 7
Wheatear 2
Linnet a flock of c. 120 on grass field between Neville Wood and Wasps Nest

Woodhall Spa, Saturday 19/05
4 cuckoos seen, 1 flying into Halstead Wood, 1 on Spa trail and 2 flying out of Ash Plantation on Monument Rd.
Cuckoos have been calling constantly in this area for several days. I have the impression that there are more round here than for many years. Has anyone any comment on this? Contrast with Lesser Whitethroat which are absent so far from most places where they normally occur.

By contrast I have only heard one Cuckoo so far this year in Market Rasen/Bain valley despite several early morning ringing sessions which is usually the best time to hear them. This was adjacent to Occupation Lane in Willingham Forest.

Further to this thread and the "Where are the Migrants?" thread started by Graham Catley elsewhere on the forum:

As far as my experiences in my Woodhall patch are concerned, I have heard 4 Cuckoos - more than last year. Numbers of Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Willow Warbler and Whitethroat are at least as good as last year. Reed Warblers are absent; only 1 record of Lesser Whitethroat and of Yellow Wagtail; no sighting yet of Sand Martin or Hobby. The local Swift population is down to only 1 pair from 3.

However, on a more positive note, I have heard 6 Garden Warblers this year - only 1 possible last year. Whether these changes are significant or not remains to be seen: the results of the BBS will tell us when we get the report. I have tried to look at Lesser Whitethroat on the Birdtrack section of the BTO website but (ominously?) the page wouldn't load!

Rob