Kirkby Pits 21 Mar 10

John Harry · **Posted:** Sun Mar 21, 2010 1:58 pm

A look around the pits between 0710 and 1000 hrs:
Footpath / tip road:
4 Egyptian Geese
2 Canada Geese
9 Greylag Geese
4 Dunnocks
1 Reed Bunting
6 Little Grebe
13 Tufted Duck
4 Coot
1 Moorhen
1 Barn Owl
2 Chaffinch
2 Robin
3 Mute Swan
2 Pochard
1 Oystercatcher
7 Rook
1 Grey Heron
1 Woodpigeon
2 Blackbird

Reserve (Riverslea pit):
61 Herring Gull
4 Lesser Black-backed Gull
1 Great Crested Grebe
12 Greylag Geese
4 Reed Bunting
113 Black-headed Gull
22 Tufted Duck
3 Common Gull
5 Moorhen
25 Coot
3 Goldeneye
4 Mallard
39 Rook (most on nests)
3 Woodpigeon
3 Oystercatcher

Reserve pit itself:
1 Avocet
1 Chiffchaff in woods west of reserve itself - but just across the road (book in hide states first observed 11 Mar - also a Marsh Harrier on this date)
3 Gadwall
3 Greylag Geese
2 Teal
2 Goldeneye
3 Dunnock
2 Chaffinch
1 Buzzard
3 Reed Bunting
2 Oystercatcher
1 Wren
1 Skylark
2 Green Woodpecker
18 Tufted Duck
8 Pochard
1 Great Crested Grebe
3 Mute Swan
3 Shelduck
6 Shoveler
1 Little Grebe
15 Coot
3 Mallard

Also in the book of note were 2 Sand Martins yesterday - 19 Mar.
Thanks

John Harry · **Posted:** Sun Mar 21, 2010 9:13 pm

Forgot to mention a Black-headed Gull had a BTO metal ring on its right lower leg, seen on Riverslea pit. However there was something wrong with the leg itself as it was keeping its weight off it when standing. iWhen It took off to the East it was dangling in flight.

Russell Hayes · **Posted:** Sun Mar 21, 2010 9:48 pm

Hi John

Where is the Riverslea Pit?

Thanks

Russell

John Harry · **Posted:** Tue Mar 23, 2010 9:58 pm

Russell

Its the newly acquired part looking North from the bridleway towards the house at the back (i.e looking at it you should have the reserve pit behind you). You should have seen by now the bank on the West sculptered for potentially Kingfishers and Sand Martins.

When the water was lower (Sunday, water was entering the pit in the NW corner), sand/gravel islands are exposed in the centre where the bushes used to be.

Hope this clarifies.

Russell Hayes · **Posted:** Tue Mar 23, 2010 11:52 pm

Hi John

Thanks for the reply, do you know why it is called that?

Thanks

Russell

John Harry · **Posted:** Wed Mar 24, 2010 10:09 pm

After Riverslea ("Farm" I think) - the house at the far Northern end owned the pit and still has the northen part (a quarter). LWT has secured the remaining 3/4's south of the property as this secures water levels for the main reserve plus now have made their mark with the recent improvements (fencing, west bank, scrub clearing).

Think this covers it, but always welcome corrections if someone knows more or what I have read and heard are wrong.

Russell Hayes · **Posted:** Wed Mar 24, 2010 10:48 pm

Thanks for the reply John.

Russell

The Lincolnshire Bird Club

Kirkby Pits 21 Mar 10

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