Raven watchpoint
Bob Sheppard and Alan Ball have sent the following information.
It is unusual to find Ravens nesting in Lincolnshire. It is even more unusual to find a nest that is in a secure position for the birds but enables birders to have fantastic views.
At Kirkby Underwood, north of Bourne, west of the A15 Lincoln to Bourne road, there is a 90 metre high BT transmitter tower with a nest of five Raven chicks. The tower is in a secure compound with a permissive footpath running alongside it. If birders park in the car park at Callans Lane Wood TF062/271 and walk west along the main road 200 metres they will find the path leading north up to Temple Wood. It is clearly marked with a big grey gate.
The nest is 55metres (180 feet) up the tower on the South East side. It is on a gantry behind a huge round dish and can be clearly seen from the path by the side of the compound.
Although we have known about this nest for more than two months, it is only now that the chicks are 32 days and well –feathered, that we are releasing this information. It should take the pressure off the more vulnerable Raven site(s) in the county.
It is a fantastic place to see the adults feeding the young. Also in the area there is a pair of Peregrines which are showing interest in the nest tray 86 metres (281 feet) on top of the tower. Hopefully they will nest there in this secure position above the Ravens in 2011.
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Posted by Andrew Chick. We have taken advice on releasing this information on the LBC Forum, and it is felt that considering the location, within a secure compound with a permissive footpath running alongside it, it was consider acceptable to release this news to the general public.
All dodos need to be reported direct to the RBBP....
