The Lincolnshire Bird Club

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.



-----------------------------------------
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.

_________________
-----------------------------------------------------
Andrew Chick
Website: http://www.forktail.co.uk/

Image from Google Street map

_________________
http://birdmanbirds.blogspot.com/

Russell's image from Google Street map shows the three transmitter towers at Kirkby Underwood. In case of any confusion, it's the really big tower furthest away from the road. I've posted some additional images that show the height/position of this nest. Although these images have me down as the photographer...........there's no way that I would go that high!. The nest photos were taken by two very helpful BT riggers (Steve and Mark) in an operation with great planning organised by Bob Sheppard.

Alan

I am pleased to see the site publicised. Having watched the ravens and peregrines there for a long time it was quite a dicipline to omit them from my postings. Does this mean I can now mention the nesting dodos in the neighbouring field and the colony of slender billed curlew nesting just beneath the tower?!!

Best regards,

Ian

All dodos need to be reported direct to the RBBP....

It is nice to have a site where the information can be put online....

It was reported that there were a good number of birders at the site today. I hope to go this weekend......

Andrew

_________________
-----------------------------------------------------
Andrew Chick
Website: http://www.forktail.co.uk/

Hi Ian,
Fantastic news re the nesting Dodos and Slender-billed Curlews. Could you please provide Map References asap so that I can visit before the nests are raided?
However, if not possible, I still look forward to visiting the Raven site soon

Regards,

Freddy

An evening visit tonight with Matt Strahan saw both Ravens and some movement in the nest from the young. One adult looks very scruffy while the other is a smart bird. Also perched on the top of the mast tonight was one peregrine falcon.

Also:
1 Cuckoo
2 Whitethroat
1 Yellow Hammer
1 Reed Bunting
Chiffchaff
Willow Warbler
Bullfinch
Pair of Kestrels mating
Lapwing

_________________
http://birdmanbirds.blogspot.com/

To true, is great that a site is public and sightings can be put out.
Will go over the weekend and have a look

Great stuff and yet another top job by Bob & Alan

_________________
Kind Regards

Steve

http://www.southlincsrspb.org.uk

After calling in at Whisby this morning to see the Nightingales, Linda & I went on to have a look at the Ravens mid-morning.
A few words of advice to anyone thinking of going to the Watchpoint:

Be prepared for a long wait, it took about an hour for the first adult to return with food.

It is almost impossible to see the young birds due to the location of the nest and the amount of metal surrounding it.

The best views are of the adults when, after feeding the young, they sit elsewhere in the tower for a short while before flying off. They also call loudly when flying to the nest with food.

The young may well leave the nest in the next few days, should they linger there might then be better views of them?

The site is in quite an exposed area and a coat is recommended if the forecast drop in temperature comes about. It was chilly there today!

Roy

Showed well this morning but not during the afternoon. The chicks could be heard but not seen
A couple of cuckoos could be heard in the area

Young Ravens still being fed today, but will now be getting quite big and should leave their nest in the next few days. Hopefully they'll stay on the tower for another week or so. Four Buzzards there around mid-day.

At least 25 Fallow Deer including two white ones, by the western edge of the wood.

Alan

The Ravens may now have fledged. This evening there seemed to be birds calling from the adjacent trees. The adults kept coming to the tower and were landing on the tower at tree top height before flying back to the adjacent trees and were very vocal. Female Peregrine also on the tower.

Alan

The Ravens have now fledged. The youngsters have been flying down to the grass in the BT compound.

Alan