The Lincolnshire Bird Club

Interestingly - and probably because the weekend is coming up when more Lincs birders can get out and about- Birdguides has reported :

Spoonbill Lincs Gibraltar Point
3 on Tennyson's Sands 1715

Norfolk Titchwell RSPB
5 on the Fresh Marsh 1630

(and a little earlier)
Norfolk Holme NOA
5 past heading East.

Let's hope the Norfolk 5 are not the Lincs 5, but it does look ominous.

Regards,

Freddy

spoilsport Freddy, I will be one of the exodus to Gib

Don't shoot the messenger, Chris.

But, seriously, if the 5 have really gone, it's another case of Murphy's/Sod's Birding Law : scarce/rare birds which hang around most of the working week, clear off on a Friday.

Regards,

Freddy

just to let you all know the eight spoodbills is still at gib today ive been there all day from 7am to 430pm . birding and working for the trust in the centra as well . john lusby

John Shaugnessy has just told me that there are NO Spoonbills at Gib Point this morning.

.....but there are 7 in Norfolk,

Phil

John,
Thanks for your post re Spoonbills.

The fact that there were 8 Spoonbills at Gib. Pt. all day yesterday (Fri 18 Jun) until ,let's say c 3.00/3.30pm at the latest, is not in doubt. However, the only Gib.. Pt. reports we have are of 8 at 12.50pm and of 3 at 5.15pm. 5 Spoonbills were seen at Holme NOA Norfolk flying past (from the West/Lincs direction) to the East at 4.20pm and 5 were reported at Titchwell 10 minutes later.
According to Google,the distance from Skegness (Gib. Pt.) to Hunstanton, Norfolk and on to Titchwell is just under 20 miles as the Crow/Spoonbill flies, or an hour's flight or less.

So, a few questions need to be asked :

a. Did you ,or anyone else, see 8 Spoonbills at Gib. Pt. after ,say, c 3.00/3.30pm or so yesterday?
b. If so. when?
c. Did anyone report 5 missing earlier?
d. Lastly and alternatively, one wonders, did an additional five Spoonbills (ie. additional to the Gib. Pt. eight birds 'remaining at Gib. Pt.') fly 'from the West/Lincs direction) past Holme NOA to Titchwell yesterday?

Regards,

Freddy
Footnote : Birdguides report Sat 19 Jun :
Norfolk 11.06. Cley Marshes NWT - 2 Spoonbills still on Billy's Wash mid-morning
-A further 6 flew South.

i hope this helps two birders was in the centra at 3.45pm for a drink i was told by them that the only counted 5 spoodbills groming there selfs . when myself and pat booth @ steve from grimsby was in the tennisons hide at dinner time there was all sleeping . when i was going home at 4.15pm i stoped to have a word to one birder in carpark he was just going to see the birds thats all i know. john lusby.

John,
Thanks for your prompt reply and info.

Regards,

Freddy

Freddy

I happened to be down at Gib late on friday afternoon trying to retrieve my cattle which had escaped from Croftmarsh on the reserve and headed towards Skegness. At approx 5.30pm I was probably responsible for spooking some birds near to Harveys hide at the southern end of Tennysons when going through the Croftmarsh gate in a vehicle. I looked up to see a line of 3 Spoonbills flying in a NE diirection gaining height towards the Freshwater marsh area. I cannot be precise about the time but hope this helps with your detective work!
By the way you will be relieved to hear that all the cattle are back on Croftmarsh, the last 3 being gathered up this morning.

Mike

Mike, Thanks very much for your post with its useful extra info re the Spoonbills.

As the Croftmarsh-Skegness Trail trail-boss you must be relieved that you managed to round up all your steers successfully (head 'em up, move 'em out) albeit in a vehicle and not on horseback.

Regards,

Freddy

Thanks for the explaination. I was told that the wardens had disturbed the Spoonbills. I was also told that badgers had taken most of the Avocets eggs.

Geoff

My colleagues were determined to flush them off before I returned from holiday ! so I missed the big flock, but one adult spoonbill about today (Sunday). Also green sand, little gull and 20 teal on the lagoons.

It does look likely that a badger has taken some avocet clutches.

Cheers

Kev