The Lincolnshire Bird Club

Red Kite flew low over Croft Marsh heading north at 1850 this evening.
Crossbill in beach car park

Regards

Nige

Paul and Sandra spotted a Red Kite before 10:00 this morning as well as a Marsh Harrier and Sparrowhawk. No sign of the Crossbill either

Andrew, Di Vaughan and I (chauffeur driven for a change) arrived about 10:30 and the most numerous species we seemed to see on a miserable day was Feral Pigeons flying over the sea

It was Andrew and Di's first visit to Gib and I had been building up my favourite place - big mistake but still when you have an awful day the only way is up

Was a low day on birds seen, but can understand the magic of Gib, just we didn't plan for the wind and rain that wasn't in Lincoln when we left.

Andrew

Chris, The pigeons you saw would have been Racing Pigeons, there was a big National race from Perth in Scotland on Saturday and the birds would have been flying back to the Midlands and beyond and some would have passed Gibraltar Point from 12:00 onwards. During the racing season on most Saturday's you are likely to see them especially at the coast as they tend to follow the coastline down the country on their way home.

Today at a very windy Gib:
1 Red Kite
2 Whimbrel
Plus the usual

_________________
http://birdmanbirds.blogspot.com/

Quite a few seabirds, gannets, fulmar, terns and auks active offshore in the strong wind.

A storm petrel in from the north, drifted south and landed on the sea - probably the first spring record for here.

Also, M Edgeller has just seen a Glaucous Gull offshore - probably the same one seen a few days ago.

Kev

I should have thought about that Russell especially after the tour on Friday. Your tape worked perfectly as well - many thanks

Also, a Spoonbill was present on Jackson's Marsh for approx one hour in the morning. It flew over my head on Mill Hill at c09:45, coming from the direction of Norfolk. It landed on Jackson's and i went for a better look as i was confused over the ageing of it (white primary tips but no yellow on the breast anywhere). I took the following video of it on Jackson's, but unfortunately it was spooked at 10:38 and flew off, not sure in which direction.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAKZ0n6Xka4

I'm still not sure of the correct age for this bird, as it may be an adult that hasn't developed its yellow breast patch and decent head plumes, or it could be a 2nd summer bird. Any suggestions welcome!

Paul.

PS - If Spoonbill, Red Kite, Storm Petrel and Glaucous Gull constitute a poor day at Gib, i'd love to be there on a good day

Hi Paul

I found this site helped with ageing when we had everything from juv to adults here last year.

http://www.surfbirds.com/mb/Features/sp ... -0402.html

Cheers

Kev