The Lincolnshire Bird Club

Day 2 of the north easterly:

c13:00-18:00

Leach's Petrel - 3
Pomarine Skua - 16 (flocks of 5, 7, 2 and 2) all heading north. Presumably pushed into the central Wash area and then re-orientating. None went inland. More juvs than yesterday, although still a handful of "full spooners".
Arctic Skua - 21+
Great Skua - 14
Roseate Tern - 5 (2 ads and a juv, then 1 ad and a 1st win)
Arctic Tern - c5
Manx Shearwater - c15
Puffin - 2
Common Scoter - 5

Cheers,

PF with John Badley, Steve Keightley, Paul Sullivan and Alex Parker

Interestingly only 1 Bonxie seen from Chapel Pt this morning - no other Skuas.
Red T Divers were moving south in 3's and 4's - 21 in total. Also a full plumage Great N Diver
Manx Shearwater - c 40n
Sooty - 5+s
and loads of Gannets. Not much else.

Seems like the Wash is the place to be at the moment for Poms, although north Norfolk is getting a handful as well. The Wash is usually pretty bad for seawatching for obvious reasons, but when conditions are right, it can be amazing.

I normally hate seawatching but I'd have loved to have been with you guys. As a newbie to birding the county what are the best conditions for a seawatch on the Witham Mouth? Is it tide dependent? Is Cut End the place to be or is there a better vantage at Freiston?

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John

http://thedrunkbirder.wordpress.com/

http://www.johnhague.co.uk

Seawatching at Witham Mouth and Freiston Shore is almost totally dependent on a north east wind combined with a decent tide. At the moment, the winds are really good but the tides are not really high enough. This means that the time that birds have to get near to us is limited. This hasn't stopped it being pretty awesome recently though!

Cut End is at the confluence of the Witham and Welland, and so forms a natural magnet for many species. There are usually plenty of terns present, and hence this is one of the best sites in the county to see Roseate Tern. Also, the channel here holds water for much longer and draws seabirds along it. These can be well out from Freiston Shore and sites further north, although when the tide is high Freiston Shore can be just as good.

High tide tomorrow is at 16:14hrs, but its only a 6.3m tide. Not really high enough for Freiston, but plenty big enough for Cut End.

Cut End can be a cold place with north-easterlies, does anyone have any idea how a key can be purchased for the upstairs room of the hide?

Geoff

Will Tuesday afternoon be good conditions for a Cut End Wash-watch?

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High Tide is at 16:16 at 6.1M high. You also need the wind blowing from the NE - which it is. Roughly 20mph which is becoming uncomfortable in such an exposed place. Obviously the sea will be a bit choppy which will make sightings more difficult. All in all it should be reasonable I would think. I would suggest you are there a couple of hours before 4 to watch the birds being driven closer and closer

Geoff

You can get a key from Steve Keightley, the County Recorder, for a deposit of £5.00.

Regards,

Colin