Lincolnshire. 15 November 2009

A visit first of all to Donna Nook to see the Grey Seals, I observed the following birding highlights: 86 Redshank, c50 Linnet, c500 Brent Geese, 29 Curlew and 6 Common Gull - one of which I caught feeding on afterbirth.
Then called in at Rimac to join up with Steve and David with the hope of finding earlier seen Lapland Buntings. However, a wet tramp out onto the saltmarsh for me not positively identifying any meant I did see a late Swallow, 1 Little Egret, 1 Snipe, c20 Skylark, c50 Twite, 2 Stonechat and a Sparrowhawk. Then moved onto Saltfeeltby - Theddlethorpe Dunes, Brickyard Lane, to see 4 Shorelarks (great bird species for my 200th this year!), c80 Snow Buntings and 11 Twite.

RSPB Frampton Marsh, Lincolnshire. 11 November 2009

A visit between 1225 and 1615 hours, my highlights were: 1 Whooper Swan, 3 Redshank, 1 Stonechat, c100 Lapwing, 7 Reed Bunting, c50 Linnet with 2 Twite amongst them, 2 drake Pintail, 10 Little Egret, 2 Shoveler, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Barn Owl being hassled by a Kestrel, c300 Brent Geese and a flyover by 40 Pink-footed Geese.

Poor record shot of a Twite found amongst a flock of Linnets.

Scrub Hill, Coningsby, TF25H. 10 November 2009

Took a day off to do an early visit on tetrad TF25H. The habitat was surprisingly varied, with fields of different crops, many drainage dyke's, pond, hedgerows with a wide range of species, disused buildings and a hamlet. Although this was an early winter visit, my highlights were 2 Tree Sparrows, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Carrion Crow, 21 Collared Dove, 9 Moorhen, 19 Mallard, 5 Long-tailed Tit and 25 House Sparrow.

Kirkby Pits & Ostlers, Lincolnshire. 8 November 2009

Quickly popped in on the pit South of Kirkby Gravel Pit Reserve, where 310 Greylag Geese had 1 Pink-footed Goose amongst them as well as a Greylag hybrid and 2 Canadian Geese. Other notables were 1 Ruddy Duck, 4 Pochard, 4 Little Grebe, 1 Great Crested Grebe and 92 Tufted Duck.

With no sign of any Caspian Gulls on the pit South of the landfill site, I moved onto Ostlers Plantation with the hope of Crossbills, but only observed 1 Green Woodpecker and 2 Fieldfares.

Lincolnshire. 30 October 2009

Started the day at Huttoft Bank Pit and between 0735 and 0900 hours, the highlights were: 31 Pink-footed Geese, 6 Shoveler, 75 Wigeon, 5 Teal and 9 Bearded Tit. Then a bit of seawatching at Sandilands between 0920 and 1150 hours, the highlights were: 18 Sanderling, 2 Ringed Plover, 1 Redshank, 4 Gannet (3 S, 1 N), 56 Pink-footed Geese (S), 1 Greenshank, 3 Brent Geese (South - Dark Bellied) and 32 Common Scoter (S).

Then went to Donna Nook to try for the reported Black Redstart but never found it, but did have a Redwing. On the return leg home, I called in at Kirkby Moor / Ostlers Plantation to try and find some Common Crossbills but only observed 2 Green Woodpeckers.

Finally, I called in at Kirkby GP Reserve and was glad to see the Ring-necked Duck is still present. Also present were 6 Redshank, 11 Lapwing, 28 Tufted Duck, 10 Shoveler, 141 Teal, 7 Gadwall, 1 Kingfisher. c200 Starlings were also observed going to roost of the East side of the reserve.

Ring-necked Duck update, Kirkby GP Reserve. 27 October 2009

Still present this morning from 0630 to 0740 hours and then I had to leave for work. Good views had to the South of the island, in front of the hide. Other observations were 3 Shoveler, 5 Little Grebe, 2 Pochard, 37 Teal, 2 Lapwing, 1 Green Woodpecker, 20 Tufted Duck and 9 Gadwall.