It was the larger birds that hogged the headlines once more this week. The two European white-fronted geese that spent the day on the reedbed couldn't be relocated but several visitors got lucky with seeing a much more impressive sight on the morning of the 9th. 32 European white-fronted geese flew over the reserve before settling briefly on the wet grassland. Fortunately the finder managed to rattle off some shots of the group in flight which is a great record of the largest Lincolnshire count this winter.
European white-fronted geese - Jonathan Savory
The 9th was obviously a good day for goose movement as we had at least 5 skeins of pink-footed geese moving over the reserve - one of 700 and four of 200-300 so just shy of 2,000 all in.
Pink-footed geese - Jonathan Savory
The small group of whooper swans are being enjoyed more regularly on the reserve, often being seen outside of their roosting hours on the scrapes and grassland.
Whooper swan - Toby Collett
Lots of whistling can still be heard as wigeon move round the site. They are probably the most photogenic of all our ducks due to how approachable they have become. They can often be seen feeding several meters from the windows in the VIsitor Centre allowing some fantastic views.
Wigeon - Neil Smith
After banging on about how ace they are and we see them all the time I finally managed to get some 'Wildlife Photographer of the Year Award' standard pics of one of the merlin on a post. I know what you're thinking, 'How did he manage a shot of such quality?!' well I don't want to reveal my secrets but it involved using all my experience of many years in the field and some good old fashioned technical know-how. Neil also took some pictures which look a little better than my blob on a post. These birds are seen daily and just wonderful to watch in full hunting mode so I think I might leave Neil to take the pictures and I'll just enjoy them.
Merlin (promise) - Toby Collett
Merlin - Neil Smith
As bold as the wigeon are we have several lapwing that behave like blackbirds outside the Visitor Centre. They are often feeding in and around the picnic benches feeding in and among the mole hills. The bright crisp days have seen more and more pairs being seen on the grassland and a few have started flighting and displaying overhead.
Lapwing - Neil Smith
The first lesser black-backed gulls of the year were seen on the reedbed on the 12th and one of the more unusual records of the year was a puffin from Cut End on the 6th. Barn Owls continue to be seen daily from the Visitor Centre as well as the regular peek-a-boo little owl. Short-eared owls have become pretty scarce over the last few years so one on the 10th and again on the 12th from the Raptor Viewpoint was appreciated by the observer.
Thrush numbers have dropped dramatically with the berries now gone from the hedgerows but we still have a few fieldfare out on the grassland. It won't be long till these winter visitors will have left us entirely and we'll all be looking for the first wheatear of the spring, sweep stake anyone....?
Fieldfare - Dan Newton
We've had several reports of hares boxing but a more regular sight this week were weasels running along the road and path edges. Obviously the barn owls aren't snaffling all the voles as there must still be a fair few around to satiate the appetites of these furry little predators.
Stoat - Dan Newton
And so to our sightings map, your cut out and keep guide to what to see and where on the reserve this weekend.
1. A record stay on the reserve for these sugar lump bummed beauties, the flash of white on the rump as they fly ahead of you a great sight to see.
2. Up to 7 have been seen on the reedbed including a smart as you like drake.
3. The 1st winter drake scaup is getting tricky to pin down as the water levels rise and he moves around the reedbed. A good walk round the trail should reward the committed.
4. In good number once more and showing down to several metres on occasion.
5. Bright and clear days are best for Cetti's. We're still crossing our fingers for a burst of song but we've only heard it calling so far.
6. Hen and marsh harrier, sparrowhawk, peregrine, merlin, kestrel and buzzard are all regular, could you be lucky and make it an 8 raptor day with a rough-legged buzzard?
7. Still daily from the Visitor Centre and also showing sporadically through the day rather than keeping to it's expected crepuscular time frame.
8. Like the barn owl, the whoopers are regularly seen throughout the day and aren't restricting their visits to dawn and dusk.
9. Still there and still jolly hard to see, the little owl continues to prove a challenge to find for our visitors.
That's all from me this week. Enjoy your weekend everyone, and if you can't wait 7 days to know what's going on here, keep your finger on the Lincolnshire Wash Reserves pulse by following us on Twitter and giving us a ‘like’ on Facebook. Alternatively if you enjoy taking pictures and have a Flickr account then please join our group and share your images with everyone.
The more you're out the more you see - https://twitter.com/BoyWonderBirder