There's been a distinct wintery feel in both air and birds, though this was temporarily shelved on the 23rd with 5 swallows hawking over the reedbed! Summer hasn't left us just yet it seems. Geese and duck numbers are both on the up and are looking very healthy so early in the year. Hopefully there's more to come still but if numbers stay the same then we'd be very happy indeed. Clouds of brent geese suddenly fill the sky as they rise up from the saltmarsh and over the sea bank while our chorus of whistling wigeon won't be outdone and soundtrack their every move with their distinct calls, just brilliant.
Dark-bellied brent geese - Toby Collett
Dark-bellied brent geese (sounding ace!) - Toby Collett
Dark-bellied brent goose - Terry Stanton
In among the 2,000+ regular dark-bellied birds a few surprises can be found. A pale-bellied brent (or maybe 2) have been in the mix as well as last years black brant hybrid. The larger and cleaner white flank patch, darker back and tummy and complete neck collar point to this subtle species. Even better still is this individuals white blotch on his chest (which is how we know he was here last year) which may be easier to look for in a large group.
Black brant x dark-bellied brent goose hybrid 23/10/2014 - Toby Collett
Same bird as above on the scrapes in January earlier this year - Toby Collett
I took part in the first national BigVis in conjunction with Patchwork Challenge over the weekend and while the weather wasn't great for visible migration it was fantastic to be out and about at dawn. Brent geese were all over the place but the more unexpected highlight was the amount of pink-footed geese moving off The Wash and heading inland. Over 1700 were counted moving south west so well worth an early visit over the weekend.
Pink-footed geese leaving their roost - Toby Collett
After last weeks elusive rough-legged buzzard we got a second bite at the cherry with another on the 22nd. Alas this was just as elusive and drifted south over the salt marsh after entertaining just a few of our visitors. A ringtail hen harrier did the same thing the very next day and didn't stray into freshwater territory. A much smarter adult male hen harrier cruised over the Freiston wet grassland on the 21st and a 1st summer little gull was picked out on the saline lagoon later in the day.
Our glossy ibis is still present and being enjoyed by all visitors though does have a habit to skulk so some patience is needed though he is pretty faithful to regular feeding areas, see map below.
Glossy ibis - Toby Collett
Glossy ibis - Neil Smith
And here's your sightings map for this week
1. As mentioned above the pink-feet lift off just after dawn so a good way to spend your extra hour on Sunday. Should be a cracker with high tide just after 7am (8am if you forget to put your clocks back) and birds everywhere.
2. The glossy ibis prefers the corner near the Sea Bank Viewpoint but if not there then check the grassland and ditch to the south.
3. Brent geese are back in number and voice. Best places to see them are on the salt marsh shown above but also on the salt marsh just north of the 8 arrow at the top of the map. Standing on the sea bank at any of these places could give you incredible views if they lift off and move onto the scrapes.
4. Meadow pipit numbers are building and the muddy areas outside the north of the 360 hide give some very close views indeed. Also look out for the larger and darker rock pipits in among them.
5. Wigeon are the most numerous duck around with teal following in second. Large groups are on the grassland and the real numbers can only be seen when they take flight and fill the sky.
6. Falcons like peregrine and merlin are more likely to be seen on the Marsh Farm fenceline but a stakeout at the Raptor Viewpoint has yielded rough-legged buzzard and hen harrier this week. Will you get lucky at the end of the month?
7. The high tides this weekend will bring waders in to the north end of Roads Farm. Several hundred dunlin and ringed plover will group together but a good look through may well yield the three juvenile little stint seen earlier in the week.
8. Our migrants have grown in size with many of the smaller birds heading south being replaced with the larger thrushes and finches. Our first snow bunting of the year was out on the salt marsh and a few lapland buntings have been seen on the coast so they may well make their way to us soon.
If you'd like a bit of extra reading, please have a look at our guest blog detailing the reserves colour ringed black-tailed godwits.
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 like 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