Week 12 and Saturday the 26th of March a day out with the boys to the Hatfield Woodhouse area [ Link ] to try to find a couple of Grebe species but an early start was in order and off we went at 6:30am, not a good idea I suppose with the clocks going forward this weekend. Anyway after picking another body up at Bawtry we ended up at a place near Wroot looking for Common Crane but to no avail, Question, how can the end of the week be so cold after such a warm start at the beginning?? I’m glad I took my hat/gloves we didn’t see the Cranes as you’ve gathered we did see Buzzard, Mallard, Coot, Rook, Yellowhammer, Red Legged Partridge, Skylark, Blackbird, Linnet, Kestrel, Crow, Corn Bunting and a few Whooper Swans. On then to Ten Acre Lake to find Red Necked Grebe along with Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Coot, Tufted Duck, Teal, Gadwall, over head Buzzard with Chiffchaff, Lesser Redpoll, Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit within the trees.
Boston Park Lakes was our next port of call at about 11:30am on landing we made our way around to one of the lakes that isn’t well known to find the Black Necked Grebes (5), Pintail (Male), Gadwall, Sparrowhawk,Wigeon, Goldeneye. On then to the other Lakes we made our way around to the hide talking to one or two people we had met during the morning finding out we had missed some Cranes by about ten minutes, we finally ended up at the hide to find another Black Necked Grebe along with more Whooper swans (9), Little Ringed Plover (2), Pied Wagtail or was it White to quick to ID, Tufted Ducks, Sand Martins, Canada Geese, Shoveler, Oystercatcher (2), and then excitement broke out with the cry of possible Cranes havoc ensued with us ending up outside to finally ID Common Cranes (2) phew!, we ended up with some Meadow Pipits but no Woodlark before moving on to our final destination Potteric Carr.
At Potteric Carr we added Garganey (Male > Video Link) to the day list along with Pochard, Water Rail and Coal Tit.
Todays Day List :-
Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Red Necked Grebe, Black Necked Grebe, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Whooper Swan, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard, Pintail, Garganey, Shoveler, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Kestrel, Red Legged Partridge, Pheasant, Water Rail, Moorhen, Coot, Crane, Oystercatcher, Little Ringed Plover, lapwing, Curlew, Black Headed Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Woodpigen, Collard Dove, Skylark, Sand Martin, Meadow Pipit, Pied/White Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Chiffchaff, Long Tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Lesser Redpoll, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Corn Bunting
A couple of Pictures from the day :-
Whooper Swan
Red Necked Grebe
Huddsbirder 
Great information and pictures. I was at RAF Lindholme between 1966 and 1972 (ages 6 – 12).
It was a great life being out in the country and I enjoyed exploring miles around with my friends. I recognise, pretty much all the birds listed as I was an avid nature watcher. I also remember swallows, swifts and house martins.
Only when we moved did I realise the area was really special with wildlife, trees and flowers.
I have very fond memories. Thanks for the report.