Monthly Archives: March 2025

A day out with friends today, first port of call was Blacktoft Sands, taking in the farmland a around Blacktoft, finding Meadow Pipits, and a single Corn Bunting.

At Blacktoft, we ventured into the Marshland hide first, seeing our target bird here, the Garganey, male and female birds, sleeping most of the time, occasionally lifting there heads, other birds at Marshland were Avocet, Black tailed Godwit, Shoveler, Snipe, Teal and Sand Martins, with a Barn Owl in the nest box. We made our way thru the reserve to the sound of Cetti’s Warblers, Blue Tit and Chaffinch, we saw many Marsh Harriers at Blacktoft, from various hides. At the feeders were Tree Sparrow, Great Tit and Chaffinch.

Our next port of call was North Cave Wetlands, with the Turret Hide being our first port of call, hoping for a Bittern, this wasn’t to be, so we made our way back to the shelter where we got sight of a Little Ringed Plover along with Shelduck, Redshank, and Tufted Duck. At the feeders, further along Dryham Lane, Goldfinch, Linnet, Long tailed Tit, Wren, and Robin.

With Bittern being our main target, we decided on going around to Far Ings, back on the road and across the bridge. On arrival we went to the East Ness Hide, where eventually I had my best ever encounter with Bitterns, what and ending

Birds at Blacktoft : Avocet, Barn Owl, Black tailed Godwit, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Canada Goose, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coot, Cormorant, Corn Bunting, Dunnock, Fieldfare, Gadwall, Garganey, Great Tit, Greylag Goose, Lesser Black backed Gull, Linnet, Little Grebe, Mallard, Marsh Harrier, Mute Swan, Pheasant, Reed Bunting, Rook, Sand Martin, Shoveler, Skylark, Stock Dove, Teal, Tree Sparrow, Tufted Duck Wigeon, Woodpigeon, Wren (36)

Birds at North Cave : Black headed Gull, Blue Tit, Chiffchaff, Common Gull, Coot, Gadwall, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Greylag Goose, Kestrel, Lapwing, Lesser Black backed Gull, Linnet, Little Grebe, Little Ringed Plover, Long tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Moorhen, Oystercatcher, Pochard, Redshank, Robin, Shelduck, Shoveler, Teal, Tufted Duck, Wren (28) 145/200

Bittern

Black tailed Godwit

Little Egret

First port of call was to Bourne for the Dark Breasted Barn Owl. Arrived early to a few cars already parked along the road side, staying in the car, we eventually , were entertained to a great display by the Barn Owl . This bird originates in North East and Central Europe.

We then moved onto Deeping Lakes, a place run by the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, a small reserve, but lots to see, large car park, but no amenities. Viewing from the car park, Sand Martin a plenty, coming and going to the Martin bank. Moving on from the car park and along the river, to place, where a viewing, where we could view the Glossy Ibis (2) and a single Cattle Egret along with Snipe, Egyptian Geese, the sound of Cetti’s Warbler and Chiffchaff. Further on we saw Little Egret, Little Owl and Green Woodpeckers. Further into the reserve we were showed where a roosting Long eared Owl, the Owl was partially obscured, but a nice sighting anyways. Other birds on sight were Black headed Gull, Coot, Cormorant, Goldeneye, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Herring Gull, Mallard, Mute Swan, Pochard, Teal, Red Kite, and Woodpigeon.

We then moved onto Eldernell, it was raining when we turned up, so we had dinner, watching Marsh Harrier, Spoonbill, Little and Great Egret from the car, we eventually moved off and we went down to the Tawny Owl roost site, it took some finding, but finding it we did.

Our last call of the day was to RSPB Frampton Marsh, and made our way down to the saltmarsh as soon as we arrived, as we made our way down, we saw the drake Scaup, Avocets, Black tailed Godwits, Sand Martins, the female Peregrine was on the barn, Spoonbill, Dunlin, Ringed Plovers, always lots to see at Frampton.

At the saltmarsh, it was now very windy, a few Meadow Pipits, Brent Geese, a few Marsh Harriers, Sparrowhawk, Peregrine again, we were hoping for a Short eared Owl, to make it five Owls for the day, none showed up, but at 5:15pm however, a Ringtail Hen Harrier showed up

Birds at Deeping Lakes: Black headed Gull, Cattle Egret, Cetti’s Warbler, Chiffchaff, Coot, Cormorant, Egyptian Goose, Gadwall, Glossy Ibis, Goldeneye, Green Woodpecker, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Herring Gull, Lapwing, Lesser Black backed Gull, Little Egret, Little Owl, Long eared Owl, Mallard, Mute Swan, Pochard, Red Kite, Red legged Partridge, Robin, Sand Martin, Snipe, Teal, Tufted Duck, Whooper Swan, Woodpigeon, Yellowhammer (33)

Birds ar RSPB Nene Washes (Eldernell) : Great White Egret, Little Egret, Shelduck, Spoonbill, Tawny Owl (5)

Birds at Frampton Marsh : Avocet, Black headed Gull, Black tailed Godwit, Brent Goose, Canada Goose, Cormorant, Curlew, Dunlin, Goldeneye, Greylag Goose, Hen Harrier, Lapwing, Linnet, Little Egret, Mallard, Marsh Harrier, Meadow Pipit, Peregrine, Pintail, Pochard, Redshank, Ringed Plover, Sand Martin, Scaup, Shelduck, Shoveler, Snipe, Sparrowhawk, Spoonbill, Starling, Teal, Wigeon, Woodpigeon (33) 142/200

Butterflies : Comma, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell

A few of the birds can be seen on this Video, especially the Dark breasted Barn Owl HERE