This was a tailor-made trip for two ladies who were return customers after taking longer breaks with us in the Scottish Highlands and Norfolk.
Although it is bit of a trek at 55 miles down to the Market Deeping area, once there it is a very concentric tour around the best sites. We would be looking for Owls, Waders, Waterfowl and Cranes.
Starting at the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust (LWT) reserve of Deeping Lakes a great mix of mature tree lined lake, relatively newly maturing reedbed and gravel pit it would give us a mix of species. According to previous reports Long Eared Owls had been seen roosting in the Ivy clad trees close to the main hide. They were easily found with two very close by, a great bird for guests to have close contact with.
Out on the main lake a few waterfowl including a female Goosander, up to 12 Goldeneye and the resident Cormorants on the island. On the smaller lake, a good number of Wigeon, three Snipe and a Black Headed Gull already in its breeding plumage came into view. We had good, close views of a Cettis Warbler found by one of the guests as it made its way through the reed margins. After a cuppa our observations finally found a Great Crested Grebe and a Green Woodpecker flew into the distant trees, it was also good to bump into a friend and a couple of my fellow volunteers from RSPB Langford in Nottinghamshire.
Leaving that site heading to the Baston Pits complex, it was to be a brief stop looking through the waterfowl, again a good mix on the main pit with 40 plus Pochard being the highlights. An interaction between two Buzzards and six Red Kites whilst they were all airborne was a sight to behold. A very distant flock of about 400 flying Lapwing gave us a taste of what was to come.
Pulling into the carpark at LWT Baston Fen the tastes of Lincolnshire packed lunch was taken before we made our way up to the elevated section of the river Glen bank, having spoken to a couple who had just come back from observing from this spot we were not full of hope , but this venue has always delivered in the past , so with three flocks of Golden Plover totalling 2,500 individuals, 1000 Lapwing, over 20 Roe Deer, 65 Whooper Swans, a Great White Egret with Mistle Thrushes and Skylarks thrown in for good measure it was bit of a hotspot as it usually is.
Buoyed by our observations there we proceeded to the LWT site at Willow Tree Fen, with a steady accumulation of water on the site throughout the winter months it had become a haven for waterfowl with Wigeon, Mallard and Shoveler there in good numbers. A sprinkling of birds of prey, Marsh Harriers, a Kestrel and several Buzzards were enjoyed but the stars of the show were 15 European Cranes which fed, interacted and flew off site in one flock just a short time before we left at 3-55pm. We did get to finally see a couple of Stonechats here, but throughout the day passerines had been noticeable by their absence.
As the day drew to a close, it had been a splendid day in good company, with a great array of species seen.
Total species seen 58 with some pretty obvious ones missed.
Comments from the guests
‘Thanks for yesterday, I really enjoyed it, I will certainly be booking more days with you’
F W
‘I want to thank you for a lovely day out yesterday – it was fabulous. I think it was one of the most successful days for the number of birds seen, particularly more unusual ones, apart from the dawn chorus on the Somerset Levels’
J S
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