GIBRALTAR POINT 27 JANUARY 2016

VISIT TO LWT GIBRALTAR POINT 27 JANUARY 2016

BY MEMBERS OF LAG AND LOUTH U3A

In previous Januarys we have not been able to reach Gibraltar Point because the road was iced over or blocked by snow. This year the temperature was 14̊ C albeit with a 28 mph wind. So it was a matter of a struggle against the wind to reach the hides. Thankfully we only needed a couple of layers of gear instead of the four that we normally wear in the winter.

The fifteen of us met LWT Warden Kevin Wilson who gave an update on the near completion state of the new Visitors’ Centre. We also heard about the dilemma of marsh management that had arisen since the 2014 floods. Because of grants from various sources work was able to take place to ensure the safety and accessibility of the site. But what about the fresh water meadows that had been inundated with salt water and with seeds of salt marsh plants which had germinated and had taken a hold? Maybe the plants had the answer as Marsh orchids and other fresh water plants were beginning to emerge again amongst the Sea couch grass and the Sea-club rush.

We moved with the wind behind us to visit all the hides. It was a duck and goose day with very few waders. However, it was not until we made our species count over lunch at Poppy’s that we realised that between us we had seen 40 species of birds, even if some of them were lone individuals. We were pleased to see a few Roe deer amongst a group of Pink-footed geese whilst the co-location of Shoveller ducks and Shelduck enabled us to ‘spot the difference’!

 BIRD LIST:

Little Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Mute Swan, Pink-Footed Goose, Greylag Geese, Canada Goose, Brent Goose, Shelduck, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard, Shoveller, Pochard, Kestrel, Coot, Lapwing, Black-Tailed Godwit, Kestrel, Coot, Lapwing, Black-tailed godwit, Curlew, Redshank, Black-Headed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Redwing, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Starling, Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch (40)

MAMMALS: 5 Roe deer

Ray W