Middle Marsh Farm Visit

Jane and I were delighted to be able to introduce a dozen LAG members to a new area. None of them had visited Middle Marsh Farm before where we had sunshine, a cooling breeze and good company.

We heard the gulls on the mere behind the first hide from over 200 metres away.  When the hide shutters were opened there were white birds all over the banks and the small islands – gulls, avocets, shelduck and greylag geese. On closer inspection by eye and optics we realised that the smudges on the water and the shore were baby birds. I counted 47 greylag geese chicks formed up like a raft behind a couple of adults. Another fluffy mover became a lapwing chick. There were gulls nesting and oystercatchers were flying and shouting to establish territory and mates whilst the black-headed and lesser black back gulls added their voices to the clamour. We gave up trying to identify the host of immature gulls and just enjoyed the spectacle.

During our walk along the wonderfully grassy and completely litter free path to the next hide we kept stopping. There were hares in the field a marsh harrier and common terns in the sky whilst the elegant pale mauve flowers of ladies-smock stood out amongst the grasses, meadow buttercups and dandelions on the bank of the drainage dyke. A reed bunting announced its presence form the top of a large bush but we not able to catch more than a glimpse of the sedge warblers singing in the reeds.

There were not so many species around at the second hide but some anxious lapwings were drawing attention away from their chicks. More hares dashing across the ploughed fields and an avocet overhead made the walk back to the car park interesting. It was time for lunch – a picnic for some and for others a chance to try out the catering facilities at the newly opened Visitors’ Centre at Gibraltar Point.  RW

Many thanks to Julie for the bird list:

Little egret, Mute swan, Greylag goose and goslings, Canada goose, Shelduck, Gadwall, Mallard, Tufted duck, Marsh harrier, Buzzard, Kestrel, Pheasant, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher and chick, Avocet, Lapwing and chick, Redshank, Black-headed gull, Lesser black-backed gull, Herring gull, (various immature gulls), Common tern, Feral pigeon, Wood pigeon, Skylark, Swallow, Swift, Pied wagtail, Sedge warbler, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Reed bunting. 33.

National Meadows Day

Good morning,

INFORMATION AND VOLUNTEERS

The notice below tells you about an exciting event that will take place at the LWT Red Hill Reserve on Saturday 2 July. LAG has taken on the responsibility for running the event. It will be great to see you there.

A small group of us from LAG are working with the LWT and the National Meadows staff to plan the day. We do not know how many visitors will arrive. It all depends on the weather.

What we need now are a few volunteers. The tasks will be helping with the sales of LWT goods and  the manning of a stall to give out leaflets relating to children's activities. We also need two or three 'marshals' to give out programmes  and to answer very general questions about the day's events. 

Some of us will be there from 0930 until about 1600 but I would love to hear from any of you who will commit yourselves for a half day session 0930- 1230 or 1230- 1530 or even for the whole day. The site is remote and the toilet facilities somewhat rural or even alfresco. Plus you will need to bring your own sustenance as there are no refreshment facilities on site. Please let me know if you can assist by 12 June.

Best wishes

Ray

NATIONAL MEADOWS DAY

AT LINCOLNSHIRE WILDLIFE RESERVE REDHILL

The LWT is working together with the ‘Save our Magnificent Meadows Project’ to host a National Meadows Day.

This is a day when you have the opportunity to visit and explore the reserve. The emphasis is on looking at wild flowers and enjoying yourselves. Children are especially welcome.

·         WILD FLOWER IDENTIFICATION BOOKS & CHARTS FOR SALE

·         CHILDREN’S ACTIVITY SHEETS AVAILABLE

·         ASK THE EXPERTS ABOUT

o   FLOWERS

o   BUTTERFLIES

o   BIRDS

·         STROLL FREELY OR WITH A GUIDE

o   GUIDED WALKS leave the main entrance at 1030hrs and at 1400hrs

·         SOME DOES AND DON’TS 

o   You will have to climb stIles to gain access to the meadows. Do be sure that you are fit enough.

o   Please do tread carefully – there are many delicate flowers underfoot.

o   Do take pictures but don’t pick the flowers.

o   Do be aware that dogs are not permitted on the Coronation Meadow.

o   The long grass may be wet. So you need to wear appropriate footwear.

The early orchids seem to be doing well in Lincolnshire this year.

Watch Group

We were lucky to have a fine afternoon for the launch of the new Louth Area Watch Group at Red Hill Nature Reserve on May 15th 2016.
We were initially uncertain as to how many children might attend. So it was exciting that eight children were there at the beginning of the event and more arrived later.
The first activity was to place hoops down in the coronation meadow. The children looked very closely and wrote down and drew what they could see in the circles:- flowers, leaves and insects. We then all walked together very quietly down the hill into the valley and were lucky to see lots of rabbits running home.
Using our hoops we examined another area with different flora etc. We then explored the woodland on each side of the valley to try to find clues as to who lived there. There was much interest in an animal skull that was found. The consensus was that it was most likely a badger skull. Another clue was the badger latrines on one side of the hill near several large holes.

Leaving the coronation meadow we crossed the road and went into the quarry. The children were given 'spotting sheets' so that they were able to explore and tick the items on the list. We finished the afternoon by crossing back again and walking toward Badger Farm to view the red chalk that gave the area its name.

A Crane.

UNEXPECTED SIGHTINGS AT SALFLETBY

On Monday evening Jane and I decided to go to the hide at Elm House Farm to see if the Ruffs were still there; no Ruffs but lots of Shelduck and a Lapwing.

As I was watching a hare run down the path in front of the hide  I heard a honking that I associate with Spain and Portugal. The noise came from a Common crane that flew around the ponds escorted by 17 Shelduck. We willed it to land - but no luck. It sailed off north towards Donna Nook. Jane managed to take some photographs to prove to the Bird Recorders that we had seen it. It was seen again on Tuesday in the Covenham area. This is a very rare sighting for Lincolnshire. For once we were in the right place at the right time.

A short time later we became aware of crows mobbing a brown smudge on the ground. This turned out to be a fox sneaking towards the ducks and waders on the ponds. 

As we left, accompanied by bullocks in the field to the right and by cows and calves in the field on the right, five Little egrets  dropped out of the sky. Ray W

LAG CHAIRMAN’S JOTTINGS MAY

The wonderful display of Cowslips and Dandelions in the verges match the yellow of the Oil seed rape in so many fields. Look carefully by the roadside for the blues of the last Bluebells and the emerging Speedwell as well as the spotted leaves and flower spikes of the Early purple orchids.

On 12 May I learned that there are now 3 Peregrine nestlings on St James’s church tower. Stand by for a noisy summer in Louth!

EVENTS

On this Sunday 15^th May from 2pm to 4pm there is an opportunity for children aged 6 to 14 years with an interest in nature to explore on the Red Hill nature reserve. The newly formed Louth Watch Group have arranged an afternoon`s programme of fun wildlife activities for the children and suggest that you bring a picnic to finish the day. The event is open to all and free. Children must be accompanied by an adult. More details and directions on how to find Red Hill are given on Lincolnshire wildlife trust website http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/events/2016/05/10/louth-wildlife-watch-group-launch-event. Booking is not essential, but it would be helpful to know who is coming. If you are interested and for more details, then please contact Avril Huke at p.a.huke@talk21.com or phone 01507 605158

If you know of any families with children who might be interested, then please can you let them know about this event.

Saturday 22 May at 1030 am. A visit to Middle Marsh Wetlands led by Ray Woodcock and hopefully the resident ranger. This venue is not far from Skegness. To reach the start point drive through the Pine Trees Leisure Park, PE24 4RE to a large car park beyond some fishing lakes. The area is flat and there are two hides within 200 metres of the car park, both with wheelchair access. The area is a haven for waders, gulls and geese whilst a walk along a rutted path to a third hide will take us past hedges where warblers and other song birds establish their territory and serenade their mates. We shall be about two hours on site.

HELP is needed with the delivery of the LWT Lapwings magazine; 6 in the in the South Elkington area and 10 in the Alvingham area. If you are able to spend a little time helping out, please let me know on lag2014rrww@aol.com

Enjoy the outdoors – there are so many daylight hours for external activities at this time of the year. Jane and I are off to Gibraltar Point tomorrow to look at birds, wildflowers and the progress on the visitors’ centre.

Ray Woodcock Chairman LAG

Louth Area Group on Facebook

We now have a facebook group!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/LouthWildlife

Come and join the discussions and share your  wildlife news and pictures.

You may also like to join the Lincolnshire Wildlife Photography facebook group.

LOUTH AREA WATCH GROUP

On this Sunday 15^th May from 2 pm to 4 pm there is an opportunity for children aged 6 to 14 years with an interest in nature to explore on the Red Hill nature reserve. The newly formed Louth Watch Group have arranged an afternoon`s programme of fun wildlife activities for the children and suggest that you bring a picnic to finish the day. The event is open to all and free. 

Children must be accompanied by an adult. 

More details and directions on how to find Red Hill are given on Lincolnshire wildlife trust website http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/events/2016/05/10/louth-wildlife-watch-group-launch-event. 

Booking is not essential, but it would be helpful to know who is coming. If you are interested and for more details, then please contact Avril Huke at p.a.huke@talk21.com or phone 01507 605158

If you know of any families with children who might be interested, then please can you let them know about this event.

More about Watch Groups: http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/discover-learn/wildlife-watch

SUMMER HAS ARRIVED

Even though the weather changed down to the misty low teens on Saturday morning Jane and I had some wonderful Summer sights within a few miles of Louth. First of all, we checked out the roadside verge MR 366864 on the unnamed road between the B1200 Manby road and Legbourne to see whether the Early purple orchids had come into flower. We were not disappointed; they made a dramatic contrast to the yellow cowslips and the beige reed stalks.

Our next stop was at the Manby Flashes where the Lapwings were trying to distract us from their nestlings. It worked as we did not see any of the tiny balls of green fluff. However, the screaming Swifts overhead told us that Summer had arrived as did the delicate mauve flowers of the Lady’s smock on the stream bank. This plant is also called the Cuckooflower as it flowers at the same time as the Cuckoos arrive. We heard a Cuckoo later at RIMAC but did not see it. The 3 Buzzards and Peregrine overhead took advantage of the warming air and for a change they were not being hassled by gulls. There was a constant Skylark presence. A Reed bunting and a Wren called in clear view and there were various warblers singing in the reeds – we did not see them but I think there was a Sedge warbler amongst them whilst we did see and hear a Grasshopper warbler.

We moved along the B1200 for 5 miles to visit the hide in the middle of some farmland at MR 456920. This hide is worth a visit. It is reached by parking at some farm buildings on the road nearly opposite the Saltfleetby St Clements church. The land owner permits people to walk along the farm track for about 300 metres to the hide from which we saw nine Ruffs; two were males in full plumage and were having quite a set to. As we walked back to the car we had a brilliant fly past of 53 Whimbrels. They flew into the field and settled amongst the long grass at MR 458918.

After a quick bite in the sunshine at the Prussian Queen we had a stroll around RIMAC where we tripped over a frog and heard the aforementioned Cuckoo but despite careful looking we decided that we were too early for the Marsh and Bee orchids. Ray Woodcock Saturday 7 May 2016