Having reviewed all the possible sites Stewart and I have decided to stay with LWT Willow Tree Fen. This holds the best Roost Watch and currantly  holds a wide variety of species, some present in large numbers.

On Sundays roost count species seen included:

35 Cranes

700+ Whooper Swans

Snow Goose (basically roosts wherever the group of Whoopers it has attached itself to decide to roost}

Barn Owl

Red breasted Merganser

30 Marsh Harriers

Golden Plover,

Goosander

Buzzard, 

Raven

Bittern

Wigeon (loads)

Pochard

Teal

Shoveler

So we have a good chance of seeing some good birds.

 

As it is staying light later I would suggest arriving between 1500 and 1530. Depending on the weather the roost watch will finish between 1730 and 1800.

 

Looking forward to seeing you next week.

Although we have a large number of people taking advantage of this opportunity and the end date has passed, we may still be able to get some tickets. Please contact Stuart on sshortassoc@gmail.com.

We propose to start the 2026/7 outdoor season of meetings by joining the RSPB Wash Cruise from Boston on the
19th September at 08:45 and returns about 14:20.

This is a 5 hour cruise on the Boston Belle from Boston down the River Witham past Frampton Marsh and into the Wash. The boat the heads for the mouth of the River Welland and procedes down the Welland to the marina. It then reverses its course to return to Boston. Refreshments are available on board, hot and cold drinks and bacon butties but cash only. 

There are always at least 2 bird spotter/callers from the RSPB South Lincs group on board to ensure everybody gets to see the birds.
Price is £24 for members of the RSPB and £30 for non-members. 

These trips are very popular and sell out quickly. Therefore we need firm expressions of interest from members by 15th March to sshortassoc@gmail.com together with Payment to the Clubs Account. We will then go ahead and purchase the tickets.

When we left the Peterborough area it was misty and raining, but after a while at Titchwell it turned into a good day.

The group of 18 were treated to a very showy Firecrest – a bird you don’t often see at Titchwell. We searched the ditch by the footpath for a Water Rail and, thanks to Kevin Gray and his thermal imaging, we located the bird, although I don’t think everyone managed to catch sight of it. We had another Water Rail later by the tidal marsh, where it ran past Keith on the path.

We went along the Fen Trail and everyone had good views of a Tawny Owl sitting in the ivy. We couldn’t find the Woodcock at the time, but Ian Gordon and Trish stayed on and eventually saw the bird.

We continued to Patsy’s Pool where there was a distant Marsh Harrier, and on returning to the main track we saw three more.

On the freshwater pool there was a good variety of birds, including geese, ducks, Lapwings and Golden Plover.

We then went to the beach. With the tide low, we walked out towards the rocks where there were a number of waders. Ian Humphries was the lucky one to spot a Purple Sandpiper. On the sea, close inshore, was a Great Northern Diver, with good numbers of Red-breasted Mergansers further along.

We headed back for lunch, with some having brought their own and others visiting the café.

At around 2pm we travelled to Roydon Common, which is on the way home, for the raptor roost. Here we saw a number of Red Kites, followed by a ringtail Hen Harrier flying into view and then settling for all to see. Several Marsh Harriers were also flying around, ready to come into roost. We then found a male Hen Harrier hunkered down in the grass—only its head visible—but for the last two men standing it gave a superb display.

All in all, it had been a very good day, with 68 species seen by the group.

After Storm Claudia, the weather forecast was not promising, but we were pleasantly surprised when the day turned out to be fine, albeit a little grey. On the drive in, we spotted numerous Whooper Swans along with a few geese, though unfortunately, there were no Bewick’s in sight.

 

We met in the car park and made our way to the viewing platform. On the feeders, we spotted a handful of Tree Sparrows mingling with the House Sparrows. In the distance, at least six Cattle Egrets were visible, with a Chinese Water Deer quietly observing us.

 

From there, we walked across the bridge to the warmth of the Main Hide, where we were treated to a wide variety of birds. In the foreground, several Pochards were swimming close by, while further out, we had great views of Wigeon, Pintail, and Shoveler. There were also Black-Tailed Godwits and a few Ruffs in the mix.

 

Next, we headed over to the Lyle Hide. While it was a bit chillier there, the views were fantastic—numerous teal were feeding in the shallows until a passing Marsh Harrier flushed them. At that moment, a huge skein of Pink-footed Geese flew by, heading for the fields beyond the reserve.

 

Lunchtime came around, and a pasty from the café hit the spot, though it was not as delightful as Annie’s famous Lemon Drizzle cake. After lunch, we made our way to the Reed Bed Hide, where the birdlife was just as abundant. Flocks of Golden Plovers and Lapwings were wheeling overhead, while a Marsh Harrier was spotted eating prey.

 

We then returned to the Main Hide to catch the Swan feed. While we were waiting, Richard spotted a Merlin fly through, later followed by a Sparrowhawk. As we watched the swans being fed, we were treated to a fascinating talk from one of the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust staff.

A great end to a great day: we recorded 57 species, plus Chinese Water Deer and Roe Deer. As we left, we were treated to the calls of Whooper Swans flying overhead, adding finishing touch to an enjoyable day.

The next PBC out-of-area trip is to Wiltshire & Hampshire from Sunday 26th April to Tuesday 28th April.

The outline plan is:

The target birds include: Corn Bunting, Dartford Warbler, Firecrest, Great Bustard, Hawfinch, Honey Buzzard, Redstart and Tree Pipit.

We'll overnight in Salisbury on both nights. The suggested hotel is Premier Inn Salisbury South Milford (SP1 2FF). As per previous trips, please arrange your own accommodation - either at the Premier Inn or elsewhere in that area. The cost of the Great Bustard Group tour is £30 per head and places are limited to 15. To secure a place, please transfer £30 to the Club (43366904, 23-05-80) and drop an email to Richard Whitticase accordingly.

Note that unlike previous trips we won’t be going to reserves with visitor centres, café’s, etc and some walking (1-2 miles) will be involved at each location.

Please contact Richard Whitticase (rfw1967@hotmail.co.uk) if you have any questions.

The latest PBC out-of-area trip covered Abberton Reservoir, Fingringhoe Wick, Landguard Point and Minsmere RSPB. 15 club members took part including one new member.

Abberton Reservoir was relatively quiet but provided an opportunity to reacquaint ourselves with Ruff, Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper and Black-tailed Godwit. There were still plenty of Swallow and Common Tern around, but the highlight was a flock of 25 Spoonbill. In addition, there were a number of Great White Egret dotted around the water’s edge, but these birds have become so commonplace that hardly anyone remarked upon them. The Visitor Centre Café went down extremely well and we were able to combine a coffee with good views of Chiffchaff and Blackcap as they refuelled on migration.

After lunch we moved on to Fingringhoe Wick, another Essex Wildlife Trust reserve with great views over the River Colne estuary towards Brightlingsea. This reserve got the thumbs-up from everyone – it included some very well sited hides and greatly added to our wader count. Between us we saw: Oystercatcher, Avocet, Lapwing, Golden Plover, Grey Plover (with some still in summer plumage), Ringed Plover, Whimbrel, Curlew, Black-tailed Godwit, Ruff, Curlew Sandpiper (unconfirmed but the subject of much debate), Snipe, Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Redshank and Greenshank. We also had fantastic views of an Osprey fishing in the river. Fingringhoe Wick is definitely worth a return visit.

We overnighted on the edge of Ipswich with the group split between a Premier Inn and a Holiday Inn and dinner courtesy of the nearby Brewers Fayre. The hotels were comfortable and the food was adequate. This combination of accommodation and dining appears to work well and provides a useful model for future trips.

The next day we met at 9am at Landguard Point – a small piece of rough ground surrounded by the sea to the south and east and a large container port to the north west and including a fort dating back to Henry VIII. The area proved to be teeming with migratory birds including good numbers of Chiffchaff, Wheatear and Yellow Wagtail, two Black Redstart and a Spotted Flycatcher. Unfortunately the Wryneck and Hoopoe that were seen during the week appeared to have moved on. However, it was a lovely place to visit and also worthy of return trips.

Our final location was Minsmere RSPB – somewhere that most people knew, but too far from home to be a regular haunt and therefore a good place to head to on an out-of-area trip. We spent most of the time in the East Hide (which was being vigilantly guarded by a young kestrel) where we made a few additions to our list incl: Barnacle, Canada, Greylag & Egyptian Geese,  and Shelduck. Along the sea wall we saw more Wheatear and a pair of Stonechat, and distantly two Great Skua and two Shearwater (Sooty I think).

Overall we saw 80 species. We explored some new sites and some old favourites. And we had a lot of fun. 

Have a look at our recently released Indoor Programme for 2025/26. Come and find out more about Ethiopia, who D. H. Hudson was and what he influenced, what we can learn from bird song, have a look at North Norway, understand more about the Rare Breeding Birds Panel and how many birds can be seen in our local area. If any of these have sparked your interest we look forward to seeing you at our indoor meetings.

Outdoors we start our meetings with a visit to Frampton for waders and raptors, followed by Eldernell with a focus upon owls, revisit WWT Welney as last year’s floods put many off and look for grebes and divers around the dam at Rutland Water to complete 2025. We will release 2026 details shortly. 

Come along and meet interesting and friendly people who have an interest in birdwatching, just like you. 

Use the link, similar to the image above, to Vine House Farm from our Home Page and enter the discount code BC10 to obtain a 10% discount on orders placed online this includes free delivery. Please use to buy your seed etc... as this offer will only exist, if we use it.

Click the link, select your seed etc, enter BC10 and it will turn up on your door step. no more lugging sacks of seed. Win Win.

What are you waiting for? 

Please find below details of the next two out-of-area trips. The dates for Essex/Suffolk are confirmed and 7 people have signed up for this trip so far. The dates for Wiltshire/Hampshire are provisional.

 

The autumn 2025 out-of-area PBC trip is to Essex & Suffolk on Sat/Sun 20/21 Sep 25.

The plan is to visit Abberton Reservoir and Fingringhoe Wick (both Essex Wildlife Trust) on Saturday and Landguard Point and Minsmere RSPB on Sunday.

We'll overnight in Ipswich. The suggested hotels are Holiday Inn Ipswich-Orwell or Premier Inn Ipswich South East. As per previous trips, please arrange your own accommodation - either at the Holiday Inn, the Premier Inn or elsewhere in that area.

Please let Richard know (rfw1967@hotmail.co.uk) if you want to join the trip or contact him if you have any questions.

 

The spring 2026 out-of-area PBC trip is to Wiltshire & Hampshire .

It will be a 3 day (2 night) event taking place around the weekend of 9/10 May 26, but the exact dates are to be confirmed.

The outline plan is:

Day 1: Great Bustard tour on Salisbury Plain.

Day 2: New Forest – Honey Buzzard, Dartford Warbler, Firecrest, Redstart & Tree Pipit.

Day 3: Lymington – waders, Little Tern and White-tailed Eagle.

I’ve made initial contact with the Great Bustard Group, but can’t firm up a date until the autumn.
Please let Richard know (rfw1967@hotmail.co.uk) if you want to join the trip or contact him if you have any questions.