New Year’s Day 2024

New Year’s Day 2024 – Write-up by Richard Doan

A big thank you to everyone who took part in the 2024 New Year’s Day bird race. The event produced the highest total yet with a staggering 154 species recorded, by an incredible 104 people, from 60 locations throughout Lincolnshire! A full list of species recorded can be found at the bottom of this report and shows a comparison from the last four years (since the first event in 2021).

Included in this year’s tally were 11 species that have not been recorded on past events. Some of these highlights included: a group of 4 Shorelark at Gibraltar Point, this is the first time that this species has wintered in Lincolnshire for several years. The popular Lesser Yellowlegs at RSPB Frampton Marsh showed very well out from the car park (present for 105 days!), this site continues to attract some fantastic waders – perhaps a Killdeer next!? The Waxwing invasion that occurred in the UK during autumn 2023 continued with birds being recorded at Gibraltar Point, Fiskerton Fen, New Holland, Grantham and Sibsey on the day, these beautiful birds really do take some beating! Doddington Hall Estate has been nicely put on the birding map, with the discovery of an over-wintering Great Grey Shrike in 2023, it was enjoyed by many observers on New Year’s Day. An over-wintering Whimbrel at the south end of The Wash was also very noteworthy, typically there are less than 10 birds wintering in the UK!Sea-watching was very productive at Gibraltar Point with Great Northern Diver, Long-tailed Duck, Red-necked Grebe, Little Gull, Gannet and Kittiwake all being recorded. A Great Northern Diver was also seen off Wolla Bank and a Long-tailed Duck at Rimac.

Birds of prey were again very well represented with Hen Harrier recorded from RSPB Frampton Marsh, Gibraltar Point, Saltfleetby, Willow Tree Fen and an excellent record from Trent Port! A back up cast of Merlin, Peregrine, Marsh Harrier and Red Kite. The latter species continuing to increase its distribution throughout Lincolnshire especially in the south of the county and on the Wolds.

Despite searching the Pink-footed Goose flocks along the coast there were very few records of the scarcer geese (white-fronted and bean) which can sometimes be located with some patience. The only noteworthy record was of a group of White-fronted Geese at East Halton. Swans, however were well represented with Bewick’s being recorded at RSPB Frampton Marsh and Deeping High Bank, this species has really suffered in recent winters. Whoopers were present in excellent numbers in the south of the county. The Willow Tree Fen roost was excellent in the evening and produced 14 Marsh Harrier, a ringtail Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owl, 6 Common Cranes, 100+ Goosander and 3 Cattle Egret. This site is now producing daily sightings of Crane alongside an excellent array of other species and is well worth a visit in 2024!

As is customary, a few plastic’s made the list in the form of a Red-crested Pochard and a Barnacle Goose. Not to mention the controversial Feral Pigeon! The exotic Mandarin Duck failed to make an appearance again for the second consecutive year in Lincoln.  

A fine drake Smew returned to winter at Whisby Quarry, this appears to be the only wintering record in Lincolnshire this year, with no records from former haunts in the south of the county.

Some species were again absent such as Willow Tit and the now extinct Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. An absence of ‘white-winged’ gulls was also noted with no records of Glaucous or Iceland Gull. Mediterranean Gull continues to be a scarce bird in Lincolnshire during the winter months with no sightings again.

Cress Marsh near Grimbsy produced the only Common Sandpiper record of the day, feeding alongside 3 Green Sandpiper. The latter species was also noted from Marston STW. Other wader highlights included a Jack Snipe at Boultham Mere, a Spotted Redshank at South Ferriby and 6 Avocet at RSPB Frampton Marsh.

An obliging Glossy Ibis put on a good show at Deeping Lakes as did the Long-eared Owls. Cattle Egret now appears to be taking up residence (in all corners of Lincolnshire) after successful breeding in neighbouring counties, there were 12 birds present on New Year’s Day, including 5 birds at Rimac, 1+ at Alkborough, 2 at Willow Tree Fen and 4 at RSPB Frampton Marsh.

Convenham Reservoir produced the only record of Shag for the county, alongside the over-wintering Great Northern Diver that continues to delight visitors.

Lapland Bunting made it onto the list for the first time with the sighting of an individual at Gedney Drove End. Twite and Snow Bunting remain in good numbers at their stronghold sites in the north of the county.Thanks again to everyone who took part in this year’s event. We hope you all have an excellent year bird watching in 2024!

Writeup by Richard Doan

 

SPECIES

2021

2022

2023

2024

Brent Goose

1

1

1

1

Canada Goose

1

1

1

1

Barnacle Goose

1

1

1

1

Greylag Goose

1

1

1

1

Pink-footed Goose

1

1

1

1

Tundra Bean Goose

1

 

1

 

White-fronted Goose

1

1

1

1

Mute Swan

1

1

1

1

Bewick’s Swan

 

1

1

1

Whooper Swan

1

1

1

1

Egyptian Goose

1

1

1

1

Shelduck

1

1

1

1

Shoveler

1

1

1

1

Gadwall

1

1

1

1

Wigeon

1

1

1

1

Mandarin Duck

1

1

 

 

Mallard

1

1

1

1

Pintail

1

1

1

1

Teal

1

1

1

1

Red-crested Pochard

1

1

1

1

Pochard

1

1

1

1

Tufted Duck

1

1

1

1

Scaup

1

1

1

1

Eider

1

1

1

1

Velvet Scoter

1

1

1

 

Common Scoter

1

1

1

1

Long-tailed Duck

1

1

 

1

Goldeneye

1

1

1

1

Smew

1

 

 

1

Goosander

1

1

1

1

Red-breasted Merganser

1

1

1

1

Red-legged Partridge

1

1

1

1

Grey Partridge

1

1

1

1

Pheasant

1

1

1

1

Red-throated Diver

1

1

1

1

Black-throated Diver

1

 

 

 

Great Northern Diver

1

1

1

1

Fulmar

 

 

 

 

Little Grebe

1

1

1

1

Red-necked Grebe

 

 

 

1

Great Crested Grebe

1

1

1

1

Slavonian Grebe

1

 

 

 

Black-necked Grebe

 

 

 

 

Grey Heron

1

1

1

1

Great White Egret

1

1

1

1

Bittern

1

1

1

1

Little Egret

1

1

1

1

Gannet

1

 

1

1

Shag

 

1

 

1

Cormorant

1

1

1

1

Sparrowhawk

1

1

1

1

Marsh Harrier

1

1

1

1

Hen Harrier

1

1

1

1

Red Kite

1

1

1

1

Common Buzzard

1

1

1

1

Water Rail

1

1

1

1

Moorhen

1

1

1

1

Coot

1

1

1

1

Crane

 

 

1

1

Oystercatcher

1

1

1

1

Avocet

1

1

1

1

Lapwing

1

1

1

1

Golden Plover

1

1

1

1

Grey Plover

1

1

1

1

Ringed Plover

1

1

1

1

Curlew

1

1

1

1

Bar-tailed Godwit

1

1

1

1

Black-tailed Godwit

1

1

1

1

Turnstone

1

1

1

1

Knot

1

1

1

1

Ruff

1

1

1

1

Sanderling

1

1

1

1

Little Stint

 

1

 

 

Dunlin

1

1

1

1

Woodcock

1

1

1

1

Jack Snipe

1

1

1

1

Snipe

1

1

1

1

Common Sandpiper

 

1

1

1

Green Sandpiper

1

1

1

1

Redshank

1

1

1

1

Spotted Redshank

1

1

1

1

Kittiwake

 

 

 

1

Black-headed Gull

1

1

1

1

Little Gull

 

 

 

1

Mediterranean Gull

 

 

 

 

Common Gull

1

1

1

1

Great Black-backed Gull

1

1

1

1

Glaucous Gull

 

 

 

 

Iceland Gull

 

 

 

 

Herring Gull

1

1

1

1

Caspian Gull

1

 

 

 

Yellow-legged Gull

1

 

 

 

Lesser Black-backed Gull

1

1

1

1

Common Guillemot

1

 

1

 

Razorbill

 

1

 

 

Stock Dove

1

1

1

1

Feral Pigeon

1

1

1

1

Wood Pigeon

1

1

1

1

Collared Dove

1

1

1

1

Barn Owl

1

1

1

1

Tawny Owl

1

1

1

1

Little Owl

1

1

 

1

Long-eared Owl

1

1

 

1

Short-eared Owl

1

1

1

1

Kingfisher

1

1

1

1

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker

 

 

 

 

Great Spotted Woodpecker

1

1

1

1

Green Woodpecker

1

1

1

1

Kestrel

1

1

1

1

Merlin

1

1

1

1

Peregrine

1

1

1

1

Jay

1

1

1

1

Magpie

1

1

1

1

Jackdaw

1

1

1

1

Rook

1

1

1

1

Carrion Crow

1

1

1

1

Raven

1

1

1

1

Waxwing

 

 

 

1

Coal Tit

1

1

1

1

Marsh Tit

1

1

1

1

Willow Tit

 

 

 

 

Blue Tit

1

1

1

1

Great Tit

1

1

1

1

Bearded Tit

1

1

1

1

Skylark

1

1

1

1

Shore Lark

 

 

 

1

Cetti’s Warbler

1

1

1

1

Long-tailed Tit

1

1

1

1

Chiffchaff

1

1

1

1

Blackcap

1

1

1

1

Goldcrest

1

1

1

1

Wren

1

1

1

1

Nuthatch

1

1

1

1

Treecreeper

1

1

1

1

Starling

1

1

1

1

Blackbird

1

1

1

1

Fieldfare

1

1

1

1

Redwing

1

1

1

1

Song Thrush

1

1

1

1

Mistle Thrush

1

1

1

1

Robin

1

1

1

1

Stonechat

1

1

1

1

House Sparrow

1

1

1

1

Tree Sparrow

1

1

1

1

Dunnock

1

1

1

1

Grey Wagtail

1

1

1

1

Pied Wagtail

1

1

1

1

Meadow Pipit

1

1

1

1

Water Pipit

1

1

1

1

Rock Pipit

1

1

1

1

Chaffinch

1

1

1

1

Brambling

1

1

1

1

Bullfinch

1

1

1

1

Greenfinch

1

1

1

1

Twite

 

1

1

1

Linnet

1

1

1

1

Lesser Redpoll

1

1

1

1

Crossbill

 

 

 

 

Goldfinch

1

1

1

1

Siskin

1

1

1

1

Lapland Bunting

 

 

 

1

Snow Bunting

1

1

1

1

Corn Bunting

1

1

1

1

Yellowhammer

1

1

1

1

Reed Bunting

1

1

1

1

*Ring-necked Duck*

 

1

 

1

*White-tailed Plover*

 

1

 

  

*Cattle Egret*

 

1

 

1

*Richard's Pipit*

 

1

 

  

*Lesser Yellowlegs*

 

 

 

1

*Great Grey Shrike*

 

 

 

1

*Glossy Ibis*

 

 

 

1

*Goshawk*

 

 

 

1

*Whimbrel*

 

 

 

1

SPECIES TOTAL

144

146

139

154

YEAR

2021

2022

2023

2024

About Us

We are the Lincolnshire Bird Club

Our aims are to encourage and further the interest in the birdlife of the historic County of Lincolnshire; to participate in organised fieldwork activities; to collect and publish information on bird movements, behaviour, distribution and populations; to encourage conservation of the wildlife of the County and to provide sound information on which conservation policies can be based.