Trip reports

RSPB MANSFIELD LOCAL GROUP'S FIELD TRIP TO GIBRALTAR POINT ON 8/1/2012

Thursday, 12 January 2012

The weather was just about perfect for our first trip of 2012. Gibraltar Point came up with a few good birds, i.e. two Woodcock were seen flying late afternoon and from another vantage point, 13 White Fronted Geese could be seen. I think most of us saw Hooded Crow, my first this side of the Scottish border. It was amusing to see one drake Pintail being very amorous towards some female Mallards. The lack of passerine species was disappointing but even so, we recorded a total of 70 species on the day.

Species of Mammals seen were a number of Rabbits and 10 Hares seen on the marsh. 40-plus Seals could be seen on a sandbank out to sea, and as we were making our way from the Visitor Centre towards Skegness, a Fox ran across the road in front of the coach, ending a very interesting day at the seaside.

The list of birds seen:

Little Grebe (1), Great Crested Grebe (1), Cormorant, Grey Heron, Pink Footed Goose, White Fronted Goose, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Brent Goose, Shelduck, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard, Pintail, Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Kestrel, Merlin, Pheasant, Water Rail, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Golden Plover, Lapwing, Sanderling, Dunlin, Woodcock, Bar Tailed Godwit, Curlew, Redshank, Turnstone, Black Headed Gull, Common Gull, Great Black Backed Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Herring Gull, Stock Dove, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Skylark, Pied Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Mistle Thrush, Long Tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Hooded Crow, Starling, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Bullfinch, Reed Bunting, Corn Bunting and Snipe.

Total: 70

Outdoor Meetings Secretary
Derek Beech