A few hirundines were recorded at the start of the month with 2 swallow on 2^nd and a house martin on 7^th. These birds were believed to be juveniles so probably a late brood leaving the nest and lingering due to the warm weather earlier in the month.

Autumn 2021 is proving to be excellent for bearded tit with at least 20+ birds frequenting the area in November, including at least 16 at Huttoft Pit, and a further four birds at Wolla Bank. Though this number is sure to be much higher with lots of reedbed areas under-recorded.  

The usual wintering swan herd returned properly on 12^th with 40 whooper swan and 2 mute swans noted. Whooper swan gradually numbers increased during the month and peaked at 94 on 24^th, two Bewick’s swan were also recorded on this date alongside 11 mute swan. Whooper swans tend to remain in the area from October through to march; breeding in Iceland and Greenland. Bewick’s swan breeds much further east in Siberia and arctic Russia and are rare visitors to the Lincolnshire Coastal Country Park with just a handful of sightings a year; these tend to be of birds passing through to wintering grounds on the Ouse Washes.

Work on the Anderby Marsh sluice gate was completed in late October. The sluice gate has now been raised almost a metre higher to the height of the field. It is hoped that this will help us retain water throughout the year. Typically, the marsh dries up from May onwards with no standing water throughout the summer months until late autumn. It may take a little while for the water level to build up due to being drained out prior to work taking place. We will keep you updated on its progress over the coming months. Two spoonbills flew over Anderby Marsh on the 9^th November and were later recorded at Gibraltar Point. Hopefully this species will become more frequent on the marsh in future once water levels have become favourable!

Seawatching in November was excellent with sightings of 3 little auk, 2 shag, 2 red-necked grebe, 26 pomarine skua, 3 black-throated diver, sooty shearwater (3^rd), 4 great northern diver, 2 grey phalarope (4^th and 26^th), 2 long-tailed duck, 2 puffin (3^rd and 13^th), purple sandpiper and over 1000 kittiwake.

Thirty snow bunting on the beach at Marsh Yard on 22^nd November was a great count. 6 grey partridge nearby was noteworthy and the first record for a few years. Despite the extensive farmland in the area partridges remain quite scarce on this part of the coast.

An adult Caspian gull on 16^th November at Huttoft Pit was the first to be recorded in the area for several years. A yellow-legged Gull was also recorded here on the 13^th. A male goosander and female goldeneye dropped in briefly on 30^th. A yellow ‘colour-ringed’ black-headed gull with code 2PCH was recorded at Huttoft Pit on 7^th November and was originally ringed at Pitsea Landfill Site in Essex on 2th February 2016.

The starling roost at Chapel Six Marshes peaked at 20,000 birds during the month and have been coming into roost between 15:30-16:00. 

Sandilands Golf Course produced numerous sightings of short-eared owl throughout the month with two seen together on several dates. The thick grassland sward on the western side no doubt acting as a valuable shelter and refuge for lots of small mammal species such as voles and shrews.

Non-avian highlights

Regular sightings of muntjac and roe deer in the fields during the day. An impressive count of 24 roe deer recorded on a day mid-month by one observer.

Now that the fields have been harvested sightings of brown hare are beginning to increase throughout the area.

There were no sightings of any butterflies or dragonflies in November 2021.

A grey seal pup found abandoned on the beach at Anderby Creek on the 23^rd was rescued by the excellent team at Natureland Seal Sanctuary. The pup looked to be in good condition but may need feeding for a few days before its strong enough to be released back into the sea.

Five species to look for in December

1. Roe deer – look out for these large animals on farmland throughout the area. The area between Chapel Six Marshes and Anderby Creek is often quite reliable. You may need binoculars to see them as they can be quite shy and easily disturbed.  
2. Starling – still worth making the most of this incredible spectacle before the birds disperse after the New Year. Head to Chapel Six Marshes or Wolla Bank between 1500-1530hrs to experience the murmuration. 
3. Wigeon – a numerous dabbling duck in the area during the winter months. Birds can be found most reliable at Huttoft Pit and at Anderby Marsh. Listen out for their distinctive whistling calls which can carry quite a distance. The males have a striking yellow stripe to the centre of the head.
4. Pink-footed goose – a wintering flock is currently residing in the area and is most often located around Huttoft Pit. A scan through the flock with a telescope may produce sightings of barnacle goose, bean goose or white-fronted goose.
5. Short-eared owl – look out for these incredible hunters over the Sandilands Golf Course at dawn and dusk hunting for small mammals.