Pink-footed geese continue to pass through the Lincolnshire Coastal Country Park in good numbers. Feeding flocks ranging from 200 to 600 birds are frequently being encountered on farmland around Marsh Yard and Huttoft Pit. Interestingly, the wintering numbers in North Norfolk appear to be decreasing. A couple theories as to why the population is decreasing in Norfolk are thought to be; more efficient farming practices resulting in less sugar beet waste being left behind, and secondly climate change, meaning that birds may not be travelling as far south for the winter. The latter theory certainly ties in with increased numbers being seen in Lincolnshire during recent years. An impressive roost of over 40,000 birds is now being recorded on the Humberhead levels.
Sea-watching over the month produced sightings of long-tailed duck (9th), pomarine skua (19th), several great northern diver, black-throated diver, daily red-throated diver, Arctic skua, velvet scoter, little gull and great skua. Great skua (also known as ‘bonxie’) has really suffered this year with Avian Flu. Approximately 50% of the world population of great skua breeds in Scotland on offshore islands, on St Kilda alone over 120 birds were recorded to have succumbed to Avian Flu (60 also perished in 2021). Elsewhere breeding colonies have suffered similarly with very high mortality rates and therefore low breeding success as a result.
The mild weather resulted in very few ‘big arrivals’ of winter migrants arriving in the UK. Normally by late October good numbers of whooper swan and winter thrushes (redwing and fieldfare) arrive on the east coast for the winter. Only single figures of redwing were noted during the month and just 26 whooper swan were recorded on farmland near Marsh Yard. These warm conditions also resulted in some summer migrants lingering longer than expected, for example, swallows were recorded daily until the month’s end which is most unusual.
A long-billed dowitcher was discovered at Huttoft Pit with the black-tailed godwits on the 15th and remained for most of the afternoon. This a rare migrant wader from North America and arrives in the UK in small numbers (5-10 birds annually). It is thought to be the first Lincolnshire record for at least five years. The low water levels are still attracting many wader species at Huttoft Pit such as little stint, curlew sandpiper, ruff, common sandpiper, green sandpiper, curlew, golden plover, lapwing, dunlin, black-tailed godwit and redshank.
Bearded tit were widespread during the month with numbers varying from one to five at Anderby Creek, Wolla Bank and Huttoft Pit. October is the month that wintering birds arrive in the area. It is hoped that they may stay and breed in the future.
The first short-eared owls are now back in residence at National Trust Sandilands, these birds will most likely remain now until early spring 2023. In some years up to five birds have spent the winter here. Dusk is often a good time to visit when the owls are out hunting.
Anderby Marsh started to refill mid-month after days of heavy rainfall, this is the first standing water on the field since early August following the prolonged summer drought, small numbers of wigeon and other wildfowl have subsequently returned to the marsh.
Scarce migrants over the month included: three bean geese in off the sea (5th), a hawfinch south (9th), two raven south (14th), a red-rumped swallow south over Anderby Marsh (24th), a spoonbill north (25th) and a yellow-browed warbler at Wolla Bank (26th).
