Bainton Pits
by Bob Titman
|
PBC Where to Watch Birds Bainton Pits by Bob Titman |
| Sightings for past week: | All sightings | Excluding Common | Rare & Scarce |
| Sightings for past month: | All sightings | Excluding Common | Rare & Scarce |
| Sightings for past year: | All sightings | Excluding Common | Rare & Scarce |
THE BAINTON PITS are are sited between the villages of West Deeping and Helpston and are centred around the Lolham Bridges railway crossing and the bridge over Maxey Cut.
The main pits lie to the south of the railway line but the complex has two pits north of it. Both these pits date back to the turn of the century, having been dug for railway ballast. These are unlike most of the other pits in the area (Deeping lakes being the exception)in that they are both surrounded by large mature trees, and in the case of Frank's Pit fringed extensively by reed beds. The remaining pits sited to the south of the railway line are modern gravel workings. The main pit having been dug in 1970 and the last excavations taking place in 1995.
All the pits (with the exception of the end pit which is the most recently excavated) support a good variety of wildfowl and the occasional rarer species has turn up on most of them. I have recorded Black-throated Diver on the Mature Pit. Velvet Scoter and Great Northern Diver on the Main Pit. Slavonian Grebe and Long-tailed Duck on the New Workings and Red-breasted Merganser on Frank's Pit. The star record however is a national rarity, a Killdeer in 1973!
In addition to the water areas, behind the Main Pit is a unique local habitat which was created by the dumping of power station fly ash. Due to the soil make up - it consists of coal dust and clinker in the main - this area supports some unusual plants and there is an abundance of lichens. The area is peppered with small hawthorns and lots of brambles, but due to the impoverished nature of the soil no other shrubs or trees appear to be encroaching. The area is bordered by a conifer belt on the east and west and by an extensive poplar belt to the north and supports good numbers of summer migrants, especially whitethroats and a few grasshopper warblers breed as do up to six pairs of nightingales. The conifer belts contain goldcrests, whilst green woodpeckers can often been seen feeding on the open areas.
This is a very shallow pit and is influenced by dry conditions when large areas of mud can become exposed (the drought of 1996). At these times in late summer and autumn, the pits can become extremely good for waders. On this pit Gadwall numbers this season exceeded 200! Teal can also be found in good numbers for a local pit, when conditions are right, and Ruddy Duck are occasionally seen. Bitterns have frequented the reed beds in winter and a Purple Heron has been recorded here in the autumn.
This pit usually only holds a few Pochards, Tufted Ducks, Coots and Great-crested Grebes. However, its best habitat is the tree belt along the edge bordering the railway line. The trees here are all alders and during most winters contains siskins and redpolls.
The river at the bridge often has Grey Wagtails and they have bred in the area. However finding them depends very much upon the water conditions. At present the water is much too high! Kingfishers frequent the pits and the bank is a likely spot from which to see them. The river is also a favourite place for Goosanders when conditions are right (not too much water).
This pit is appropriately named as this generally holds the largest congregations of birds with good numbers of Pochard, Tufted Ducks, Gadwall, Coot and there are always a few Goldeneye throughout the winter. In fact Bainton is one of the best places locally for this species with counts of 40+ being possible within the pits complex.
These contain similar species to the main pit but are also favoured by Goosanders.
This is where to see geese. Both Greylag and Canada Geese breed on the island and tend to congregate here in the winter. These congregations may include the occasional feral Barnacle or Bar-headed Goose. Wigeon can also be found at this pit together with a few Teal, Little Grebes and Goosander.
This is straight forward and is along the main track which runs through the complex from the main entrance at the level crossing adjacent to the B1443, Bainton-Helpston road. Taking cars around the complex should be resisted as at present the fishermen, who control the pits, are very aimiable to birders and hopefully this will continue. Good views of the Small Pits and New Workings can be obtained from the river bank if preferred. This can be accessed just south of the level crossing at Lolham Bridges, across the sleeper bridge to the left and over the gate.
The pits can alternatively be accessed via this entrance but by walking straight on alongside Maxey Cut until you reach the main track through the complex. Finding access to Frank's Pit may prove difficult, it can however be reached by following the footpath which starts opposite the main entrance to the pit complex. The path skirts along the edge of the field and crosses the railway line to run along-side the pit. Excellent views of the pits can be obtained from this path. Alternatively this footpath can be accessed from the Maxey to Helpston road where it runs along side a small drain which is just after the river bridge, approaching from the north.
For access to the area behind the main pits, a path runs from the corner of the Decoy pond adjacent to the large pylon.
Large map of the area (32kB)