PBC Where to Watch Birds Baston Fen by Trevor Williams

Baton Fen is a small reserve, managed by The Wildlife Trust for Lincolnshire, situated to the north east of the PBC recording area just off the old Spalding road, 4 miles from Baston village. The reserve entrance can be found on the left, after two right-angled bends in the road, by the boundary sign for South Holland. A small car park is provided just over the concrete bridge.

The reserve is formed from three sections of wash land between the river Glen and the Counter Drain. Most of the birding interest is centred around the Lower Wash which can be walked comfortably in an hour. For the more adventurous a longer walk takes in both the Middle and Upper Washes.

Enter the reserve through the gate by the car park and walk in a clockwise direction, keeping the Counter Drain on your left, until you reach a five bar gate which marks the division between Lower and Middle Washes. The path then crosses the wash, through a kissing gate and up onto the high bank of the river Glen. There is a lower return path but it can be difficult to negotiate and you miss the distant views to the north across Thurlby Fen. The path descends the bank by way of steps and crosses a small dyke to enter a willow copse. A hide can be found on the right after the hut. The path then continues through the trees to the car park.

Baston Fen can be good at any time of the year, but equally there are days when it appears almost birdless. The secret is perseverance! The reserve attracts good numbers of wintering wildfowl, with high counts of Teal, Wigeon and Mallard. Pintail, Shoveler and Gadwall are regular, the latter two species linger on to breed in small numbers. The adjacent fields are good for the occasional flock of wild Swans or 'grey' Geese. Pinkfeet, Whitefronts and Bean Geese have all been recorded. The area is also good for winter raptors with Peregrine, Merlin and Hen Harrier all seen annually since 1995. Another recent wintering species is Stonechat, best looked for perched on the reserve fence posts or on bulrush heads around Miles Mere. The drier sedge areas between the Mere and the Middle wash gate is also good for Jack Snipe. In the wooded area, Brambling, Siskin and Redpoll are reasonably regular. This is also a good spot for wintering Chiffchaff and Blackcap.

In spring and summer the reserve comes alive with breeding species. Sedge and Reed Warbler are abundant and their near relative, the Grasshopper Warbler, is an occasional visitor. Water Rails breed as do Shelduck and Kingfisher. Green and Great-spotted Woodpecker nest in the mature willows along the river bank. The surrounding fen land fields can hold small numbers of Quail in 'Quail years' and Marsh Harrier are regular. Snipe can be flushed from almost anywhere and Barn Owl are regular at dusk from the concrete entrance bridge.

The river Glen forms a natural migration 'flyway' and the wet pools of the Lower Wash are a magnet for passage waders. Greenshank, Dunlin, Whimbrel, Green Sandpiper, Redshank and Little Stint have all been recorded.

Baston Fen also boasts an impressive list of area rarities including Sabine's and Glaucous Gull, Waxwing, Dipper, Montagu's Harrier, Guillemot and Pied Flycatcher. Next time you are at a loose end, why not check out Baston Fen? Warm clothes and waterproof footwear are advisable at any season. Once visited I guarantee you will return.