Gibraltar Point 8 October 2000
by Brian Stone
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PBC Trip Report Gibraltar Point 8 October 2000 by Brian Stone |
For several members the birding started before we left. The first Redwings of the winter were heard flying over during the night of Saturday, 7th and a few were heard flying over early Sunday morning. A few more were seen by some on the drive to Skegness but apart from one small party at Gibraltar Point no more were seen.
After the continuous rain of Saturday we could hardly complain about the dry sunny weather we enjoyed on Sunday. But the light to moderate westerlies were not the best for a really good day's birding on the east coast.
A few of the day's best birds showed while we were gathering in the visitor centre car park. First a large flock of Linnets flew over our heads. Attentive ears picked out a plaintive call among the twittering Linnets and even keener eyes could make out the slightly smaller Siskin near the front of the flock. Then a quick check of a flock of Teal flying over the nearby saltmarsh pools revealed the clear pale blue wings of a Garganey flying with them. Finally a Merlin was glimpsed tearing along a sea wall and moments later delighted everyone by doggedly persuing a Meadow Pipit.
With the party of 14 assembled we headed first for the trees and scrub of the Sanctuary. The trees nearest the road were alive with Goldcrests. Some had their best ever views of these delightful sprites and there was a feeling of anticipation of things to come. However the only other migrant showing with them was a Willow Warbler.
The hedgerows held many Blackbirds, Song Thrushes and Mistle Thrushes many of which presumably arrived in the same movement that brought the Redwings of the previous night. Mistle Thrushes were particularly numerous with perhaps 20 together at one point. Surely there should be a Ring Ouzel here somewhere?
The pools and wader scrapes were devoid of waders but brightened by an active immature male Goldeneye. The Little Grebes and other common waterfowl were also entertaining. Some of the morning's trickle of Swallows and House Martins passed slowly over chattering but did we hear a Sand Martin with them? A brief glimpse of a Hobby charging across the road may have spelt the end for at least one of them.
Then a brave soul announced that a familiar, dark, silvery-winged bird had flown across. Ring Ouzel? As luck would have it, and to the enormous relief of the original observer, the gut feeling was proved correct when the bird was picked out sitting in the open on a large hawthorn. It sat still long enough for everyone to get excellent views. For many this was the bird of the day and for a lucky few a lifer!
Good number of passerines, especially Tits and Goldcrests, were feeding actively among the sea buckthorn and elder and there were some tantalising glimpses of skulking "possibilities". Among them a probable Garden Warbler, a possible Lesser Whitethroat and a few "goodness knows".
A visit to one of the hides got us closer to some of the Teal we had seen earlier along with Wigeon, Shoveler, Coot and Moorhen. A noisy Water Rail here refused to show before the party decided to head for the dunes and sea. On the way a phylloscopus warbler could be heard calling but no-one could be sure if it was Willow Warbler or Chiffchaff. However three Pipits flew over and at least one Rock Pipit could be heard calling among them. No-one expects a seawatch in an offshore wind to be the most exciting birding event so we were pleased to see a few interesting seabirds. The best was a Black-throated Diver that was picked up early on only to vanish from all scopes moments later. It wasn't relocated until much later when most of the party had moved on (some probably doubting it ever existed!). A lifer for some it was a pity this could not have learned from the Ring Ouzel and been a little more obliging.
Several Red-throated Divers were easier to get to grips with, and a flock of Common Scoter and at least 10 Gannets flew past distantly. There were very few waders along the shoreline but Curlew, Bar-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Grey Plover were all seen.
The walk back to a much anticipated lunch at the car park was fairly uneventful and discussion began about what to do next while several Sparrowhawks passed over. We decided to move on up the coast a few miles to Chapel St Leonard's where the coastal scrub proved practically devoid of birds of any kind. The sea however was more productive.
A small raft of Common Scoter and a few more Red-throated Divers were quickly followed by a Great Skua. Fortunately the directions put several of the party onto a Pomarine Skua. Unfortunately this prompted some inevitable bickering about skua identification! Fortunately at least one member of the party saw both birds laying any doubts to rest. Further Pomarine and Arctic Skuas were seen but most were distant, as were the very few passing Gannets. The only Kittiwake of the day was mercifully a little closer as was one much more obliging Pomarine Skua. Just before we left a lucky few were treated to a Common Porpoise that surfaced a few times as it passed.
Given the number of thrushes about it was perhaps a little surprising we didn't encounter any Fieldfares. However there were few complaints and most of us returned well satisfied with the birds we had seen.
