RSPB LINCOLN LOCAL GROUP SWANHOLME AND HARTSHOLME BIRDWATCHING FOR BEGINNERS WALKS 2013

  1. The RSPB Birdwatching for Beginners guided walks at the Swanholme Lakes Local Nature Reserve and Hartsholme Country Park began in 1991. They have been so successful that they have continued ever since on the first Sunday of every month.
  2. The free walks are led buy a team of volunteer members of the RSPB Lincoln Local Group. In so doing the Group are pleased to support the work of the Rangers and the City Council at this very important location for wildlife in the City. Although the walks are mainly targeted at newcomers to birdwatching, with people of all ages being most welcome, they also attract more experienced birdwatchers who are pleased to pass on their knowledge of birds and other aspects of wildlife.
  3. I am pleased to report that support for our walks was up on recent years with an average of 19 people, partly a reflection on good publicity and good weather in the main. Only the July walk failed to reach double figures. There were 31 on the January walk despite the fog, and 30 people two months later. Radio Lincolnshire’s Pirate Gold Treasure Hunt paid us a live visit to collect a clue at our March walk! It was good publicity for us.
  1. The list of the 68 species seen on our walks is shown on the next page. This is comparable with other years. An impressive 43 species were recorded on the January walk. There were reports this year of good sightings of butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies which was a feature of this year. Also, away from our walks, in May a pair of adders was spotted at Swanholme and during our Heron Watchpoint in the spring a red kite, buzzard and house martins were seen overhead.
  1. In 2013 thirteen people helped to lead the walks, and some of them have been doing so for over 20 years!
  2. RSPB Lincoln Local Group members have produced, in conjunction with the City Council, a leaflet introducing people to the walks and the birds of Swanholme and Hartsholme. This is available from the Hartsholme Country Park Visitor Centre.

7.  If anyone would like to attend these free guided walks you would be made most welcome. We meet outside the Visitor Centre at 10.30 am on the first Sunday of every month. The walks take between 1.5 and 2 hours. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Warm clothing and stout footwear are advisable.

Little Grebe

Great Crested Grebe

Cormorant

Little Egret

Grey Heron

Mute Swan

Pink-footed Goose

Greylag Goose

Canada Goose

Egyptian Goose

Wigeon

Gadwall

Teal

Mallard

Shoveler

Red-crested Pochard

Pochard

Tufted Duck

Goosander

Sparrowhawk

Buzzard

Moorhen

Coot

Black-headed Gull

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Herring Gull

Common Gull

Stock Dove

Woodpigeon

Collared Dove

Tawny Owl

Feral Pigeon

Swift

Kingfisher

Green Woodpecker

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Swallow

House Marin

Wren

Dunnock

Robin

Blackbird

Redwing

Mistle Thrush

Blackcap

Chiffchaff

Willow Warbler

Goldcrest

Long-tailed Tit

Willow Tit

Coal Tit

Blue Tit

Great Tit

Nuthatch

Tree Creeper

Jay

Magpie

Jackdaw

Rook

Carrion Crow

Starling

House Sparrow

Chaffinch

Greenfinch

Goldfinch

Siskin

Redpoll

Bullfinch

Total: 68