An Art Exhibition at the Old Coastguards next to the Visitor Centre continues where three volunteers on the reserve have photo's on display and copies are available for sale (Pre-order prints). Any profits and proceeds are being donated to the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust.
"See the Reserve through the eyes and lenses of our volunteers". Please pop in and have a look, there just might be a photo you would like to see at home! The exhibition is on daily 11am to 3pm until Sunday March 1st.
February 26th. A sunny start, quickly clouding over and rain from late afternoon in a continuing moderate southerly wind.
February 25th. The warmest day of the year so far, with the temperature well into double figures. Occasional sunny spells and a moderate southerly wind.
Much the same today with 12 Barnacle Geese and 33 White-fronted Geese still on Field 10. The female type Scaup was again on Tennyson's Sands showing well, Avocets numbers have built up to 19 there also. The hybrid Shoveler/Blue-winged Teal was still present on Tennyson's Sands also and the first Spoonbill of the year flew over. An un-confirmed report came to light of 2 Cranes flying south at mid-day.
On the water bodies, there were 4 Mute Swan, 21 Shelduck, 175 Shoveler, 37 Gadwall, 660 Wigeon, 18 Mallard, 152 Teal, 44 Tufted Duck, 6 Little Grebe, 23 Curlew, 18 Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Cetti's Warblers.
Elsewhere around the reserve, there were 1 Red-legged Partridge, 150 Golden Plover (Croft Marsh), 18 Ringed Plover, 1 Red-throated Diver (South), 1 Buzzard, 250 Starling, 1 Stonechat and 1 Rock Pipit.
Overnight Moth trapping revealed 22 Moths of 10 species including 2 Shoulder Stripe Moths which were missed out on entirely last year.
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| The first Spoonbill of the year, 25th February 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Cormorant, 25th February 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Black-tailed Godwits, 25th February 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Kestrel, 25th February 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Seals hauled out on the River Bank, 25th February 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| 1 of 2 Shoulder Stripe Moth, 25th February 2026 Photo - Nige Lound |
Early news involved the female type Scaup was still on Tennyson's Sands showing well and on Field 10, there were still 31 White-fronted Geese and 12 Barnacle Geese. A Crossbill was over the Reserve Entrance during the morning.
Also, a very interesting bird which were captured on camera briefly on Tennyson's Sands. The bird with its head out looks suspiciously like a Blue-winged Teal. Unfortunately when the bird was re-located, it became clear that it was just a male Shoveler, hybrid type (Probably a Hybrid Shoveler/Blue-winged Teal) paired up with a female Shoveler. It would seem that these two closely related birds occasionally hybridise in the wild s of North America and often in ornamental collections in the UK.
Also around today were a Short-eared Owl (Around the river near the Visitor Centre) and a Barn Owl.
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| Male Shoveler doing a great impression of a Blue-winged Teal, 24th February 2026 Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
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| It turned out to be a Hybrid male Shoveler (Probably Shoveler/Blue-winged Teal). 24th February 2026, Photo - Nige Lound |
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| A Hunting Barn Owl, 24th February 2026 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Barn Owl, 24th February 2026 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Barn Owl with ring clearly visible, 24th February 2026 Photo - Mike Watts |
Early news involves more Chaffinches, Starlings and Corvids moving with single Raven and Woodlark (South over the decoy at 7.35am. Offshore Black-headed Gulls were passing south in small flocks.
Other highlights today were again the 12 Barnacle Geese and 31 White-fronted Geese in Field 10 with 2 Red-legged Partridge and 44 Curlew on there as well. Another 24 White-fronted Geese in two flocks went North during the day.
A look at the sea revealed 4 Pintail (South), 1 Red-breasted Merganser on the sea, 1 Great-crested Grebe (South) and 2 Red-throated Diver. On the beach there were 400 Oystercatcher, 137 Redshank, 25 Sanderling and 42 Cormorant.
The water bodies around the reserve were home to 173 Shoveler, 42 Gadwall, 600 Wigeon, 3 Pintail, 200 Teal, 40 Tufted Duck, 1 female type Scaup again on Tennyson's Sands, 12 Little Grebe, 2 Avocet and 30 Black-tailed Godwit.
Also recorded today were 29 Stock Dove (South), 2 Woodcock, 3 Marsh Harrier, 2 Buzzard, 3 Rook (South), 400 Starling, 3 Siskin (South) and 21 Corn Buntings (By the hump).
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| Barnacle Geese on Field 10, 23rd February 2026 Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
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| Courting Gadwall's, 23rd February 2026 Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
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| Mute Swan trio fly by, 22nd February 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Gadwall's, 22nd February 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Little Grebe on the Mere, 22nd February 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Stock Dove, 23rd February 2026 Photo - Stuart Ainsworth |
The day started with a Song Thrush singing before dawn. Visible Migration continued this morning with another 2 Woodlark and a Snow Bunting moving south with low numbers of Finches, Corvids and Starlings but it was Red Kites that were the highlight, with 18 passing through. Offshore, a Heron went south with 2 Goosander, 6 Red-breasted Merganser, 30 Red-throated Diver, 6 Pintail and a Goldeneye.
Flocks totalling 800 Pink-footed Geese headed north west over the Wash with another 400 remaining local. 29 White-fronted Geese were on Field 10 again along with a Red-legged Partridge. On the water bodies were 150 Shoveler, 7 Gadwall, 500 Wigeon, 150 Teal, 17 Tufted Dick and 39 Black-tailed Godwit. Also about was a Marsh Harrier (Not the usual bird - "Dangle foot"). A Peacock Butterfly was out in the weak sun during the afternoon.
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| White-fronted Geese on Field 10, 22nd February 2026 Photo - Nige Lound |
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| Teal, 22nd February 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Wigeon, 22nd February 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Black-tailed Godwits on Tennyson's Sands, 22nd February 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Red Kite resting, 22nd February 2026 Photo - Nige Lound |
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| Red Kite heading South, 22nd February 2026 Photo - Nige Lound |
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| Robin in full song, 22nd February 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
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| Starlings over Croft Marsh, 22nd February 2026 Photo - David Nutt |
The monthly WeBS Count, despite being a fairly low spring tide, produced a brilliant wader roost with over 2500 Oystercatchers, 6200 Dunlin, 420 Sanderling, 15000 Knot, 800 Bar-tailed Godwit and an exceptional 8000 Grey Plover. A Goosander passed through the Haven and 15 Red-throated Divers headed south offshore.
Although still very early in the years, there was just a hint of visible migration with several Chaffinch, a Siskin and an alba wagtail moving south. Something was also happening with Woodlarks; two were present on the south saltings from early on, then another bird arrived form the north heading south, then inland and later, a group of three arrived from the north and headed south along the Outer Ridge, probably then heading out over the Wash. Also heading south, a Red Kite and a Raven. Remarkably, another Woodlark went through at mid day and the lone Shorelark remained on the north saltings.
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| Shorelark, 21st February 2026 Photo - Rob Watson |
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| Shorelark, 21st February 2026 Photo - Rob Watson |
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| Curlew, 20th February 2026 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Goldcrest, 20th February -226 Photo - Mike Watts |
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| Goldcrest, 20th February 2026 Photo - Mike Watts |
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