09/05/2018 Lincolnshire with the Cumbrians - Day 5/6 Around Scunthorpe

Wednesday 9th May 2018 Lincolnshire Tour
Day 5/6
Cumbrian Friends Annual Outing

Alkborough Flats

"In a superb natural setting, where the rivers Trent and Ouse join to form the Humber, Alkborough Flats is an exciting project, which helps prevent thousands of homes from flooding. The site is perfect for lovers of wildlife. By breaching the river defences new habitats have been created which are a haven for wading birds and wildfowl, making the site an ideal area for bird watching." 

This is quite a claim for a nature reserve but on the strength of what we experienced it is fully justified.  We spent several hours there and saw lots of good birds.

• Marsh Harriers dominated the scene and we saw them at frequent intervals as they foraged over the flats. 
• They were not the only raptors however; we saw a Red Kite, several Buzzards and a Sparrowhawk.
• After an absence of several weeks,  a Spoonbill dropped in while we were there and we enjoyed smashing views of it.
• Bearded Tits were showing throughout our visit and we had several really close up views.
• Booming Bitters were heard throughout our visit.

A splendid visit made all the more enjoyable by the other birders present - both local and visiting from Barnsley.

We then relocated to Messingham Gravel Pits only a few miles away in a different part of outer Scunthorpe.  This was yet another beautiful reserve and a fitting place to end the day. 

Messingham Gravel Pits
"The reserve has been created by the excavation of sand, which has left a series of lagoons. There is a small area of heath supporting heather, petty whin and other heathland flora. Woodland, grassland and marsh add varied habitats and support a vast array of flora including 6 orchid species. The richness of wildlife reflects this diversity of habitat and includes more than 180 species of bird, 20 species of butterfly, over 250 species of moth, and over 100 species of bee and wasp."

Right from the outset this felt like a good nature reserve with its mixture of woodland birds and water fowl.

• We dipped on the Cuckoo that another birder had told us to look out for.
• We did, however, see the Red Crested Pochard exactly where we were told it would be.
• Perhaps the best experience was with the passerines.  We spent a long time admiring the Mistle Thrushes, Blackcaps, Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests. 

Brilliant place!