Natural England

Spring visitors to Natural England’s nature reserves on the Lincolnshire coast are starting to see summer visitors of the feathered variety.

Natural England’s Reserve Manager Simon Cooter said:
“It may only be the first week in April but some of our summer migrant birds are already arriving on the Lincolnshire coast and once the southerly winds come we will see the return of many more.”

Natural England manages seven of the 14 National Nature Reserves (NNRs) in the East Midlands. Four of these are on the coast and are the best place to see the first of our summer migrant birds. They are the National Nature Reserves at Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe, Gibraltar Point, Donna Nook and The Wash, the largest NNR in England.

One of the first birds to arrive has been the wheatear, which has been spotted at Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes National Nature Reserve.

Simon said:
“These handsome birds, characterised by a white upside down U above their tail, which is obvious when they are flying away, remain on the coast for a short time before moving inland to their breeding grounds in rocky areas and walls in the uplands. The wheatears will be shortly followed by the sand martins, the first of our martins to arrive back. Both of these birds are returning from their winter homes in central Africa.

“As we go into April we will see the return of some of our migrant warblers to the Lincolnshire Coast; Birds such as black caps, whitethroats, willow warblers and chiff-chaffs. The scrub-covered dunes at Saltfleetby are the perfect place to see these birds as they arrive and start to stake out their territories through song.”

This time of year is a particularly interesting time to visit a reserve as there is something of a cross-over as winter visitors such as the redwing and fieldfare, members of the thrush family, leave our coasts to travel to their breeding grounds while summer visitors arrive to breed.

Simon added:
“At the Wash National Nature Reserve many of the winter birds, including pink-footed geese, have already left for their breeding grounds in the Arctic. However the small, dark, brent geese, which feed on the vast saltmarshes of the Wash, will wait a while as their nesting areas in the north of Siberia will take a while to warm up. Some of them hang around on the Wash until into May, as if they are dreading the long journey north and are putting it off until the last minute.

“As for the summer birds, some like the marsh harrier have already arrived. These, our largest harrier, may well have wintered in the warmer climate of North Africa, although some remain all year in Norfolk.

“Another bird considered to be a herald of the spring is the cuckoo. However, you will be lucky to see or hear a cuckoo before the middle of April as most arrive nearer the end.”

Notes for Editors

1. Natural England works for people, places and nature to conserve and enhance biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas. We conserve and enhance the natural environment for its intrinsic value, the wellbeing and enjoyment of people, and the economic prosperity it brings. We increase opportunities to make the natural environment an enriching part of people's everyday lives, and improve its long term security by contributing to the sustainable management of our natural resources.

www.naturalengland.org.uk

Issued on behalf of Natural England by COI News and PR East Midlands. For more information contact Gabrielle Hateley on 0115 971 2797