Group Weekend at Gibraltar Point  October 11-13, 2002

Early morning watchers

Twelve of us enjoyed a weekend birding at Gibraltar Point, near Skegness, Lincolnshire.

We arrived at various times after five o’clock and were allocated our rooms. After a Health & Safety introduction by the visitor centre manager we enjoyed a buffet meal. A few of us later retired to the pub for a nightcap or two, and to speculate on what we might see over the coming weekend.

A night of heavy rain continued through the morning and it was very dark when the hardy few went out for a pre-breakfast birding session. The first bird that we saw was a male Redstart, what an exciting start.

Following a hearty full breakfast, we set off in groups to cover the whole site. We met the Warden who told us that there were Yellow Browed Warbler and Common Rosefinch on the site, also following a windy night there had been a good fall of birds with many Ring Ouzels, Firecrest and Twite about. We were fortunate to see four Ring Ouzels one with a brilliant white collar before lunch, what a terrific start for the weekend, even the weather could not dampen our spirits.

After lunch the rain had stopped and the sun even appeared for a short while. We set off along the beach to pick up any waders and birds on the sea. We came across five dead seals that had fallen foul of a seal virus.

When we met at the centre for our evening meal, we were told of a Red Breasted Flycatcher that was in the vicinity. Another great meal followed.

Sunday morning the sky was clear and the visibility was good. We set off just before seven, the air was still with a touch of frost. We saw the sun rise over the salt marsh at about seven twenty, the sky was streaked with red, a good day in prospect.

Sunrise at Gibraltar Point

After breakfast, we had to load our cars as the bedrooms had to be vacated by ten. We then set off to try to pick up any birds that other members of the group had seen.

Unfortunately we did not see any Short Eared Owls that had recently been on the reserve.

We returned for lunch at one o’clock and after clearing up, we set off for home just after two.

The group had seen 84 species over the weekend, the star birds for me being the Ring Ouzel, there were thirty three on site on the Saturday, Merlin and Water Rail.

Other wildlife included Seal, Stoat, Fox, Toad, Frog, Hare and Rabbits everywhere.

The weekend was really good, the company great and the food would have done credit to a four star hotel. I am sure that any of our members who attended this weekend would recommend it. The next time we go (lets not wait ten years this time), I will be one of the first to put my name down. 

Dave Jones  (Photographs: Stuart Harrison)

                       Gibraltar Point Species List - October 11-13, 2002

   84 Species

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