BTO North Lincs Summer Bird Race

Following an invite on the Lincolnshire Bird Club web site to participate in the North Lincs Summer Bird Race, we decided to fore go our annual parish bird race and take part in the BTO Breeding Atlas survey for area SE90 which basically covers Messingham Sand Quarry/Twigmoor/Broughton and various other bits and pieces - the aim of the race is to record as many breeding species as you can find in a 24 hour period.  So yesterday was the day -  out by 1.30am and home at 10.00pm! in other words a long day and all done in a fierce easterly wind.  Surprisingly our first bird at 2.45am was a calling Oystercatcher followed by Tawny Owl sadly our only owl species despite spending a large amount of time in the plantation at Messingham for Long Eared Owl and scouring suitable farmland for Barn Owl and Little Owl. We had some good migrants passing through; Whimbrel, Wood Sandpiper, Arctic Tern and one bird which came down to pure homework by Wayne using Google Earth to find suitable habitat Grasshopper Warbler!  In the end we had a total of 94 species - 88 of breeding status which wasn't bad considering the howling gale blowing all day.
The biggest disappointment of the day has to be around sites 1. Twigmoor once home to breeding Tree Pipit, Redstart and Nightingale but sadly now home to grazing sheep and dog walkers 2. Ashbyville a site regularly use to turning up good passage migrants now home to a housing estate, fishermen and ski jets 3. Kirton Quarry previously home to breeding Ringed and Little Ringed Plover now home to a couple of hundred(honestly) 4x4 off roaders tearing round.