Midlands Woodhall Spa / Lincolnshire area for Birds

[Scotty Pro]

I'm going down to Woodhall Spa on business at the end of the month (29-30th Aug) and was wondering if anyone can recommend a couple of good places for birding. I have noticed there is a couple of reserves there (Moor Farm and Roughton) are these the best places to visit ??

Or does anyone recommend something better, I have a car so travelling in the area is not a problem.

 

[john.margetts]

Kirkby Moor (close to Moor Farm) and Kirkby on Bain
Pits reserve are good.

If you go to Kirkstead Bridge, you can walk along the Witham on the Sustran track which can be quite good.

There is also a new reserve at RAF Woodhall but I am not sure of its precise location.

 

[Scotty Pro]

thanks John

will have to get myself a little map of the area so I don't get lost, had a look on Google maps and Kirkby Moor is not far from where I will be staying

 

[anisah]

As has been said, there is a new reserve at the old RAF Woodhall site, but this is only accessible from Woodhall Spa itself. It is run by Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust and you can get information from here:
http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/woodhall-airfield
Have not been there yet as the walk entailed is, for personal reasons, not possible at the moment.

Dependent on what transport your have there are plenty of sites not too far away. The River Witham is a good place for a walk, though there haven't been that many birds along there recently. You can get good access at Stixwould and Southrey, and the path is very good for walking, and there are plenty of seats. The path is actually the old railway track and is now a cycle and walking path known as the "Water Railway". You can get all the way from Bardney to Kirkstead Bridge on it, and also from Bardney to Lincoln in the other direction.

Away from Woodhall, but not too far, there is a hide at Fiskerton Fen, see:
http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/fiskerton-fen

Slightly further afield there is Frampton Marsh RSPB Nature Reserve:
https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-an...eserves-a-z/reserves-by-name/f/framptonmarsh/
This has many hides and a very decent visitor centre where you can get a good hot drink when needed.

Even further afield, on the coast, is Gibraltar Point, see:
http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/gibraltar-point
It has a great cafe, but this is some way from the main hides for seeing birds. A trip back to the first car park and some walking will give you access to some good hides and a good selection of birds.

If you are interested in butterflies and dragonflies then a trip to Snakeholme Pit might be worthwhile, see:
http://butterfly-conservation.org/2401-1896/snakeholme-pit-lincolnshire.html

or not far from that is Chambers Farm Wood, which has a butterfly garden and there are excellent walks through the woods where you can see different birds, see:
http://butterfly-conservation.org/5369/chambers-farm-wood-butterfly-garden.html

Hope this helps a bit, even though its a bit late, others may find it useful.