Birds in Lincolnshire

Curlews at Marston

Curlews at Marston Sewage Treatment Works by Andrew P Chick.

The Curlew is a common sight on the Lincolnshire Coast line, being easily observed both on the mud flats, and on surrounding farmland. More importantly the Lincolnshire Wash and coastline supports an internationally important wintering population. Highest counts on the coast usually occur in the Autumn, after which number usually drop as birds disperse. This will probably account for the rise in numbers at inland site during the winter periods.

Inland at Marston Sewage Works there is a small resident population of Curlews, that use the site for feeding - mainly at night, and breeding locally on the surrounding farmland and permanent pasture. This population increases in the winter with the arrival of Autumn/Winter passage birds, and flocks of up to 50 birds have been recorded at Marston. The birds at Marston are generally more secretive and harder to observe than the coastal birds.

Ringing data from the site has shown that some of these birds travel vast distances to winter at Marston, with one individual FC50768 found dead in Onezhskiy District of Arkhangelsk, Russia, an amazing distance of 2541 km - this record is actually the greatest movement ever recorded by a UK Curlew. Marston also holds the record for the longest lived Curlew, with one bird being recorded at over 29 years old. Click here for further information on the ringing data from the Marston Curlews.

In the breeding season the Curlew is an uncommon bird in Lincolnshire, making the water treatment site and surrounding farmland at Marston an important habitat for their continued survival as a breeding bird in Lincolnshire.

Map showing the movement of bird FC50768 who was found dead in Onezhskiy District of Arkhangelsk, Russia, a distance of 2541 km from Marston.

The photographs below show a small wintering group at Marston Sewage works, during a particular cold period in January 2002. During long periods of freezing weather, and with surrounding farmland frozen the Curlews are more likely to feed at Marston during the day, due to the higher temperature of the water leaving the water treatment plant.

Curlew - January 2002 - Marston Sewage Works © Andrew P Chick.

Curlew - January 2002 - Marston Sewage Works © Andrew P Chick.

Curlew (watching a Short-eared Owl flying overhead!) January 2002 - Marston Sewage Works © Andrew P Chick.

Ringing Details of Curlews at Marston - Keith Bowden and Gorden Priestley

Explanation of the age codes used in Ringing Data.

odd numbers
1:- hatched in current year
3 :- hatched in previous year
5 :- hatched 2 years ago
7 :- hatched 3 years ago
even numbers
2 :- year unknown could be current year or before
4 :- at least one year old but again unknown
6 :- at least 2 years old but year unknown

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