Boston Area - click on red areas on the Map to Link to Site.

The information on this page is taken from the 'Where to watch Birds of the Boston Wash Banks', produced by the Boston Wash Banks innovative project. Click here to visit their website.

To get a 'hard copy' of this information found on this page, use this email address;
Email; thebostonwashbanks@rspb.org.uk -

Boston Area - click the Red Text on the Map to Link to the Sites.

Six miles south-east of Boston. Access beside 'Marine Villas' on Seadyke Road. TF351357. Parking is available on the grass verge before the gate.

Birdwatching advice.

Visit one hour before high tide. It can be muddy after rain. Walk either north-east or south-west along the sea bank and pay close attention to the saltmarsh pools and 'lawns'.

Birds by season.

The fresh water pool is worth checking out in the spring for ducks (garganeys are possible) and terns. The bushes along the sea bank are good for migrants, particularly in the autumn. In the vvinter the bushes often hold fieldfares, redwings and goldcrests The marsh is good for a variety of waders (at high tide) from late summer through to spring. Dark-bellied brent geese and birds of prey including short-eared owls, hen harriers and merlins occur in winter.

Four miles south-east of Boston. From Frampton village follow the signs to Frampton Marsh, there is a car park at the end of the road. TF364384.

Birdwatching advice

Best from two hours before high tide, until high tide. Walk either north-east or south-west along the sea bank and pay close attention to the saltmarsh pools and 'lawns'.

Birds by season

Good for birds of prey, including marsh harriers from spring to autumn, hen harriers, short-eared owls and merlins during vvinter and barn owls throughout the year. Dark-bellied brent geese are a regular feature in winter.

Waders roost near the sea banks but only on big spring high tides (usually above 7.5 metres at Boston dock sill from late summer through to spring). Redshanks and other breeding birds such as skylarks and reed buntings can be seen during the summer. A walk along the south Haven bank is often rewarding as the bushes here regularly harbour migrants, particularly in autumn. A similar range of species to Cut End (see 3) can be seen at the end of this bank.

Access is by a minor road via Fishtoft, south-east of Boston End car park is at TF381392. There is a hide at TF395393

Birdwatching advice

The car park has a large bird feeding station, which is kept stocked throughout the year. One mile east along the north bank of the Haven is the Lincolnshire Bird Club hide, which gives excellent views of The Wash. It is best here between two hours either side of the high tide. There is the option of a long circular walk (approximately six miles). Continue past the bird hide, turning north until reaching the lagoon at Freiston Shore. (See 5. For details) You can either double back here, arrange to be picked up at the nature reserve car park or take the old inner sea bank back south, passing through HMP North Sea Camp and returning to the car park at Cut End.

Birds by season

The feeding station attracts species such as yellowhammers, greenfinches and corn buntings throughout the year. The bird hide is excellent for roosting waders, such as turnstones and oystercatchers from late summer to spring the birds often being very close to the hide. Eiders are regular here and seabirds, including terns and skuas can be seen during stormy or very cold weather, particularly during the autumn Migrants, such as wheatears and whinchats can regularly be seen along the sea bank between the car park and the hide, particularly in the autumn. The adjacent prison land is extensively grazed and provides different birdwatching opportunities from the largely arable formed landscape elsewhere in this part of The Wash. Plenty of waders winter here including large flocks of golden plovers, sometimes accompanied by ruffs.

South of Fishtoft, two miles south east of Boston. View the western banks of Hobhole drain from the east side along the minor road running south from Nunn's Bridge. TF367415. Please park sensibly.

Birdwatching advice

Watch from where the minor road broadens slightly, about 200 metres south of the bridge.

Birds by season

There is a regular long-eared owl roost here during the winter. The owls are best viewed in the morning before 11.00am, due to the light conditions. Other species of birds that may be seen include kingfishers and birds of prey. Close scrutiny of the densely vegetated banks can reveal interesting small birds such as whitethroats and blackcaps in summer, fieldfares and redwings in winter.

Four miles east of Boston. There are two car parks; one at Freiston Shore between the old Plummers and Marine Hotels (the latter now derelict) at TF397424, the other is farther north at TF407436, known as 'Butterwick Pullover'.

Birdwatching advice

Walk along the sea banks for excellent views of the lagoon with islands, the realignment area where saltmarsh is being established and the offshore saltmarshes and mudflats. Best at high tide but a visit at any time of tide or year could be rewarding. A circular route of half a mile is possible around the lagoon. A long circular walk is an option from either car park, walking south to Cut End. (See 3 for details).

Birds by season

The lagoon has become a major focal point for waders. A large variety of common and scarcer species are regularly present, especially at high tide when thousands of birds may be roosting on the islands. During the summer nesting waders may include avocets and little ringed plovers. Both black-tailed and bar-tailed godwits can often be seen. The realignment area is used by birds of prey and a variety of small birds including both twites and lapland buntings in winter. Tree sparrows and corn buntings are quite common on the fields and bushes throughout the year. Offshore, seabirds and waterbirds such as skuas, terns, red-breasted mergansers and grebes occur, particularly from autumn to spring. Due to its prime location a variety of unusual species can and do occur.

Access is two miles north-west of Boston on the minor road between Langrick and Cowbridge, from beside the Oak Tree Pub at Anton's Gowt. TF300475

Birdwatching advice

Walk west along the bank towards Langrick Bridge.

Birds by season

A variety of ducks and grebes, including tufted ducks, great crested and little grebes may be seen throughout the year, though particularly in winter. Reed and sedge warblers occur in the summer. Occasionally birds such as little gulls and block terns may be seen, particularly in spring.

Access via the B1183 Horncastle Road in Boston at TF329456. Parking is available with care beside the road opposite the entrance.

Birdwatching advice

A mature, mixed, planted woodland. A circular walk is possible.

Birds by season

A good variety of woodland birds may be encountered throughout the year, including treecreepers, great-spotted and green woodpeckers, tits, goldcrests, spotted flycatchers in summer and fieldfares and redwings in winter.

Several bridges and roads provide views over the river and docks in Boston around TF327428. Please note there is no public access to the dock.

Birdwatching advice

As its name suggests this area acts as a haven during inclement weather. A search from the bridges and footpaths could be productive.

Birds by season

Regular species include; cormorants, great crested and little grebes and tufted ducks. In the summer common terns may be seen. This area can attract unusual, normally sea faring species, during severe weather.

One mile north of Boston on the B1183 Horncastle Road. Access from Cowbridge, TF328471; parking is available near the pub.

Birdwatching advice

Public footpaths pass through scrub, farmland, beside the drains with reeds and through the golf course itself. Please keep to the public footpaths. A circular walk is possible.

Birds by season

Species that may be encountered year-round include kingfishers and green woodpeckers. Sand martins, whitethroats, reed and sedge warblers are present during the summer.

We welcome any information on sites in Lincolnshire, that can be e-mailed to us as well as slides and prints that can be mailed to us. Photographs should ideally be in a .jpg format, and resized to an approx. 500 pixel width