Great birds and an observatory down the coast from Skegness
Gibraltar Point is a dynamic stretch of unspoilt coastline running southwards from the edge of Skegness to the mouth of the Wash. Covering 1,100 acres of pristine coastline, it is recognised as an area of international importance, with its own bird observatory and ringing station.
WHERE TO WATCH
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Visitor centre (opened May 2016), includes a viewing platform over the marshland. Best at high tide as the extra height allows you to watch the wader movement on the outer Wash. Check for raptors hunting at this time and try ID-ing the gulls and terns as they move around with the changing water depths.
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This site also has a national Bird Observatory. As at Spurn further north, the east coast is a great place to find rare birds blown with east winds to this coast.
3
The reserve has six hides, looking over mixed depth freshwater pools. Look for Black-tailed Godwit, Ruff and Greenshank; with Spotted Redshank and Ringed Plover likely, especially in the autumn.
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Two hides here give you a great view over reedbeds and wetland, with breeding waders and an ideal place to look for raptors hunting the marsh with breeding Marsh Harriers and passing Hen, Montagu’s and even Pallid Harriers. Hobbies are common in summer hawking dragonflies and winter may pull in Rough-legged Buzzard.
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Deeper water means diving ducks like Tufted and Pochard with Goldeneye in winter. Smew is a good bet here but check through your Little Grebes for something a bit rarer like Slavonian or Blacknecked Grebe. Walk out around the reserve checking for larks and buntings with classic wintering Snow and often Lapland Buntings and you never know when a Wood Lark will fly over on passage. Look for Little Terns fishing in the shallows by the coast.