SEACROFT  MARSH
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Mammals



Tracks indicate the following visitors :-

      Badger
      Roe Deer

Observed :- Saltmarsh & dunes

     Muntjac Deer
     Water Shrew  
     Field Vole
     Fox
     Hare     
     Rabbit
     Stoat
     Pipistrelle Bats

   :-  Beach

     Grey Seal
     Common Seal   
     Harbour Porpoise

 Dead :-                                       
     Common Shrew
     Pygmy Shrew     
     Hedgehog 

Dead Water Shrew 26.2.02

Since February 2002 I have observed 6 live and 14 dead water shrews in an area stretching between Derby Avenue and Drake Road, which would indicate a thriving population. Prior to this I had only found 1 dead shrew some 3 years before.


Birds

I have observed the following birds on the marsh and creeks but as I am not a “birder” the real list would be far more extensive, particularly in the wooded areas of the west dunes where rare birds are seen from time to time.

Barn Owl
Shorteared Owl
Tawny Owl
Great Grey Shrike
Little Egret  
Little Tern 
Curlew
Wheatear
Knot
Whimbrel
Bar-tailed Godwit
Oystercatcher
Redshank
Grey Partridge
Avocet
Reed Bunting 
Skylark (nesting)
Meadow Pipit (nesting)
Goldfinch
Linnet
Pied Wagtail
Stonechat
Jack Snipe
Redwing
Fieldfare
Green Woodpecker 
Grey Herron
Buzzard
Shelduck
Kestrel
Cuckoo
Swallows (feeding & collecting mud)
House Martins (feeding & collecting mud)
Snow Bunting
Kingfisher 

Other ‘more common’ Birds:-
Starling
Black Headed Gull
Pheasant
Carrion Crow
Woodpigeon
Blackbird
Magpie 

Shore birds: A great variety of sea and land birds are seen along the beach but I have kept no specific record. 


Butterflies

In the summer of 1999 I carried out a butterfly survey for the BBCS Lincs Branch in an area of dune and saltmarsh to the east and north of Seacroft Lagoon. I recorded the following species:-

Small Skipper
Brimstone
Large White
Small White
Green-veined White
Orange Tip
Green Hairstreak
Brown Argus
Common Blue
Holly Blue
Red Admiral 
Small Heath
Small Tortoiseshell
Peacock
Comma
Speckled Wood                             
Ringlet
Wall Brown
Gatekeeper
Meadow Brown 


I have continued to see these species with the exception of the Brown Argus. In 2003 I observed a Clouded Yellow at the southern end of the outer dunes and I have seen these at Seacroft in 2 other years out of the past 10. 


Other Wildlife

Grass Snake
Common Frog 
Common Toad 
Smooth Newt. 

My garden pond is less than 50 metres from the western boundary and was quickly colonised by these species. 
I believe that they are present within the west dune zone.

Unusual Finds on Beach

Megabalanus - Giant Acorn Barnacle - 2007 & 2009 - for more information click 















Sea Snail - Liparis liparis - 2012      Whelk eggs attached to Skate egg case - 2013

















                  Large Sun Starfish                                                                                   Ray's Bream - 2007


















                                                                                                                       Sunfish 70cm between tips of fins December 2014





















3meter Blue fin Tuna Oct 22          above & below                                                     Sea Mouse Nov 23



















                            Cuttlefish Jun 24



                                                                                                                            Harbour Porpoise Mch 23



















Brittle Starfish Feb 24







Access and misuse
Site map & diagram
These two photos indicate the valuable but scarce scrub habitats which were needlessly destroyed in 2015.