Seacroft Marsh SSSI

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