THE UK'S LATEST BIRDWATCHING HOTSPOT? LINCOLNSHIRE STAKES ITS CLAIM

                                         

THE flag has been flying for Lincolnshire at this weekend's  three-day Global Birdfair being held at the Rutland county showground near Oakham.

Although the Lincolnshire Coast does not boast breeding populations of iconic species such as puffins, gannets or choughs, its beaches, mudflats and saltmarsh are a magnet for huge numbers of birds, especially waders, in autumn and winter.

This has prompted the Lincolnshire Bird Club and VisitLincolnshire.com to pool resources on a new tourism initiative.

  

The Lincolnshire Coastal Bird Trail was officially launched on Friday at Global Birdfair.

The following day, LBC chairman Phil Espin gave an illustrated talk both  about the trail and the county's rich birdlife past and present.

Locations on the coastal trail are:

* Alkborough Flats

* Cleethorpes Seafront

* Donna Nook

* Coastal Country Park

* Gibraltar Point

* Freiston Shore

* Frampton Marsh

The new tourism initiative is supported by heavyweight conservation organisations such as Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust and Natural England.

                                               

Phil Espin - putting Lincolnshire on the birdwatching map 

The trail can be explored online at:

www.visitlincolnshire.com/birdwatching 

 * Keep checking The Wryneck for further exclusive reports from Global Birdfair