With last weeks highlight lingering for an afternoon only, the star bird this week obliged by staying a little bit longer. A third calendar year spoonbill was found on the reedbed early doors on the 9th, and was present again on the 10th, giving occasional aerial views as well as being seen in the more familiar snooze postition.
Spoonbill - Toby Collett
With both their number and variety, waders once again caught the eye. The wood sandpiper seen on the Marsh Farm Wet Grassland (11th) took the months wader tally so far to 21. Also added this week were grey plover, golden plover, knot, dunlin, and snipe. With a surprise absence during the first week of the month, dunlin arrived in force on the 9th with a 130 seen on the scrapes. This number had rocketed again the following evening with over 200 pootling about, including the first juvenile of the year. Other peak counts include 12 oystercatcher, 23 avocet, 6 little ringed plover, 3 ringed plover, 11 ruff, over 400 black-tailed godwit, which included the first juveniles of the year, probably of the European race limosa limosa (more to come on that later I hope......), 60 redshank, single spotted redshank, 3 greenshank, 8 green sandpiper and 3 common sandpiper.
Black-tailed godwit - Toby Collett
We've seen an increase in larger gulls coming to drink and bathe on the reserve over the last few days and a scan through on the 10th produced 2 yellow-legged gulls (both 3rd summers, one more advanced in moult and with brighter legs than the other) and 2 adult Mediterranean gulls. One of the Mediterranean gulls had a green colour ring on its leg and a quick check of the excellent European colour ringing website(which gives a breakdown of all colour ringing programmes in Europe) pointed towards a project in Germany where this bird may have come from. Details have not been received yet but when we know, we'll make sure you know.
Birds of prey over the week were represented by daily sightings of marsh harrier and little owls while a hobby was on the hunt for a late night snack on the 10th and was seen cruising over Marsh Farm on the 11th.
Turtle dove - Toby CollettThe turtle doves are proving to be a hit and are probably the most requested 'where are they' birds on the reserve. They are best looked for around the well vegetated western boundary of the reserve. Though you may need a bit of a luck to see them, learning their song means the odds are slightly more in your favour. And staying on the subject of bird song, there are still a few summer visitors in full voice. Sedge warbler, reed warbler, whitethroat and blackcap can all be heard from the Frampton trails. Make the most of them over the next few sunny weeks as they'll soon be heading south.
Sedge Warbler - Toby Collett
And to finish off we have two very notable sightings. The water shrew seen running towards the pond dipping area on the 10th was a first record for the reserve! The distinctive shew shape, pointy at the front and rising to the rear, combined with the distinctive sooty black fur on its back and sides with a contrasting white tummy, ticked all the boxes for this distinctive mammal. This sighting is great news for us as water shrews are vulnerable to pollutants and pesticides, meaning we have some tip top quality water on the reserve.
The other record of interest made its presence known with its very distinctive and repetitive call. A young crossbill was heard flying past the office window where it promptly disappeared into the trees above the farm. A few patient/teeth gnashing minutes later it flew back the way it came and towards the reserve, calling the whole time. A few circuits over the public footpath meant it did enter Frampton's airspace and unless we hear otherwise, this is a first for this half of the Lincolnshire Wash Reserves.
Wonder what gems next week may hold......?
The more you're out the more you see - https://twitter.com/BoyWonderBirder