Another double header this week due to my absence last week. Hopefully this won't be a regular occurrence but if you are wanting more up to date information on what's about on the reserve then do follow our twitter feed and facebook page. Alternatively we do have a BirdForum thread and the Lincolnshire Bird Club sightings page is always worth a look before planning a visit.
Wader passage has been a bit hit and miss so far this spring, well mainly miss. That all changed on the evening of the 12th when a Dotterel on the grassland kicked proceedings off. Although only around for 20 minutes, and with plenty others in the country, there was a good chance it would be relocated the next day. Our optimism was not to be rewarded but, as is often the case with birding, when you're out looking, you'll often find something, and in this case that something was a cracking Temminck's Stint. Plenty had been in the country and we have a good track record for attracting them so it was more a case of when than if. A day later on the 14th our single bird had a couple of friends in tow and the three of them have been ever present, including today as I write this. Slightly less consistent have been the sightings of other passage waders. A Little Stint has been on and off for the fortnight with two being seen on the 15th. Even more hit and miss have been Curlew Sandpipers, two were seen on the 14th with a single present the next day with a week passing before 2 reappeared on the 22nd. Elusive as they may be, there's a good chance the tide plays a part in the what's on the reserve. With this in mind check the tide tables with a view to visit at the end of next week... Other waders that have contributed to our 26 species so far this month include Wood Sandpiper (2 on the 19th and 20th), Common Sandpiper (4 on 21st), Sanderling (19th and 21st), Greenshank (12th-15th) and Golden Plover (19th - 23rd).
Temminck's Stint
Little Stint - Ian Ellis
Wood Sandpiper - Ian Ellis
Common Sandpiper - Ian Ellis
Both Lapwing and Avocet chicks have started to appear around the reserve and we could well be in for a bumper year for Little Ringed Plover. While none of these ping pong plover chicks have appeared there are enough birds currently sitting and mating to hint towards a record reserve count. While dotted all over the place the best place to see Lapwing chicks are from the Visitor Centre with 4 running around on the islands right outside. For Avocets and Little Ringed Plovers, head over to East Hide, (where all the waders are being seen from currently) and scan both the grassland behind and islands in front.
Lapwing - Neil Smith
Little Ringed Plover - Neil Smith
Moving away from waders and moving away from us have been the Brent Geese. The several hundred that were commuting between the saltmarsh and scrapes have now upped sticks and will be over 3,000 miles away now. We can expect to see a few over summering but will have to wait till late Autumn to welcome them back in good numbers. One bird that we would have expected to move on but hasn't is the Australian Wood Duck which can still found pottering about on her lonesome out on the grassland. A Pink-footed Goose and 4 Barnacle Geese on the wet grassland were a surprise find on the 21st. More over summering birds or are these fence jumpers from local collections?
Barnacle Goose - Daniel Newton
Garganey have proved elusive throughout, mainly because we don't know where to look for them. They have turned up on pretty much every patch of water on the reserve and after the recent rains there are plenty more patches for them to hide on. North Scrape has been a favourite spot as has the grassland adjacent to both car parks so I'd recommend starting your search for them there.
Birds of prey have been very thin on the ground but warmer weather spells and blue skies are the time to look up. Several Buzzards have cruised high over the reserve, a lot more sensible than the occasional low drifting Marsh Harrier that have been 'escorted' off site by a phalanx of Avocet, Lapwing and Redshank.
Buzzard - Neil Smith
Little Gull numbers peaked at 5 on the 13th with three being seen most days and 4 on the 22nd. These dainty gulls can be picked out by their erratic flight style, twisting and turning in mid air and suddenly dipping down to the water surface as they feed on insects. This flying style is reminiscent of the marsh tern group and coincidentally we were able to compare and contrast these actions on the 18th when 2 stunning Black Terns were found on North Scrape. We have lots of Common Terns nesting on North Scrape too so was great to see them together.
Little Gull - Ian Ellis
Black Tern - Neil Smith
Common Tern - Neil Smith
For a wetland reserve we've had a cracking few weeks of none wetland birds. Big draws have been the Turtle Doves along the cross bank where Little Owl and Cuckoo have both been reported from. A walk along the public footpath through the hedgerow is serenaded by both Lesser and Common Whitethroat, Blackcap, Garden, Sedge and Reed Warbler. The other warbler we've had on the reserve has been a Grasshopper Warbler reeling away next to the reedbed.
Grasshopper Warbler - Andrew Chick
Sedge Warbler - Neil Smith
Reed Bunting - Neil Smith
Cuckoo - Ian Ellis
Skylark - Neil Smith
And it isn't just birds that have been busy making the next generation of Frampton residents, our Brown Hares have had a successful year and can be seen chasing around the lush grassland.
Brown Hare - Neil Smith
Well that's all from me. Enjoy your Bank Holiday weekend and for those with nippers, have a great half term. Don't forget to check the events section on our RSPB reserve page and also our social media channels for what's on at Frampton over the next 7 days.
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