Another week of bright conditions kept things pretty crisp and dry on the weather front and relatively static on the bird front. Avocets have been coming and going but more of the former than the latter as the week drew to a close with 24 on Middle Scrape being the highest count. While not a 'true' migrant with thousands now wintering in the UK, it is the first spring mover for us and so heralds a change. Black-headed gull numbers continue to build and this goes hand in hand with the decibel level of the reserve. Several hundred now occupy the reedbed and scrapes with the constant clamouring will now replace the burbling brents and whistling wigeon as your soundtrack to a Frampton visit.
Whooper swans peaked at 50 this week with at least one always present on the reserve. Most move to the fields south of the cross bank but the odd handful stay with occasional incursions by the group onto the reserve prior to a dusk roost.
Whooper swan - Neil Smith
We're raising water levels in South Scrape to flood out our islands in preparation for the summer. We're hoping to kill off vegetation to provide bare areas for terns, avocets, plovers and whoever else decides to make us their home for the summer. Doing this will push the usual roosting wildfowl into other areas but provide opportunities to get at previously inaccessible food resources. This is important to get the birds up to condition when they decide to move on and pintails are one of those movers. A bit like swifts, they seem to be the last to arrive on the reserve and the first to leave, so enjoy them in the sun while there are still plenty around.
Pintail - Neil Smith As the islands near inundation they are swamped with dunlin, ruff, ringed plovers, redshank and back-tailed godwit as they feast on terrestrial invertebrates forced to the surface by the ever soggyfying substrate. Mixed flocks like the one below are a regular sight from both 360 and East Hide.
Mixed wader flock, brent Geese and black-headed gulls - Neil Smith
Ruff - Neil Smith
Golden plover numbers are on a mega dwindle with our 8,000 peak now down to 1500 or so. Even when reduced in number so drastically, they still create a fantastic audio and visual spectacle as they pitch and yaw over the reserve. Scan through them on the deck and look for the black tummies of those starting to moult into summer plumage.
Golden plover - Neil Smith
We're now getting our water levels right for the breeding season so the wet grassland will me more attractive to curlew and prospective breeders like lapwing and redshank.
Curlew - Neil Smith
Redshank - Neil Smith
The still, sunny days are giving the skylarks ample opportunities to warm up their vocal chords prior to what will no doubt seem like an endless ascension of songsters from the grassland in April. They are still best seen up close from the 360 hide feeding among the short grass. When the vegetation starts to grow, this food source will be covered over and the opportunity to see them in such detail will be lost so if you want to enjoy the intricacies and details of their plumage then this is the place to be.
Skylark - Neil Smith
And so to our sightings map, your cut out and keep guide to what to see and where on the reserve this weekend.
1. Although many weeks away from it's stunning spotty plumage, the subtle greys and elegance of a winter plumaged spotted redshank are to be enjoyed on the scrapes or wet grassland.
2. While expected, it is still a pleasure and treat to see a barn owl and no matter how often one glides with such effortless grace in front of your nose, every time is special. Keep your fingers crossed for a day time fly past but otherwise get here early or hang on till last light.
3. The male goldeneye has been displaying on the reedbed, throwing his head back as he shows his moves trying to woo any lucky ladies.
4. Dunlin and ruff are still in good numbers but a little more spread out due to our water regime taking effect and offering more suitable feeding across the reserve.
5. Curious as to what this may be...? Regular readers should be familiar with this as it could well be the same one we saw in May last year. Head to the Marsh Farm reservoir to find him.
6. Still a great time to see birds of prey with bright and still conditions being ideal for sitting and scanning the saltmarsh or grassland. We estimate on hosting 3 merlin, 2 peregrine (though these are now back displaying at their nest site) and at least 2 each of male and ringtail hen harriers.
7. Four pairs are now on the reedbed with head shaking and weed present exchanges no doubt taking place while you read this.
8. Whooper swans are ow at 50. We are unlikely to ad another 100 to reach the peaks of last year but we can still hope. Numbers have grown slowly but steadily in the last month so who knows...
9. The back of the reedbed is the best place to see stonechat with one regularly atop a thistle or teasel perch.
If you would like a more detailed breakdown of what can be seen at Frampton check out both Ben's and Andrew's trip reports from earlier this week.
Will leave you this week with a fantastic skyscape, a view that may not be appreciated as much as it should be here at the Lincolnshire Wash Reserves. Our open skies and cloud formations provide the perfect and ever changing backdrop to a visit.
Frampton at dusk - Neil Smith
That's all from me this week. Enjoy your weekend everyone, and if you can't wait 7 days to know what's going on here, keep your finger on the Lincolnshire Wash Reserves pulse by following us on Twitter and giving us a ‘like’ on Facebook. Alternatively if you enjoy taking pictures and have a Flickr account then please join our group and share your images with everyone. If you are thinking of paying a visit from near or far please do check out the tide times which can make a big difference to both numbers and variety of birds seen on the day.
The more you're out the more you see - https://twitter.com/BoyWonderBirder