The role of assistant warden is a varied one, full of contrasts. Today is the perfect example – I spent this morning scrambling about in the mud on the saltmarsh before spending the afternoon in the warmth of the Visitor Centre.
At least, I got these the right way round and saved myself a soaking as the weather was a contrast this afternoon from this morning. This morning the sun was shining down on us but this afternoon has been windy and rainy.
It was quiet out on the saltmarsh this morning. But the highlights of my passerine low tide count were:
Skylark – 3
Rock pipit – 21
Twite (3 flocks) – 102
Lapland bunting – 8
And a marsh harrier.
It was nice to spend an afternoon in the Visitor Centre talking to those who had braved the weather. The reedbed was full of birds, including lapwing, golden plover, dunlin, black-tailed godwits, starlings, ruff, goldeneye (1M,1F) and pochard (2). A peregrine came past and disturbed the peace! The bird feeders were a hiev of activity too, with greenfinches, tree sparrows, and reed buntings all keen for a meal, alomng with a pair of mallards. It was brilliant just to watch what all the birds were up to – from the dunlin searching for food to the mute swan slowly making its way from one end of the reedbed to the other, and great to be able to share the joys of the reserve with others.
Come and enjoy a day here, at Frampton Marsh – who knows maybe it will be full of contrasts for you too.