Hi!
I took the local walking group for a stroll around the reserve this morning. There was a large group of twenty-seven of us, all keen to get out and breathe in the fresh saltmarsh air. On our way around, I pointed out the black swans we have on the reedbed. These elegant birds have been brought to the UK from Western Australia. Usually, they are kept in collections on private lakes and ponds. As with anything that can fly, they often move from the areas they do not like. They clearly love it here at Frampton Marsh, and who wouldn’t?!
As we continued our walk, I pointed out a brood of thirteen mallard ducklings, a swan with three cygnets and a clutch of three lapwing chicks swimming on the surface of the water. This was a first for me. I have seen adult avocets swimming before, but never lapwings, and certainly not lapwing chicks!!
When we reached the 360 hide, we were rewarded with fantastic views of little ringed plovers. I began to explain the differences between little ringed plovers and ringed plovers, when right on cue, a flock of over sixty ringed plovers dropped in and made the explanation much easier.
After a bit of a rest and a quick plover lesson, we all strolled on. As we continued, we heard corn buntings and sedge warblers, and watched reed buntings and wheatears show off on the fence posts. Over the freshwater scrapes flew swallows, house martins, sand martins and swifts.
As we peered into the wet grassland watching the pure white little egrets feeding, I saw the bird of the day, a wood sandpiper. This elegant wader probably dropped in to Frampton Marsh during last night’s rain, for a feed and a rest. As it is still raining now, there is a very good chance it will still be here tomorrow, so why not come for a visit this wet bank holiday weekend and see if you can see him!!
All the best!!
Simon.