No, certainly not my self-image! It is this time of year when birds are nesting, and we are starting to see some serious cute little fluffy chicks out there.
For starters, if you are in the visitor centre, keep your eyes open for mother duck and her (currently) 11 little ducklings. We're not quite sure where her nest was, but the mother duck, a mallard, likes to take her brood around the shore and islands close to the centre. Maybe the buildings deter the gulls slightly?
Also at the centre, watch out for lapwing chicks. One lapwing nested on the island right in front of the big windows, and you can often see her and her partner leading her 4 chicks about. And having a serious go at anything that gets too close. Gulls get the most attention, but they've also attacked a pheasant, sheep and even me, whilst I was opening up!
Elsewhere, if you go to the freshwater scrapes, you'll see the first batch of our avocet chicks.
Once again, protective parents are very much in evidence. Here are some taking on a heron
Over the coming weeks we'll see lots more. Cygnets, goslings, wader chicks and who knows what else. Keep your eyes peeled! We are especially looking forward to the hatching of some little ringed plovers, which are also nesting on the island right outside the centre.
Reedbed, freshwater scrapes, saltmarsh and wet meadow. Frampton Marsh has it all! Come and pay us a visit soon.