Howdy folks! And welcome to another week of Frampton Marsh sightings. With me, Chris the visitor guy!
(And a special 'howdy' for the nice lady from the Derby local group who greeted me with a "Howdy Chris the visitor guy" last weekend. So nice to meet people who like these blogs)
So, what do we have for you this week? Well, in a complete break from tradition, how about some birds that aren't even on our reserve? It is a bumper time for interesting birds in South Lincolnshire at the moment.
Topping the bill there is a bluethroat at Lincs Wildlife Trust's Willow Tree Fen reserve. yes, that's right. A bluethroat. And this is not your ordinary bluethroat. This is your confiding, giving views down to a couple of feet bluethroat. Though we don't think Marks and Spencer were involved. Check out this little cracker...
(Photo by Paul Sullivan)
The carpark there is only small, so if you are visiting there en-route to us, please remember to park with consideration. The bird is on the main track that runs through the site. If you wait a wee while it will likely come right out in the open. As you can see in this video from old friend of Frampton, Dan Newton. No need to try baiting it or flushing it.
Elsewhere in the area there has been a great grey shrike on the banks of the river Welland between Crowland and Spalding. See the map for the location. I would suggest crossing the Crowland bridge (take care as it is undergoing repairs) to the west bank, then head northwards. It is a narrow and bumpy road, so give all due consideration to other drivers. Park safely at the green footbridge and cross to the other bank. Head to your right and the wooden gate. From there, scan the small trees in the scrubby area. The shrike likes to sit on top of them. It doesn't like owls or birds of prey though, so if one of those is around it may well make itself scarce. I will warn you in advance that it hasn't been seen for a couple of days, but it may well still be worth a look.
To the south of Crowland, there is a great white egret on the river. And at the Lincs Wildlife Trust reserve of Deeping Lakes long-eared owls are giving great views as they roost. Go to the bird hide and look out to the island. There is an obvious pale stake in the water. Just above that roost the owls.
(Photo by Amy Robjohns)
So all in all, plenty of scope for a day's birdwatching!
Right, that is enough about the local area. What has been happening at Frampton? Cue the maps....
Well, the Saturday has some good sightings. Including what may well be the first reserve record of American wigeon. Though it did promptly disappear straight after. Ho hum... No photos alas.
More the 'usual' birds on Sunday. Well, usual for us. The whooper swans are spending the days feeding on the remains of sugar beet on fields just outside the reserve. You may well see them as you approach. Sometimes a few come in for a wash and brush up in the middle of the day. But usually they leave early on, and come back just before dusk.
No sightings map for Monday I'm afraid.
Water rails have started to show in the wet field next to the car park. Check through all the moorhens and you may be lucky!
We aren't kidding about the plovers either. There really are a lot of them. If they are feeling happy they sit still on the ground and you can miss them. But if a bird of prey goes through, oh boy!
Sorry, no map for Thursday. But here is today's
That would seem to be the first common sandpiper of the year. Though what the waxwings were doing out over the reedbed is anyone's guess!
And that, as they say, is that. Hopefully I've given you some pointers of what to look out for, and where. If you do visit, please do report sightings back to the visitor centre. Or if it is outside opening hours to let us know either through email (lincolnshirewashreserves@rspb.org.uk) or by Twitter using the #RSPBframpton hashtag.
Just a reminder that we love seeing photos from the reserve. Again, email them, tweet them, put them on our Facebook page, or add them to our Flicker page. Just like Steve Keightley did with this lovely portrait of a Cetti's warbler.
Not just photos. Videos are good too. Remember me saying how great the plover flocks look? Don't take my word for it, check out Steve Black's video of a golden plover flock.
So there you go. Have a great week's worth of birdwatching, stay safe and I'll catch you next time!
Reedbed, freshwater scrapes, saltmarsh and wet meadow. Frampton Marsh has it all! Come and pay us a visit soon.