First of all just a big thank you to all the feedback from my map idea. It sounds like it went down pretty well and have been passed on a few thoughts so will unveil map version II after this weeks highlights.
Following on from our breaking news last week, Lincolnshire's fifteenth lesser yellowlegs did the right thing and stayed with us all week (still present at time of writing) and was appreciated by many (a few blog write ups here and here). It stayed faithful to the original pool it was found in but was also seen at the bottom of compartment 10 on the Marsh Farm Wet Grassland (see map). The best way to find it is from the sea bank as although you are looking further, you can see more of the pool from up there, as well as getting a good all round feel for the reserve and its habitats. A wood sandpiper has also been seen in the vicinity and that caused some confusion so I've quickly drawn up an id guide using the birds we currently have on site. Hope you find it useful.
Wood sandpiper - Paul Sullivan Lesser yellowlegs - Toby Carter
And here are some more pics and a video of this long legged lovely, luckily for you they are far better than mine were last week.
Lesser yellowlegs - Ian Ellis
Lesser yellowlegs - Nik Borrow
Lesser yellowlegs - Toby Carter
Lesser yellowlegs - Andrew Chick
Taking second billing once again this week was the glossy ibis, though after having so much attention recently it didn't seem to mind and has been incredibly confiding in recent weeks allowing some fantastic photos to be taken as well as letting those without super dooper optics enjoy it too.
Glossy ibis - Neil Smith
Glossy ibis - Andrew Chick
Glossy ibis aka black curlew (handheld with a phone!)
And those be your highlights for the week. If you want to know where to look for them and a host of other goodies check out sightings map mark II below.
As mentioned above thank you to all who gave positive feedback, really appreciated. Tweaks include orientation in top left corner, wider habitat/names of areas marked on and bird numbers added to the key.
1 - Lesser yellowlegs. Faithful to the pool on Roads Farm, often the one with swans in, but can roam to the southern corner of the reserve.
2 - Glossy ibis. Likes South Scape and just over the road on Marsh Farm the most. Best to scan from Mount Hirons (B)
3- Turtle doves. Lots of juveniles now out and about. Can often be heard from car park. A walk along the public footpath can nearly guarantee them.
4- Corn buntings. Still 2 singing regularly this week.
5 - Green sandpipers. Scan the ditch edges on Marsh Farm or around exposed islands on the reedbed. Common sandpipers are in the mix too.
6- Snipe. A noticeable arrival this week. Look out for them in the dense green grass numbered above or on the waters edge from any of the hides.
7-Godwits. A mass mix of bar-tailed and black-tailed godwits are now regularly feeding and roosting across the reserve as we manage our water levels for Autumn.
8-Garganey. A drake in eclipse plumage is a good find in the larger pool north of the lesser yellowlegs pool.
And now to a quick round up of the week. An eclipse drake garganey was picked out among the teal on Roads Farm. We've had a good year for them and while the males are very easy to locate and identify in Spring, they become much trickier in the Autumn.
Garganey - Andrew Chick
The other wildfowl highlight this week was a tufted duck. Sharp-eyed observers picked a female out with a green bill. Closer inspection revealed this to be a nasal saddle and the ringing details were quickly traced.
Ringed: 06/11/2009 in France at Saint Philbert De Grand Lieu
Subsequently recorded 22/07/2011 Hambleton, Rutland UK -00 ° 40 ' 52 ° 3926/07/2011 Hambleton Rutland UK -00 ° 40 ' 52 ° 3912/07/2012 Kirton Lincolnshire UK 00 ° 00 ' 52 ° 5310/12/2013 Denton Lincolnshire UK -00 ° 42 ' 52 ° 5311/07/2014 Frampton Lincolnshire UK 00 ° 01 ' 52 ° 54
It is now the proud mother of seven chicks and can be found along the ditch where I've pointed you to snipe in the map above.
Tufted duck - Ian Ellis
Little egret numbers are building. I had over 35 in one corner of one ditch alone!
Little egrets
And like the egrets our wader numbers are also on the up. Some big high tides at the start of this week pushed loads of birds onto the Frampton wet grassland and scrapes. Rough figures of 2,000+ godwit, 300+ redshansk, 400+ dunlins (including the years first juveniles), 30+ ruffs, 20+ greenshanks, six spotted redshanks and single figures of golden plover, curlew, whimbrel, knot and turnstone. And don't forget Freiston which pulled in a whopping 107 greenshanks onto the little reservoir! This was an awesome wader hotpsot last year so if you are visiting the area, you miss out Freiston at your peril.
We are now managing our grassland for returning waders and have started to lower levels on both wet grassland and scrapes to provide a muddy edge for them to feed on. This is staggered so as not to expose too much mud too soon and have us dry by September. This management is not only good for birds but also for you too as the hides and viewpoints put you in prime position to see loads of birds up close.
Lapwing
This young lapwing was feeding right outside East Hide. This picture was take using my phone only, showing just how close birds come if you let them. Also in the vicinity were little ringed plovers, ruffs, black-tailed godwits and snipe. With the light behind you early in the morning, this is nest place to come if you want to see and/or photograph birds at the start of the day.
Ruff - from East Hide
The 360 hide comes into it's own later in the day when the sun has swung round and will be delivering the goods from now on :)
Bar-tailed godwits, black-tailed godwits, redshank and spotted redshank from 360 Hide
Reports of marsh harriers and peregrine have picked up as young birds start to roam about, so a visit to the Raptor Watchpoint and a scan across the salt marsh should yield rewards for both with the outside chance of a hobby speeding through too.
Barn owls are being reported more too, though their habits are far more crepuscular than the harriers or falcons. Early starts and late finishes are your best bet for these silent hunters.
Kingfishers have been evident this week with several cobalt blue flashes being reported across the reserve.
Young swallows and sand martins are now feeding on the emerging flies and midges around our wet grassland and reedbed providing an excellent opportunity to study behaviour as well as trying your luck at photographing them. This was achieved perfectly by Pete who was top of the 'Notable Images' in last weeks Birdguides review of the week.
Swallow - Pete Walkden
The warm sunny weather has tempted out the smaller resident of the reserve during the last week. Look out for these guys along the sheltered northern end of the Reedbed, the path to 360 Hide and also along the Public Footpath and Cross Bank.
Gatekeeper - Neil Smith
Small copper - Neil Smith
Small tortoiseshell - Neil Smith
Broad-bodied chaser - Neil Smith
Ruddy darter - Neil Smith
Honeybee and bramble - Jill Hall
Well 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.
The more you're out the more you see - https://twitter.com/BoyWonderBirder
Thank you very much Ian and Alan. Feedback, 'Likes' and spreading the word all really appreciated. Alas I'm moving house over the next few weeks but I'm sure Chris will ensure standards are kept.