Another cracking week at Frampton with waders again being the big draw. At least two of the three pectoral sandpipers remained with only a single bird being seen from East Hide towards the end of the week. Our little stint count ramped up significantly with 23 seen in one group alone on 15 September and curlew sandpipers hovered between the 20 and 30 mark. The years peak count of spotted redshank was the 11 seen on the morning of 12 September, though they didn't hang around for long. We've also had the Autumn's first rock pipit and siskin so a gentle reminder to all to look up as well as down.
Once more I am fighting against time because the system we use to write our blogs signed me out and didn't save the last hour of my typing :'( Bare bones I'm afraid.
1. The sea aster is in full bloom and your best bet to see this delicate little bee is pick a nice warm sunny day and be patient.
2. We've had a warm couple of weeks so the usual glossy ibis haunts have dried up. Best place to look are along the edges of our deeper channels.
3. A family of kingfishers have been seen daily along this ditch.
4. The crop in south scrape is starting to mature and produce seed and with the easterly winds it may well be worth grilling the linnet flock to pick out something scarcer.
5. Loads of waders around but numbers will soon start to fall so get them while you can. Two sanderling this week took our monthly total to 28, the second highest monthly count for any RSPB reserve. If anyone can find us a jack snipe or something rarer then we would very much appreciate it. For some numbers and to get a feel of what an average visit might produce have a look at these reports - Saturday 13th, Saturday 13th, Monday 15th and Wednesday 17th. For a more visual treat check these two blogs out - Monday 8th and Friday 12th.
6. The first geese of the year have returned with brent (six) and pink-footed geese (three) being seen on the Roads Farm Wet Grassland.
7. Wigeon and teal numbers are increasing and are confined to the wetter areas of the reserve. I'm sure a garganey or two are still out there....
8. The coast has been heavy with scarce migrants and a walk to Tabb's Head is your best bet to find something more unusual. Loads of meadow pipits and a few yellow wagtails are passing through so worth checking all of these flocks for something different.
Sorry for it being so brief. Trying to get to the bottom of this blog posting nonsense. It may well be me being a twit so apologies if that is the case.
I'm in the Visitor Centre this weekend so please do come and say hello if your in and pass on any feedback regarding the blog or reserve. Always interested to hear your thoughts.
Have a great weekend.
The more you're out the more you see - https://twitter.com/BoyWonderBirder