Apologies for a lack of sightings last week. Half term and daddy duties beckoned but we're back this week and good to go. Sightings have been pretty stable with not a great deal of new birds in so you've not missed out on anything that you won't see if you get chance to see us in the next few days..
Highlights were the relocation of the rough-legged buzzard from last year on Holbeach Marsh and while not strictly on the reserve, a good scope can pick it up at a fair distance from the raptor viewpoint. Our new conservation intern Anthony was trying to do just that on the evening of the 17th when a great white egret flew in from nowhere and dropped into one of the creeks and out of sight. John was at the egret roost first thing the next day and while returning an impressive count of 52 little egrets couldn't bag the big 'un. Our white patched black brant from last year and 2013 was seen on the scrapes on the 17th and the first winter drake scaup usually found on the Frampton reedbed relocated to Freiston on the 23rd. A brief report of a bearded tit near Mount Hirons on the 25th got the reserve team out looking in force but it couldn't be relocated. JUST REMEMBERED! About to sign off and send the blog out but forgot to mention our earliest ever returning avocet on the 18th. A two day stay on the reedbed didn't see them linger into the weekend but they'll be all over the place soon enough. So, what will be our next genuine spring arrival? Little ringed plover, sand martin and wheatear are the most likely candidates. Sweepstake anyone?
Probably the most talked about sighting of the week was this little hut that appeared on middle scrape. Fortunately it wasn't a camper who'd got lost in the dark but part of a project to film brent geese by the RSPB film unit. We are lacking some top quality footage of these winter visitors so where is the best reserve to see huge numbers of this fab little goose and get super close views? Frampton of course, and with 900 covering middle scrape this afternoon in glorious sunshine Toby was able to get all the footage he needed.
Dark-bellied brent geese posing in front of the hide - Neil Smith
Regular visitors may have noticed that the water levels are on the up outside the Visitor Centre as we try and flood out the islands for a month to kill of any vegetation prior to the nesting season. The deeper water has brought over the pochard and tufted duck from the Marsh Farm reservoir and they now seem very happy with conditions on the reedbed. While the scaup may have moved on, these tri-coloured beauties don't seem to be going anywhere and we'll cross our fingers that some stay all year and we get to see some little pochlings in the summer.
Pochard - Neil Smith
Those duck species that don't stay to breed will be turning their thoughts to leaving but before they do, many will want to pair up and have a mate selected before they leave us. Teal and wigeon can be seen and heard displaying around the reserve at the moment. Look out for small groups of males circling and fussing round a few females, trying their best to win the affections of partner for the months ahead.
Wigeon - Neil Smith
Our golden plover flock stands at around the 2,500 mark but our powerful peregrines are doing their very bestest to reduce that number further. Sometimes it seems the plovers are spending much more time in the air than on the ground. While this may not be great for them, it is wonderful for us as we get to see and hear them wheeling and whooshing across the sky.
Golden plover - John Badley
The sea bank is a great place to see them from and the added height allows super scanning opportunities to pick out the hunter from the hunted.
Sea bank scanners - Neil Smith
Sunny days are giving us the hint of spring that we know is round the corner and the sedentary winter species are finding their voice. Skylarks are the most obvious and abundant songsters out on the reserve, filling the air as they tower above. While not quite reaching the audible and physical heights of the larks performance, male reed buntings are still a fine sight as they belt out their repetitive chiming from atop a reed stem or hawthorn. We also heard our first corn buntings singing round the back of reedbed this week too. These are a species that have suffered huge declines over the years so it's a great feeling knowing they're benefiting from all the work we're doing at Frampton.
Skylark - Neil Smith
I f you can't quick pick out the skylarks up above then you can get some cracking views down at the 360 hide. There are a handful out there feeding on the last seeds of the winter and can come very close indeed, so close in fact that you can see the outline of the hide this one's eye if you look carefully.
Skylark - John Badley
There have been a couple of stonechats hanging around the northern section of the reedbed path for the last few days. Look out for them perched up on any taller vegetation and also along any of the fence lines in the vicinity.
Stonechat - Alan Brewster
Our feeding station is a big draw for both bird and visitors alike. We're looking to improve this area over the next few months and hope it will attract and hold more birds and people as the year progresses.
Tree sparrow - Neil Smith
Yellowhammer and greenfinch - Neil Smith
And so to our sightings map, your cut out and keep guide to what to see and where on the reserve this weekend.
1. We have regular spotted redshanks that winter out on the saltmarsh but this week saw the first bird of the year on the landward side of the sea bank.
2. Still a regular and wonderful sight to see, though you may have to stay on the reserve a little later now that the days are getting longer, hardly the worst news though :)
3. Like teal and wigeon, goldeneye is another of our ducks that can be seen displaying at this time of year.
4. Dunlin numbers were big last week following some enormous high tides with 400+ scattered across the grassland on most days. A peak count of 73 ruff was recorded on the 20th.
5. At least one water pipit is still out on the grassland opposite the Visitor Centre.
6. Another great week for raptors with several 'grey ghost' hen harriers reported out on the saltmarsh most days with occasional incursions onto fresh water habitats by both males and ringtails. Merlins and peregrines have been in abundance across the reserve with clouds of birds alerting to you to one on the hunt. The fenceline on Marsh Farm is still your best bet of picking one up.
7. Great crested grebes are returning from their offshore winter quarters to take up breeding territories ad will start displaying soon. Our first returners were picked up this week with 7 now on the reedbed.
8. Whooper swan numbers are slowly increasing with our regular 24 swelling to 27, 38 and now 46. A guaranteed sight at dusk, they are now often seen during the day on the grassland and scrapes.
9. Still the hardest 'regular' to see but an enjoyable challenge to find should you wish to take it on.
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. Alternatively if you enjoy taking pictures and have a Flickr account then please join our group and share your images with everyone.
The more you're out the more you see - https://twitter.com/BoyWonderBirder