Big apologies as I thought I'd posted this last week :( Sorry. This weeks post coming up this evening.
1. Our first turtle doves are back. This is a species on the brink and although we have had 4 pairs breed for the last two years, this is not a number we expect to retain over the years. For more information on turtle doves and why they need our attention and support, have a look here.
2. The black brant is lingering on and can often be seen in the same group as a pale-bellied brent.
3. The low water levels have drawn waders in and is absolutely chocca for the time of year. Dunlin, ruff, avocet, redshank and black-tailed godwit dominate with odds of greenshank and spotted redshank to find.
4. Wader passage is getting underway and one of the earlier arrivals we get in good number is whimbrel. Their call is a good way to find them and this video may give you some identification pointers.
5. The jangly metallic song of the corn bunting can be heard from the cross bank steps and along the northern edge of the reedbed. Brief bursts of song have been heard outside the Visitor Centre too.
6. Several wheatear are lingering with us out on the saltmarsh. Look for them perching on vantage points like exposed rocks and fence posts.
7. Our first lapwing chicks were spied running around the car park this week! A quick scoosh and shuffle later and they were back on the wet grassland where they should be.
8. All our regular warblers are now in and singing away. The last to arrive was lesser whitethroat which can be heard on the way to the footpath bench.
9. The mediterranean gulls are once again having cold feet with brief excursions onto the breeding islands but they just don't seem to be that interested once more. Still one of the smartest gulls to see if you can.
While the main displaying period is over as many lapwing are sitting and some even have chicks, the aerial talents of this birds take a different form in deterring predators. In the right light a good look at their glossy plumage as they twist and turn over head will show just why they're also known as the Green Plover.
Lapwing - Neil Smith
Lapwing bossing a kestrel - Neil Smith
Staying with plovers but dropping down the size scale somewhat is our smallest plover aka, the little ringed plover. The golden eye ring and lack of wing bar is obvious in the picture and these are two clear ways to separate them from their larger ringed plover cousins. Their stiffed wing display flight across the grassland and scrapes is great to see as it means we could be in for another successful year for this scarce breeder.
Little ringed plover - Neil Smith
Quite simply, these next birds are THE stars of a visit to Frampton Marsh. They are just the absolute bees knees and get better as the days go on. They have a kaleidoscope of plumages with no two birds seeming to be the same. A few males have been seen displaying and a few are showing the actual ruff too so hopefully we may get both these elements together in the next few weeks.
Ruff - Neil Smith
And as we approach may I will have to put the warnings out there that this blog will start to get wader heavy.... sorry. But am I really sorry though? Should I apologise for banging on about these awesome birds that make this reserve the best for wader diversity in the country? We totaled 25 different species in April and on a couple of days in May last year we managed that total in 24 hours.... Some good weather and a southerly breeze next month may well see a repeat performance.
Spotted redshank - Neil Smith
Speaking of southern arrivals the grassland has been awash with white wagtails, the continental version of our pied wagtails. Look for the clear demarcation between the black hood and grey back.
White wagtail - Neil Smith
Wheatears continue to linger with the first wave of males now having some females mixed in. The short turn of the graaslands and saltmarsh are the best places to see them.
Wheatear - Neil Smith
Sedge warblers are the most numerous warbler on site and also the most obvious as they sing loudly from exposed perches along the roadside. It would be good to get a suite of warbler pictures so I'll set you a challenge now to get all our warblers in the Flickr album. Sedge warbler is taken so have a crack at chiffchaff, willow warbler, reed warbler, blackcap, whitethroat and lesser whitethroat.
Sedge warbler - Neil Smith
And we're not all about birds of course, Mammals are becoming far more obvious with weasel and stoat being seen daily along the road edges and muntjac gambolling through the hedgerow. Water voles are best seen early morning or late evening when things are a little quieter. Check the ditches between the scrapes and reedbed and along the north side of the path to east hide to try your luck.
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. If you are thinking of paying a visit from near or far please do check out the tide times which can make a big difference to both numbers and variety of birds seen on the day.
The more you're out the more you see - https://twitter.com/BoyWonderBirder
A great read. Many thanks for taking the time to record it.
Ian