HAPPY NEW YEAR :D Hope you've all had a relaxing and enjoyable festive period. For many this was the first proper week back at work so I'll do my best to encourage a visit down to the reserves this weekend to alleviate those back to work blues.
We've had a bird filled start to the year at Frampton with numbers coming back to their pre sub-zero peaks. Wigeon are hovering comfortably around the 4,500 mark with golden plover in the same ball park. 2,000 teal make up the rest of the wildfowl bulk with 1,500 dark-bellied brent geese coming and going at any one time. This grazing ensemble is wonderful to watch on the grassland but the HUUUUGE female peregrine that has been seen daily on the wet grassland provides an alternative view, filling the skies with birds as it looks for a meal.
Snapshot of South Scrape. Anyone want to have a crack at how many species? - Toby Collett
One of the nicest sights, well for me at least, is the sheer number of dunlin on the grassland. A count this morning totaled 550 on Marsh Farm alone. A cursory look over the scrapes and Roads Farm revealed several hundred more so not quite 4 figures but with some big high tides starting on the 19th, it wouldn't surprise me if it happens. To know the habitat we've created here appears to be preferable feeding for a coastal species like dunlin when we're on the edge of The Wash is fantastic and shows we definitely haven't forgotten about the birds.
Ruff and ringed plover numbers hover around the 50 and 120 respectively with curlew more numerous now the ground has thawed. With news of a little stint up at Alkborough (North Lincs on the Humber) earlier in the week there's a fair chance that one could be lurking here as it did at the start of last year.
Being Frampton, we've also had some quality mixed in with our quantity. At least 2 water pipits have been a big draw as they feed around Marsh Farm reservoir and on the flooded grassland to the north of the road to Marsh Farm barn. These are not the most straightforward of birds to see and find so check out the BTO video that will help you separate them from the commoner and more abundant rock pipit.
Water pipit - Toby Collett
Identifying rock and water pipit - BTO video
While out looking for the water pipits John heard a familiar call and relocated the Cetti's warbler that had been seen towards the end of last year. Patience will be needed to both hear and definitely see this skulker. Check the map below for the best place to look for it.
If you have no luck with the pipits, head along the cross bank towards the sea wall, scanning the fence lines for green woodpecker, merlin and peregrine. An 'eared' owl, probably short was flying along the ditch on the 8th and a scan from the raptor viewpoint the same day produced 3 marsh harriers.
If you want to stretch your legs further still, a yomp to Tabb's Head or Cut End from Freiston will blow away the cobwebs. Velvet scoters, eider and goldeneye were all down there on the 8th and a long-tailed duck this morning. Divers and grebes could be your reward for a venture out there this weekend.
A black brant was reported on the wet grassland behind the raptor viewpoint at the 6th with the same or different bird being seen on the 4th. With a known hybrid about it'd be good to collate some images of any brants or brant types so we can get handle on individuals. Speaking of individuals please do keep an eye out for colour ringed brent geese. I had one at the end of last year (blue ring with a white 5 - left leg, lime ring with a black 6 - right leg) which I have reported. Unfortunately the original details haven't been submitted yet but will pass these on to you all when they are.
The final report of interest that isn't on the sightings map is that of a rough-legged buzzard seen just south of the A16 roundabout at Kirton on the 7th. This may well be the one around for many a week last year so if you want to have a hunt for it please check out the video below which will help avoid confusion with any of the pale phase common buzzards in the vicinity.
Identifying common and rough-legged buzzard - BTO video
And so to our weekly sightings map, your cut out and keep guide to bring with you this weekend. Because the map has proved so popular have started to try and do these on a daily basis so if you want more up to date sightings then please click on the link to our twitter feed at the bottom of the page.
1. Check the shores of the reservoir and flooded patches on the other side of the road for water pipit. Two have been seen but could be more.....
2. Up to 5 bullfinch have been seen in the hedgerow. One was seen last weekend at Freiston and there are a few reports of more numbers than usual in the Fens so hopefully more may be about.
3. The Cetti's warbler is far easier to hear than it is to see so brush up on that call, bide your time and cross your fingers.
4. The European white-fronted geese were daily up until the 8th but could well reappear over the weekend.
5. A stroll around the reedbed and up towards East Hide will give you the best bet to find these wintering chats.
6. The flooded areas along the hedgerow are where you'll find a water rail or two.
7. Still a regular and still a visitor favourite, the barn owl doesn't always come across to the VC but staying after 4pm should be worth it.
8. And after you've hopefully seen the barn owl, stay a little longer and the whooper swans will complete your evening. Up to 60 have been roosting on the reserve and nearly 2,000 pink-footed geese are passing over every evening as they head out to roost on the wash.
9. The little owl has returned to the copse at Marsh Farm barn and can be seen near its nest box from the Visitor Centre veranda.
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