So we'll start where we left off last week and that's with the incredible sea watching that was to be had at Freiston over the weekend. It started on Thursday morning when our site manager John had one of those birding premonitions that you only get when you know your reserve like the back of your hand. The weather had been building for a few days and with a brisk north easterly breeze in the air he set the ball rolling. 4 species of skua, 3 species of tern and a grey phalarope were the highlights of his morning. Continuing into Friday and the highlights of Phil Hyde's excellent morning included 3 species of both grebe and skua, over 350 gannet and 2 leach's petrel (sadly Phil's repeat visit on Monday didn't produce the goods). The best morning however was Saturday with reserve regular Paul Sullivan venturing out to dip his toe and everything seemed to be a highlight! We're still waiting for confirmation on the storm petrel and if we get it that would add to our ever increasing list of new birds for the reserve this year.
Grey phalarope - Paul Sullivan
Off the back of the excellent conditions for seawatching it was also an exceptional period for incoming migrants over the weekend with birds everywhere at Frampton. We were in prime position to welcome hundreds of thrushes on Sunday with the reserve hedgerows dripping with a mixture of fieldfare, redwing, song thrush and blackbird. Chats were represented by redstart,wheatear and ooodles of robins while the grassland was littered with meadow pipit and skylark. The reserve also got in on the seawatching action too with the a young gannet seen flying over the wet grassland, a great skua over the sea bank and a little gull around the scrapes.
Bigger birds were on the move too. Over 300 pink-footed geese came in from the wash in the drizzle on Sunday morning and as the rain cleared on Sunday morning 14 whooper swans flew down the River Witham and out into the wash.
Pink-footed geese - Ian Ellis
The week was a little quieter after the rush of the weekend but we were able to fall back on quality over quantity. On Tuesday a ring ouzel and a brace of brambling were in the hedgerows and the following day saw a lapland bunting flying over.
Our first winter survey of the wild bird cover crops at Frieston turned up trumps with a good haul of birds which will hopefully increase over the winter.
And now for the waders :)
After a blank week for little stint last week we came back on form with 3 on the 13th. Other waders around during the week include 15 avocet, 1,500+ black-tailed godwit, 20 ruff, 2 jack snipe, curlew sandpiper, green sandpiper, greenshank and spotted redshank.
Jack snipe - Paul Sullivan
Raptors finish off this week's round up and as our winter wildfowl and passerine populations increase we can look forward to seeing them on a regular basis. Both marsh harrier and hen harrier have been seen over the saltmarsh with merlin hunting the grassland. Over the past few days an enormous young female peregrine (below) has taken the grassland to it's liking and can be seen (though only if you're looking in the right direction) on most days as it scythes and arcs through the reserve's airspace. A few teal wings lying about the grassland shows that it's a pretty accomplished hunter already so definitely one to watch out for when you visit this weekend.
Peregrine - Ian Ellis
The more you're out the more you see - https://twitter.com/BoyWonderBirder