Big thank you to Chris for manning the fort for last week's sightings. Unfortunately you're back to earth with my ramblings this week, will try not to make the return too bumpy.
Highlight of the week was the years 4th (maybe 5th) red kite reported from the Visitor Centre by Mick on the 26 Feb. Could this be the same bird mooching about or has there been some local movement as birds disperse from wintering grounds looking for summer territories? Be good to get some pictures and then we can compare so please keep your eyes out, and your camera finger primed.
Away from the kite fly through there was a familiar look to our birding menu with our long stayers continuing to linger.
The Bewick's and whooper swans are still regular in the fields to the south of the cross bank and the four European white-fronted geese continue to play hide and seek on Marsh Farm. The pair of scaup have now relocated to South Scrape where they are much easier to see as there are fewer places to hide, though this hasn't made them any more energetic at all. The Australian wood duck still proves to be a bit of a head scratcher to those that don't keep up with our blogs so if you are out and about over the next week and you do happen to see it please let other visitors know and point them in the direction of this blog so they can learn more about it.
Scaup - Toby Collett
I keep sifting through the brent geese looking for a black brant but so for my searches on that front have been fruitless. Fortunately they haven't been in vain though as I had my second colour ringed dark-bellied brent goose of the year, as well as a couple of pale-bellied birds.
Colour ringed dark-bellied brent Goose (BPB=) - Toby Collett
Details of 'BPB=' kindly supplied by www.geese.org
While not as old as the bird I had in January it is more site faithful, being seen only at Frampton during its winter in the UK. A very commendable choice of holiday destination.
This was not the only colour ringed bird I've had this week. A ruff was outside the Visitor Centre on 27 Feb but so far I've yet to track down the scheme, though early endeavors show that it could be of Scandinavian origins.
A colour ringed black-tailed godwit was seen in the same place at the start of the month and I received the details a few days ago.
LN-ON 04.07.13 Kaldaðarnes, Árnessýsla, S Iceland - Ringed as a chick
LN-ON 22.09.13 Snettisham, the Wash estuary, Norfolk, E England
LN-ON 20.10.13 Frampton Marsh, the Wash estuary, Lincolnshire, E England
LN-ON 2.02.14 Frampton RSPB, the Wash estuary, Lincolnshire, E England
Results like this just goes to show how far birds travel each year to spend their winter with us and the varying countries they come from. The Wash is an incredible hub for birds from all over the world and Frampton and Freiston are perfectly placed for you to experience the very best it has to offer.
Moving away from looking at rings to looking at whole birds and our last report leads us nicely onto my favourite and yours.... waders!
Highlights have been the little stint, still present on the Freiston Lagoon, a fly through of seven avocet on 25 Feb, and a single greenshank over the scrapes on 24 Feb. Whether it be the recent high tides or just the face we're getting the reserve wetter after all the management work but dunlin numbers have gone through the roof! From small flocks of 20's - 50's we now have upwards of 600 on the reserve. These can be seen moving around the wet grasslands and scrapes, often settling together in a tight bunch on the islands. Looking forward to these little beauties getting their dark tummies and some colour on their back over the next month.
Dunlin - Toby Collett
As much as the dunlin have increased, the golden plover continue to reign supreme in the abundance charts. Regular counts of 5 - 8,000 have been made throughout the week, with the sky being filled with them on occasion. As incredible as these look, swirling and dancing in time to some silent symphony, they also provide a feast for the ears, singing a wonderful chorus while they mingle together on the grassland.
Golden plover - Toby Collett
Birds of prey activity is still evident across the reserve with merlin being seen on both Roads and Marsh Farm, three peregrines tussled over the scrapes on 26 Feb and marsh harriers on the salt marsh peaked at six on 27 Feb with a male hen harrier providing an added bonus.
Water rail's are pretty scarce birds on the reserve but regular Ian has managed to stake one out near the Marsh Farm reservoir and not only did he see it pretty well he also got a cracking pic. Like the bittern, these small skulkers move over to us from continental Europe to spend the temperate winter with us. We've not had them breeding on the reserve yet due to a lack of habitat but hopefully as the reeds establish this is a bird we will hopefully see, and hear, more of them over the years. Who knows, it might even be this one.
Water rail - Ian Ellis
I'll finish this week with a photographic flourish. The recent sunny conditions have provided some fantastic opportunities for those with cameras to get out and get clicking, and that's just what I did as I went around checking water levels. The following two pictures were taken near the salt marsh car park and gives you an idea of how approachable the birds are and what can be achieved.
Golden plover (background) and dark-bellied brent geese (foreground) - Toby Collett
Dark-bellied brent geese (foreground) and golden plover (background) - Toby Collett
Please do let me know if you have a blog or a flickr account that you share pictures on as I would love to use them to showcase what the reserves have to offer.
Finally I picked up a pair of wings from the Wet Grassland, any idea what they belonged too? Answers on a postcard please (or at the bottom) and all will be revealed next week.
Mystery wing - Toby Collett
Ooooo ooo finally finally, forgot to mention the tides for this weekend and next week, very high indeed and at suitable times for visiting too. Make sure you check them out before your visit.
Want to keep up with all the news from the reserves and from the rest of the RSPB across Lincolnshire? Then 'like' us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/rspblincs) and follow us on twitter (www.twitter.com/RSPBnorfolklinc)
The more you're out the more you see - https://twitter.com/BoyWonderBirder
Thanks, Toby.