Frampton Marsh and Freiston Shore recent sightings 24-30 April 2015

And here, as promised, is this weeks sightings. As with recent weeks we'll get straight to the map.

1. Turtle doves are purring away in the hedgerow. Look back along the paddock/towards the footpath bench from the track next to Marsh Farm reservoir to try and see them perched out in the open.

2. A recent influx of whinchat into the country has seen a couple make landfall here and what crackers they are.

3. The wood sandpiper has been around since the 24th (when we also had a super smart black tern) though not seen regularly at all. It's been tucked in to the ditches to best looking for it from the cross bank.

4. Over 40 whimbrel were in one group on the 30th with several more dotted around the reserve. Check out this video for differences between these and curlew. 

5. The next few weeks are the best time to see corn buntings as they sit singing in the bush tops.

6. Wheatear numbers have picked up both on the grassland and saltmarsh.

7. The curlew sandpiper has been around since the 27th and is about 20% off it's full summer rouge.

8. All our warblers are now in (bar the irregular grasshopper warbler) with reed warbler and lesser whitethroat the last arrivals. The hedgerow is now full of noise, colour and activity so please do enjoy it at it's peak during May.

9. Ruff. What can I say. THEY ARE AWESOME!! We have every combination possible with no two birds being the same. There is a near white one around south scrape ad roads farm wet grassland which is absolutely stunning. Several males are getting their ruffs and a e have been sen displaying. A little lekking may well be on the cards.....

We are now firmly in wader season so prepare for weekly ramblings and unnecessary gushings about how awesome they are. First up we'll go with whimbrel as we've had a little influx and they can be pretty showy on occasion.

 
Whimbrel - Dan Newton

Summer plumaged waders are the absolute bees knees and we are just starting to see some absolute crackers. There are a couple of spotted redshanks around that are on their way to looking splendid, but they are outshone by something else....

 
Spotted redshank - Alan Brewster

You've guessed it, RUFF!! Will try and get some shots of more of these next week if the weathers good and I can sneak off for lunch as they are just incredible.

 
Ruff -  Jeremy Eyeons

And lastly dunlin. These guys are often over looked in winter due to their drab grey plumage but how smart are they looking now?! Several small groups are now feeding up on the pool fringes and muddy patches across the grasslands and scrapes. Make sure you take time to check them out and enjoy them as they are total aceness. 

 
Dunlin -  Jeremy Eyeons

Early starts and late finishes are now the best times to catch barn owls. The reserve takes on a different feel at these times so worth trying to get out early or pop down for an evening walk.

 
Barn owl - Dan Newton

And these guys are now the stars of the Frampton show and all for the wrong reasons :( What was once a common farmland bird could well no longer breed in the county in the next 20 years. Enjoy them while you can.

 
Turtle dove - Ian Ellis

I'm glad Ian captured the Mediterranean gulls on the reedbed as they are so elusive I some times worry that you guys think I'm fibbing when I mention them. But nope, they're real and here they are. Right place, right time needed and learn that call!

 
Mediterranean gull - Ian Ellis

Wheatears may well be breaking into double figures now but they'll start to dwindle in numbers as the month continues. The larger and deeper coloured Greenland birds will be on their way through too.

 
Wheatear - Ian Ellis

Carrying on the 'w' theme we'll move onto this little ripper! Head to Marsh Farm barn to check for one and if you're unlucky there then check the fencelines along the reedbed and on the path to East Hide. 

 
Whichat - Paul Sullivan

Thank you to Jeremy for taking up my warbler challenge and snapping this wonderful whitethroat. A quick look on our Flickr album shows Jeremy has also snapped a reed warbler. Three down 4 to go.

 
Whitethroat - Jeremy Eyeons

We'll finish with the most colourful and unexpected arrival which was this super smart drake Mandarin duck at Freiston on the wet grassland. It stayed for 4 days and was last seen on the 30th. There has only been one on the reserves before which was at Frampton about 5 years ago.

 
Mandarin duck - Paul Sullivan

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.