Viewing conditions improved dramatically this week with crisp chilly mornings giving way to much clearer afternoons. Fortunately, while the weather abated, the birds certainly didn't. The record wigeon count tumbled once more for the third time in as many weeks with 4,690 seen on the 5th. Teal numbers have waned a little but everything else seems to be going strong as summed up nicely by Chris’ visit to us on the 3rd. Aside from the wigeon count, our other highlights follow on from last weeks with the rough legged buzzard still seen sporadically on the way to the reserve, our glossy ibis giving outrageously close views next to the car par and the evening performance of sight and sound produced by thousands of birds gives any theatrical production a run for its money.
Glossy ibis - Paul Sullivan
Glossy ibis - Toby Collett
Golden plover and lapwing - Ridvan Ertuğ
Mixed wader flock and a sneaky starling - Neil Smith
The past week has seen several whooper swans roosting on the reserve and up to 5 have hung around on Marsh Farm wet grassland during the day. A scan from the road or Mount Hirons is the best way to pick them out and further searching should yield the 2 European white-fronted geese that have been in among the greylags. Four pink-footed geese are now resident on Roads Farm with larger skeins dropping in and heading over so keep eyes and ears sharp.
Whooper swan - Neil Smith
European white-fronted goose - Neil Smith
While searching for the the larger wildfowl, please take time to enjoy the sheer scale of wigeon and teal as they traverse the wetland habitats. They have become pretty tolerate to visitors and allow close approach when they're on the ground, though team up with other waders and wildfowl to obfuscate aerial threats.
Wigeon and teal - Neil Smith
Golden plover - Neil Smith
Golden plover and Lapwing - Ridvan Ertuğ
Peregrine - Neil Smith
1. And it's those waders and wildlfowl that make up the birding bonanza across the reserve. Tides are high and early this weekend so dawn starts on the reserve may well catch the remnants of them.
2. It's that glossy ibis once more. Mobile at times but if you catch it when the sun's out and it's in close then your visit will be made.
3. A pair of snow buntings on the 4th carry on the erratic reports of buntings on the reserve but they are about so persevere and rewards may well be yours.
4. An evening shift will catch whooper swans coming in to roost but a bit of luck and they'll stick around during the day.
5. Our plover numbers vary in the mid-thousands but numbers can only be truly counted and appreciated when they take to the air.
6. The male hen harrier strayed onto the wet grassland on the 5th though it is more often seen patrolling the saltmarsh.
7. With many geese moving on and off the reserve it was only a matter of time until the Egyptian goose in nearby fields last week entered Frampton airspace.
8. Patience are needed with the white-fronted geese as they can offer go missing in dips and hollows.
9. The marsh farm reservoir turned up trumps on the 3rd with a water pipit on the bank. If a search here proves fruitless then the other spot they've been reported from is near East Hide.
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 like 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