Frampton Marsh and Freiston Shore recent sightings, 29 August - 4 September 2014

Morning. Toby vs Technology again. Not won entirely but trying my best. My phone and this software are not the best of friends so BirdForum to the rescue. Here's a brief sightings update I wrote on the train yesterday.

Currently on the train back from Norwich so not sure I'll be able to do a proper blog so BirdForum will have to come to my rescue. 

There are two things to remember when visiting this week. East Hide and high tides. Yes it's a long walk to East Hide but currently it may well be one of the most productive hides in the country. This week we've had white-winged black tern, red-necked phalarope, glossy ibis, pectoral sandpiper, Temminck's stint, three spoonbills, four little stints, 15 curlew sandpipers, three spotted redshanks, greenshanks and oodles of black-tailed godwits, ringed plovers and dunlins. Not too shabby at all. With high tides upon us this week (on my phone so can't do a link but check VillagerFred's link to tides above and search for Tabb's Head) we could be in for an absolute treat of a week at Frampton. 

So a quick reminder..... 
1) Get up early for high tide
and 
2) Get to East Hide

This week has also seen wildfowl numbers building significantly with the first pintails now back on site. Teal and wigeon numbers are also increasing and there were at least 3, possibly 4, garganeys on the reserve on 2 September. They are in eclipse plumage so tricky to see but good birds to find if you want to test yourself. 

Ruff numbers are most probably into three figures now and spread across the reserve with a strong supporting cast of spotted redshanks (five), greenshanks (six), green sandpipers (two) and common sandpiper also around to be found. 

The fence line on Marsh Farm has been used by merlin, sparrowhawk, whinchat and wheatear with several of the latter also being found along the sea bank with yellow wagtails. 

1. Sea Aster Mining Bee - A very localised colonial bee, confined to sandy coastal habitats. In a European context this is the UK's rarest bee and we have it here :)

2. The Glossy Ibis is a wanderer and as water levels naturally dry it is moving about but still seen daily and these are the best places to look.

3. Merlin, Peregrine and Marsh Harrier are becoming more numerous but its as much looking back over the reserve as it is checking the saltmarsh. 

4. We've had varying Spoonbill numbers but this patch of Roads Farm Wet Grassland is where they are usually seen.

5. More waders than we can shake a stick at, or at least count with a degree of certainty. You can't move for Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper, with plenty of Spotted Redshank, Greenshank and Ruff for company.

6. The fencelines along the eastern border are a magnet for Wheatear which associate with groups of Yellow Wagtail and Meadow Pipit.

7. Obvious increases in Wigeon and Teal on the Roads Farm Wet Grassland with several hundred birds in total. Pintail are just coming back too and Garganey are still there to be found, honest.

8. There is a colony of Small Red-eyed Damselflies along the Marsh Farm '8' ditch and Red-veined Darters in the ditch to the North.