Hello and welcome to another weekly round up.
Our big news this week came off the back of an informal 24 hour bird race run between midlands nature reserves. Our super dooper Visitor Services Officer Chris did Frampton proud and a dawn to dusk watch resulted in a personal tally of 86 species and aided by our excellent visitors and volunteers a combined reserve tally of 94 species!! There were some glaring omissions form the day so we think 100 birds on/from the reserve is absolutely possible. More to the point we saw more birds than any other reserve so if you're in the midlands and want value for money birding, we'll see you very soon :) This is now the official target to beat so any visiting birders who want a challenge, 94+ is your target for the reserve and 60+ is your target from the VC alone. For a full list of the day and a quick write up, have a look here.
We've had a few new additions since last week. The most notable being a second Spoonbill that joined our pristine adult. Wood Sandpipers finally arrived with a single bird on the 4th and a second on the 5th and our Garganey group went from 3 to four with the addition of another cracking drake. Also had the pleasure of hearing them call. Such a strange noise for a duck.
Spoonbills - Ian Ellis
Spoonbill - Keith
Garganey (drake) - Ian Ellis
Garganey (duck) - Ian Ellis
Wood Sandpiper - Neil Smith
Regular readers will be pleased to hear that the Dark-bellied Brent Goose BPB= is still with us. If it wants to get back to where it was rung in Northern Russia it has over 3,000 miles to go! Be interesting to know when it does leave so please keep an eye out for it.
Duck numbers have dropped right off with a solitary Wigeon on Roads Farm and a handful of Teal spread throughout. Hopefully we'll have a repeat of last year and Pochard will breed with us again after their first successful attempt in 2013. The Australian Wood Duck is a regular sight thought the most numerous duck around at the minute are Shoveler. They love our wet grassland!
Shoveler - Neil Smith
Great Crested Grebes are getting trickier to see which hopefully means they've found somewhere safe to start nesting. They do occasionally venture out and parade for the crowds outside the Visitor Centre.
Great Crested Grebe - Neil Smith
Coots however are quite happy to nest in the open and several have already hatched out some youngsters on Marsh Farm
Coot - Jill Hall
The recent work we did on north scrape is having the desired affect, with Avocets loving the new islands we created. The largest one near the East Hide steps has 30+ sitting birds and the one right outside the hide has at least 6. The grassland behind East Hide is also teeming with waders and a Little Stint has been on and off there all week. Counts from the hide include 120 Dunlin, 60 Ringed Plover, 4 Turnstone and 6 Little Ringed Plover, with the Dunlin and Turnstone in eye poppingly smart summer plumage. While the number of smaller waders is on the up, Ruff and Black-tailed Godwits are slowly dwindling as they head off to breeding grounds. Fortunately some still remain and there has been several opportunities to watch some displaying Ruff in action, both on the scrapes and grassland. Those Ruff that are around are starting to look the bees knees.
Whimbrel passage has peaked but there are still birds moving around, both on the grassland and saltmarsh.
Ruff - Keith
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We could be on for a bumper year for Little Ringed Plover as they seem to be everywhere. I even watched on displaying around the Visitor Centre then drop into the car park! They are very noisy at this time of year as the males advertise territory so learn the call and they should be pretty easy to find.
Little Ringed Plover - Keith
The first summer Little Gull remained around the reedbed all week and Mediterranean Gull presence was upped with a vocal pair joining the resident second year bird and there is also a pair at Freiston now.
Common Tern numbers are building at both Frampton and Freiston and a lone Sandwich Tern strayed onto the Framton scrapes on the 6th.
Turtle Doves continue to be a big draw though they aren't as accommodating as some would wish. Late evenings seem to be good as they purr in the falling sun. The Marsh Farm reservoir area and Cross Bank are the best places to look though sightings are not guaranteed so patience is needed.
Turtle Dove - Daniel Newton
Late evenings are also the best time to see Barn Owl. This one was resting up along the Cross Bank
Barn Owl - Daniel Newton
Swift passage was suddenly upon us this week. A trickle soon turned into a notable movement as they whizzed low over the sea bank and headed inland on both the 6th and 7th.
Our very obliging Skylark continues to perform near Mount Hirons and his wonderful voice is one of many that has been filling the ears this week. The best place to experience our birdsong is along the public footpath where you'll hear Reed and Sedge Warbler, Common and Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap, Yellowhammer, Reed and Corn Bunting.
Sedge Warbler - Keith
Sedge Warbler - Jill Hall
If a feast for the ears isn't your thing then keep an eye out for the Frampton and Freiston Flora. Flowers will soon start to appear in good number so do let us know what you see and pass any photographs on, either to be used on here or for identification purposes.
Greater Pond Sedge - Jonathan Bye
Southern Marsh Orchid - Jonathan Bye
There'll be some high tides this time next week so if you are planning to come during the week do check to make sure your visit coincides.
Until then, enjoy your weekend and good birding.
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