I have to admit that the highlight of this week was in fact not on the reserve... controversial indeed. The rough-legged buzzard that was seen on 4 consecutive days last week was thought to be the same bird and could well have a winter territory that included Frampton. We were pretty confident that a flurry of sightings would then follow as eyes would be looking for this frosty northern visitor. This was not to be the case. No positive or even potential sightings were reported to us over the weekend or at the start of the week, had we got it wrong? Not likely!! :) Our keen eyed volunteer Stuart picked out a pale-headed white-tailed buzzard on the road to Frampton village on Thursday morning and quickly u-turned to let us know he may have had a rough-legged buzzard. I headed out shortly after on errands but wasn't able to relocate it :( On the way back from my outing I broke cover of the village and scanned the fields in front of me, nothing. What I should have been doing is checking the trees as out the corner of my eye a huge white bird dropped off a small birch and flew along the road a short way before hovering over the verge, it was the rough-leg and what a beauty. The pictures below give you an idea of how close it was and some features to look out for (pale head, white tail base with thick black tail band and black carpals on the underwing). A more in depth look at the identification and difference between RLB and common buzzard can be found in the BTO video. The map will hopefully give you an idea of where to look but as the territories can be so big, it's worth scanning on all approach roads. Rough-legged buzzard - Toby Collett
Rough-legged buzzard - Toby Collett
Map showing where to look for the rough-legged buzzard. Drive slow on blue and scan the red bits.
Winter buzzard identification video courtesy of the BTO
On the 5th we welcomed the hard working staff and volunteers from the excellent RSPB Langford Lowfields. It's always exciting to have keen and eager eyes on the reserve as bits always get founds and Wednesday was no exception. After a reserve ramble from me they were all eager to get out birding and less than ten minutes after they piled out the Visitor Centre the majority had witnessed one of the strangest birding incidents at Frampton. A litte auk whizzed down the main access road at head height and over the hedge and inland! While these tiny northern wanderers are often seen on the sea off both Frampton and Freiston, they've never ventured to the landward side of the sea wall, until now. And the excitement didn't stop there as warden Paul found the lapland bunting below, our first record this autumn.
Lapland bunting - Paul Bennet
The glossy ibis has started to return to its favoured roadside pools just near Mount Hirons and has been giving some excellent views in the low evening light.
Glossy ibis - Neil Smith
The crop on south scrape has now been flooded and it's an absolute feeding frenzy! Geese and duck are all over it and the flock of 70+ linnet have attracted a sparrowhawk or two. The barnacle goose below has also taken a fancy to the seedy richness and the occasional pink-footed goose and family party of whooper swan have popped in for a nibble.
Barnacle goose - Neil Smith
Although the rough-legged buzzard may have hogged the headlines, our regular raptors weren't to be outdone and we've seen some super aerial acrobatics from our merlin, peregrine and sparrowhawk as they twist and turn in pursuit.
Peregrine (and teal) - Neil Smith
Sparrowhawk - Neil Smith
After a bit of a stop-start on the thrush arrival front it was definitely start again this week with our berry laden hedgerows acting as a magnet for new arrivals. Redwing and fieldfare will gorge on this fruity feast and replenish resources that have been spent flying over the North Sea.
Fieldfare - Neil Smith
And it's not just thrushes that have braved the watery crossing. Starlings have been streaming in and newly arrived robins are ticking across the reserve. There have been several reports of starling groups with tag along little auks so do give them a good grilling as they pass by.
Robin - Neil Smith
But it's not all about new arrivals, our residents are just as stunning. Finches and bunting numbers are increasing around the feeders and the bare branches allow easier views than during the summer.
Reed bunting - Neil Smith
And so to this weeks sightings map
1. Pink-footed geese are still moving over the reserve and several smaller groups have touched down on the wet grassland so Marsh Farm and Roads Farm are always worth a scan.
2. As we re-wet the reserve the glossy ibis has returned to it's favoured pools next to the road.
3. We got another picture of a black brant this week so diligence and patience will be rewarded.
4. Rock pipit currently outnumbers meadow pipit on the saltmarsh with several straying onto Roads Farm and the scrapes. Keep a look out for both Lapland and snow bunting on the sea bank too.
5. With the WeBS count this weekend we'll get an accurate count of wigeon and there's a good chance it will be over 2,000 which is usually what we expect in the middle of winter. They seem to be very happy with the results of our grazing regime.
6. Big numbers of prey species are bringing the heavy hitters in. A good indication that something fast and sharp clawed is in the vicinity is a sudden cloud of birds over the reserve. Check high for peregrine and low for sparrowhawk and merlin. With the rough-legged buzzard being just down the road there's every chance it may drift across over the weekend.
7. The barn owl has been pretty regular this last week and can bee seen from 2 hours before sunset, patrolling the north of the reedbed and the roadside
8. The thrushes are best seen outside of the hedge but a walk along the public footpath will be a different experience all together.
Dawn starts on Saturday and Sunday will give you good high tides and a bit of advanced warning to those with a basic interest in either phone-scoping and/or duck/wader/general bird id... I'm on duty next weekend (15th and 16th) and will be in the 360 hide between 12pm and 2pm on both Saturday and Sunday to offer advice and thoughts on both. So if you are just starting out in birdwatching and want some pointers or would like to learn how to take photos with your camera and capture some images from your visit then please pop in and say hello :)
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