Another double header this week as I was on farmer duties last week. We are doing some very unique management at Frampton and I may be so bold as to say it isn't being done anywhere else so was flat out overseeing it last Friday and unfortunately ran out of time to blog. Will try and make it worth the wait.
Highlights of the last couple of weeks involve not one, not two but a hat trick of new additions to the Frampton reserve list.
On the 7th one lucky visitor spied a snoozing duck on the Marsh Farm reservoir. A head raise later and his initial identification was confirmed as a dozing female Common Scoter, a sea duck and regular winter visitor to The Wash, looked back at him. The distinctive white cheek is just about visible in the picture below. +1!
Common Scoter - Jonathan Savoury
A good weekend saw another avian addition and also something for lepidoptera lovers. On Saturday we had the first multi-observed and confirmed record of Glossy Ibis and the following morning a Red-necked Footman was found in our moth trap. Both are more likely to be found further south, the ibis from Spain and the footman from the south west of England, so pretty good records for Lincolnshire and of course the reserve. +2 and +3 :D
The fine pale speckling/streaking on the head (which is clearly visible in Neil's image below), means this bird is in non-breeding plumage.
Glossy Ibis - Neil Smith
The ibis has now been with us everyday since it was first seen (thanks to a good supply of food including the snails you can see it snacking on in the photo above) and can be pretty mobile, though it does seem to return to the flash on the wet grassland that's viewable from the seat on the public footpath that runs through the hedgerow on the west of the reserve. If you've not been to us before and want to have a look for it then pop into the visitor centre and I'm sure they'll give you much better directions than I just have.
Other niceties for the highlights section include a reported female Red-backed Shrike on the 8th, Quail flushed from the path to East Hide and Hobby over the sea bank car park on the 12th and a Spoonbill keeping the ibis company on the 18th.
We've seen a pretty sharp rise in wildfowl numbers over the last few weeks, with what must be failed and non-breeders arriving on the reserve for their moult. High counts include Mute Swan (35 on Middle Scrape), Tufted Duck (70+ males on the reedbed), Pochard (38 on the reedbed), Teal (30+ across the wet grassland) and Gadwall (100+ scrapes and Roads Farm). We've not seen the pair of Garganey for a while but a moulting drake has been regularly seen from the sea bank car park/Marsh Farm sea bank so there's a good chance he'll stay around for a while, though will be trickier to see the browner he gets.
As well as the wildfowl increases there have also been a notable upturn in heron numbers with up to 6 Grey Herons and 14 Little Egrets dotted around.
Little Egret - Neil Smith
Little Egret stalking Avocet - Neil Smith
A male Marsh Harrier flew across the Marsh Farm wet grassland on the 13th with occasional reports of individuals out on the saltmarsh during both weeks. Buzzards have been sporadic with the odd one drifting over the reserve while Sparrowhawk sightings have picked up, presumably because of adults out hunting to feed chicks. While not on the reserve itself but still relevant for anyone that visits, we wanted to share the fantastic news about the Boston Stump Peregrines. These four healthy chicks will no doubt be terrorising our waders and wildfowl in the months to come.
Avocets and their chicks seem to be everywhere, though the largest concentrations can be found in South Scrape and the northern end of Roads Farm wet grassland (behind East Hide). With the habitat work we've done and water level management we've undertaken it appears to have really benefited this emblematic species, though we've a feeling some of the reserve's residents aren't as happy as we are about their success and devotion to chick protection.
Avocet having none of it - Neil Smith
Avocet - Neil Smith
Little Ringed Plovers continue to display and mate though we are yet to see any youngsters. On the 13th we had a peak count of 14 on the Roads Farm wet grassland shows we've got our habitat management just right for them so hopefully it won't be long before we see some ping pong balls with legs running about soon.
As far as waders go, summer is definitely over for some. A group of 40 Bar-tailed Godwits iin none breeding plumage on the 6th on Marsh Farm was an interesting record but since then we have seen a steady increase of this flock in both number and variety. A count of 370 on the 16th was the highest we've ever had on Marsh Farm and with an increasing percentage of the group being made up of birds coming out of breeding plumage, it looks like the record may well be toppled before the month is out. Also in this group are Knot, Dunlin and Black-tailed Godwit, with most looking quite drab but a few failed breeders looking very smart indeed.
Knot (right of centre) and Bar-tailed Godwit
The flock is very close to the road and not only easy to watch but because it's a mixed group, provides and excellent opportunity to brush up on some wader identification if you occasionally struggle with your godwits.
Another sign of Autumn is returning Green Sandpipers. We've had a pretty poor spring wader passage but with indications of birds moving already then hopefully we might get good numbers and variety. Three have been seen on the reedbed on and off for the last week with what are probably 2 different birds in the southern corner of Marsh Farm.
Little Gulls have been with us all week but numbers peaked at 11 on the 18th. Like the waders, they also seem to prefer the conditions on Marsh Farm and are most often seen in the southern corner of Marsh Farm. Mediterranean Gulls have been a little less predictable but are still a regular sighting, mostly being recorded from the Visitor Centre.
Little Gull - Ian Ellis
Mediterranean Gull - Neil Smith
We should be expecting our first Common Tern chicks of the year this week. The path along North Scrape that heads towards East Hide will be the best place to look for them from with the islands here having upwards of 40 pairs on them. While most of them head out to fish in the Haven and The Wash, a few do like to hunt along the ditches and can come very close indeed allowing some wonderful photographic opportunities. 5 Sandwich Terns were seen over North Scrape on the 12th and we've also had several records from Freiston and the Witham Mouth.
Common Tern (and shrimp) - Neil Smith
Common Tern - Neil Smith
Turtle Doves continue to be an attraction and they've been heard purring near the bench where the Glossy Ibis is regularly seen. The other good spot for them is along the Cross Bank and don't forget to keep an eye out for them crossing the reserve too.
The soundtrack to many a Turtle Dove search has been one of our Cuckoo's. There are two birds around the reserve which are much easier to hear than see though if you have a little bit of luck then you may get to see both....
Cuckoo uno - Ian Ellis
Cuckoo two-no - Ian Ellis
We've had a good run of owl sightings with both Little and Barn Owl rewarding those with patience. Early mornings and late warm evenings are best to see both. The Little Owls are best looked for towards the Marsh Farm barn and the Barn Owls are often seen hunting along the ditches.
The summer songsters are quietening down now, with warbler song reduced to the occasional burst, though the Lesser Whitehroat continues to 'rattle' behind the car park rather frequently. Lots of Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler and Reed Warbler have fledged young to attend to and will mostly be heard to give off 'churring' or 'tacking' alarm calls.
Skylarks, Reed Bunting and Corn Bunting are still full of voice though, the former especially, so still plenty to listen out for on your walk around this weekend.
Reed Bunting - Neil Smith
It's been a busy week of non bird sightings too. Grass Snakes have enjoyed the sun and a lucky few have reported them crossing paths in front of them. A Water Shrew dashed across the entrance to the Visitor Centre on the 18th and a Weasel was picked out darting in between the car park vegetation on the 10th. Muntjac Deer are being seen more regularly as visitors explore the reserve perimeter and Water Voles are munching through the carrots we put out for them near the south scrape bench.
Following on from our Bee Orchid sighting at the start of June we had a thorough count and managed 40 individuals! Some are looking a little worse for wear now so if you are coming to see us over the next week or so, make sure you go and have a look for them near the East Hide sea bank steps.
Bee Orchid - Neil Smith
Well that's all from me. Enjoy your weekend and good birding
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