Another cracking week on the reserves, but admittedly every week has something to offer. Big news this week was not one but 2 records were broken (well three if you count the glossy ibis as each day it's seen is the longest we've ever had one today being the 154th for those keeping count). Our combination of hard work, foresight, ecologicial understanding and water management all culminated nicely on the WeBS count of the 9th with record counts of both wigeon - 3243 and teal - 2183. Dark-bellied brent geese are also on form with over 4,000 in and around the reserve with several thousand more visible out over the saltmarsh to the south of Frampton. The saline lagoon at Freiston is also a wildfowl magnet with over three thousand each of wigeon and brent geese. While there may not be anything rare or scarce in the mix, not yet at least, the spectacle itself is something special and stands alone as a reason to visit.
Dark-bellied brent geese - Paul McCaffrey
Wigeon - Geoff Ward
Just off the reserve we have about 300 pink-footed geese regularly feeding in fields just south of Frampton Roads. These are easily visible from the roadside but can also be seen at dawn and dusk as they move too and from roost sites. A couple of stragglers, like the ones below, can often be picked up on the Frampton wet grassland while a trip to Freiston on the 11th found 130 'pinkies' on the grassland and reservoir.
Pink-footed geese - Toby Collett
As we raise the water levels on the grassland and scrapes we are continuing to draw down the reedbed levels revealing resources for both waders and ducks. Dunlin, black-tailed godwit and ruff are all appreciative of this and small mixed flocks are regularly seen in front of the visitor centre.
Mallard, black-tailed godwit, dunlin and teal - Kev JH
Other highlights from the Frampton WeBS count included goldeneye on Marsh Farm reservoir, goosander on the saltmarsh, 15 whooper swans on the scrapes, green sandpiper on the grassland and at least 5 kingfishers spread across the reserve.
As mentioned above the glossy ibis is still here and passed the 150 days attendance mark on Monday, gold star coming your way. Not sure it needs such decoration with plumage like that though!
Glossy ibis - Paul McCaffrey
Glossy ibis - Neil Smith
We've not fully pinned down the rough-legged buzzard as it must roam pretty far but the map below is a good starting point. It was seen at the start of the week but as the weather has been pretty grisly not many visitors have been out looking in the last few days but there's a good chance it's still in the vicinity. Scan south from Wyberton Roads (top blue line) and north from Frampton Roads (bottom blue line) along the hedge (red line on map below). Also worth a good scan south along the field boundaries too.
Rough-legged buzzard map
In addition to the rough-legged buzzard we've had a brilliant raptor week across both reserves with hen harrier, merlin, peregrine and sparrowhawk at Freiston on the 11th. The following day saw another ring tail hen harrier over the Frampton saltmarsh followed shortly by a stunning adult male close to the sea bank. A short-eared owl on the same afternoon was probably the same bird seen during the WeBS count on the 9th. The BIGGEST peregrine in the world came over Frampton on the 12th and spooked absolutely everything (8,000+ birds in the air at once!) including a second peregrine on the wet grassland. A cloud of birds rising from the deck is a good indication that an avian predator is on the move but picking out the hunter among the hunted takes a bit of practice and a fair snifter of luck.
Short-eared owl - Neil Smith
While we lose great-crested grebes in the winter, little grebes seem to appear from nowhere and are all over the place. Over 20 can be seen on the Freiston lagoon alone and we're nearly up to that across Frampton. These gregarious birds can be tricky to catch up with due to their ebullient behaviour, seemingly underwater as much as they are above it, but a bit of patience down by the sea bank car park will be rewarded with views like this.
Little grebe - Paul McCaffrey
We have good numbers of both meadow and rock pipt at both reserves with the former more likely to be seen around the scrapes and grassland and the latter out on the saltmarsh. If you're not sure how to tell the difference between the two or haven't been able to catch up with either before then please join me in the 360 Hide this weekend between 12 and 2pm. I'll be doing my best to answer questions about the reserves management, point you in the right direction with identification and also encouraging those with camera phones and telescopes to make them the best of friends. Please feel free to pop in and say hello :)
Meadow pipit - Kev JH
And here's this weeks sightings map with a new entry at number 8........
1. The pink-footed geese use the reserve as flyway to get between roosting and feeding sites. Scanning of the fields along the road between village and reserve should add them to your days totals but stay till dusk and you'll have them 'wink-wink' ing over your head as the sun goes down.
2. The ibis can be seen in it's usual spots but don't forget how approachable it can be. Several visitors have actually scanned beyond it thinking that it was in pools out on the grassland rather than those right in front of them.
3. No reports of either black brant or pale-bellied brent this week so stake out the larger groups in the areas above and see if you can find the odd one out.
4. Big numbers of fieldfare have been around this week, with as many being off reserve as on. Song thrush, redwing and blackbird are also in the mix, gorging themselves on berries.
5. Record breaking flocks are to be found on the scrapes and wet grassland. The majority of males are now moulting out of eclipse so look absolutely pristine with their new feathers.
6. There's a fair chance that with a bit of luck you could get 10 birds of prey in a day here, with 6 being a good haul. How well will you do on your next visit?
7. As mentioned above, barn owl could well be on that list as we are firmly in a hunting zone and they are regularly seen patrolling the reserve during the crepuscular hours.
8. Between 5 and 6 thousand starlings can be seen from the visitor centre in the evening though unfortunately they aren't coming onto the reserve to roost :(
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