Hello everyone,
We are back for another week with the lockdown sightings blog. Although we are slowly starting to ease out of lockdown, obviously the covid-19 situation is still ongoing, so we do recommend that if you are visiting the reserve you adhere to social distancing recommendations. Do keep others in mind, don't crowd together, and please allow others to gain access to the best viewpoints. The visitor centre (including toilets) and hides remain closed for now.
It is chick central at Frampton Marsh rigth now! Last week we recorded a whopping 132 avocet chicks, with 30 birds still sitting on nests. We also have lapwing chicks, little ringed plover chicks, shoveler chicks (see image below) and more! We have also had some mammal action this week. Otters are still on site, with one recently spotted in the paddock, and a badger was seen running alongside the riverbank in broad daylight.
Anthony Bentley - shoveler brood caught on the camera trap.
As well as the fauna, the reserves flora is looking beautiful! We currently have oxeye daisies in full bloom all over the reserve, including in the car park, and if you take a closer look at them you might even see some thick-thighed flower beetles (see image below). We also have two bee orchids on sight, near the east bank steps. Finally, when it comes to the birds, not much has changed from last week (except for the chick boom), but please find below the most recent sightings between 1 – 5 June.
Monday 1
Hobby - 1
Spoonbill - 1
Curlew sandpiper -1
Tuesday 2
Red-crested Pochard -1
Thursday 4
Red-crested Pochard – 1
Curlew sandpiper – 1
Turtle dove – 1
Greenshank – 1
Avocet chicks – 132!
Friday 5
Cuckoo - 1
Well you now have good incentives to visit us at Frampton, if you do visit please be careful and follow the rules put in place to keep everyone safe. Enjoy!