Frampton Marsh recent sightings: 29 October - 4 November 2016

Howdy folks! And welcome back again to another set of Frampton Marsh recent sightings. With me, Chris the visitor guy.

Now, because you've all been good, I have got you some nice photos to look at this week too. Hurrah! We shall start with last Saturday's map though...

Wheee! That is just a few sightings. Some more confirmed than others. Neither the shrike nor the buzzard could be refound for confirmation purposes, though everything suggests they could have been bona-fide records. Just one of those things alas. Nothing suspected about the bittern though, which flew straight past the visitor centre. Cue me getting very excited and amusing all present with my exhortations for it to land. Which it did. Another species for the 'Golden Welly', the annual competition between RSPB reserves as to how many long-legged species land on managed freshwater habitats. The bittern was a good step closer to this year's title.

So, after that, surely Sunday would be a disappointment?

Nope, still great sightings. From the two weasels playing and hunting right in front of the visitor centre (luckily when the Sheffield RSPB members group were present) to what might be our winning bird in the Golden Welly. Mid afternoon a woodcock flew in off the sea, landed in front of the 360 hide for a minute then took off again. Short, but just long enough. One visitor even got a photo of it.

Thank you 'Maccacracker' for the photo. This is our 35th species of wader this year, a brilliant record.

The weather up til now had been unseanably warm. There were still dragonflies zooming about, and our friendly photographer Neil Smith even found this silver Y moth.

Monday was always going to seem a bit quiet in comparison...

Though the glossy ibis is still around. It can be a bit elusive though. I mean, I've not seen it yet even. So here's a photo of it, with a little egret.

Photo by Alan Brewster

Alas, no map for Tuesday as I was off. Or Wednesday as I was stuck in meetings.

As for today, a bit quiet. Maybe everything is waiting to show at the weekend...

So what else is about? Well, stonechats are being seen here and there...

(Photo by Neil Smith)

There are plenty of ducks, mostly wigeon and teal...

(Photo by Graeham Mounteney)

And if you get a sunny day, the early morning light is lovely.

(photo by Neil Smith)

So do come on and pay us a visit.

As a reminder, you can find more up-to-date news on our Twitter feed https://twitter.com/RSPBNorfolkLinc. If you tweet, please use #RSPBframpton so we can see your tweets. If you take photos, either tweet them, send them into our Facebook page www.facebook.com/rspblincs/ or onto our Flickr group https://www.flickr.com/groups/2697538@N23/pool/with/30633451776

So I hope you all have a good week, take care, and I'll see you next time!