Hello again, and welcome once more to the re-energised Frampton weekly sightings. Here to fill you in on what is about for your weekend birding pleasure. Let's start with the sightings maps
Today (Friday 8 April)
As you can see, quite a bit about. The Mediterranean gulls have at long last settled down somewhat. You can get distant views from the visitor centre or closer ones from the reedbed hide. There are two adult birds, who may even be starting to hold territory, and a second summer bird. Yellow wagtails have moved slightly from earlier in the week (see below) so that entire field is worth looking at. The water pipit was a pop-in, with a definite pink blush to be seen.
Breaking News!
Whilst I was in the process of writing this blog, Dan 'the man' Newton, one of our volunteers pinned down the first willow warbler of the year in the hedgerow. And the first sedge warbler of the year near the pond dipping pool. Twofer!
Moving to midweek and you can see there is still some interest out on the salt marsh. Very much worth mentioning that we currently have some big tides, well worth getting down here early if you can to see what they may be pushing up. Corn buntings are singing nicely. on that day there was one next to the road, but the bushes at the back of the reedbed are the more usual spot.
And finally, back we go to last weekend. And the first hobby of the year. Not that it hung around, moving past at some speed. A whitethroat briefly gave voice from the hedgerow before disappearing again. Very early for both those birds. A pair of little stints were lurking in the scrapes and wet grassland, though dunlin were giving people some confusion.
So, what might we expect in the week ahead. Well, I think it is about time we got our first garganey of the year. Likewise any time now we usually get our first house martin, wood sandpiper and common tern. Plenty to watch out for! if you do see any of those on the reserve, be sure to let us know so we can put them onto our 'arrivals board' in the visitor centre.
Reedbed, freshwater scrapes, saltmarsh and wet meadow. Frampton Marsh has it all! Come and pay us a visit soon.
Haha! Just to clarify, it was was Steve (Noirer) who put me onto the Willow Warbler (and a Blackcap) when I popped up at lunchtime. The Willow Warbler was still present this evening.
Pleased to find the Sedge Warbler though. They make one of the defining sounds of Summer at Frampton Marsh and it's always such a thrill to hear your first of the year.
"Accept that some days you are the pigeon, and some days you are the statue."