Frampton Marsh recent sightings: 26 November - 2 December 2016

Good evening one and all. Just grabbed a half hour so will quickly ping out this weeks sightings and what to look for next week.

Here are the maps from the last week >> Wednesday 30, Tuesday 29, Monday 28, Sunday 27 and Saturday 26 November.

And here's a quick break down of what to look for and where.

• Reedbed - The stonechat(s) continues to show very along the Northern path and while you're over that way, look in the fields in front of the sea bank for the dark-bellied brent goose as they forage on the crops. They will occasionally rise and fly directly overhead to the scrapes to bathe and wash. The 'pinging' of our bearded tit party can be heard anywhere along the route and is the easiest way to know if they're about. With a bit of luck and patience some excellent views can be had. Though we've had no report of bittern in the last week, there's no reason to say it's isn't lurking in there somewhere. Fingers crossed. Finally try and wrap up warm and stay till last light. You may well see our barn owl hunting the ditches, hen harrier trying to pick off one of the starling coming in to roost or the 30+ whooper swan flying in to spend the night.
• Scrapes - Middle Scrape is still heaving with lots of wildfowl and waders coming on to relax and hang out. If you time it right then expect to see and hear thousands of golden plover and lapwing all hustled up together. We've had plenty of snipe dotted around on the islands and fringes with the occasional jack snipe being found too. If you're not sure how to separate the two then check out this excellent BTO video. Will try and cobble together a quick cut out and keep ID sheet over the next few weeks. There have been good numbers of ruff moving around too.
• Wet Grassland - If Marsh Farm looks a little devoid of birds, check the fence line and gate tops for peregrine. There are two very big girls out there, a steel blue adult and the much browner immature, both of them absolutely terrifying when in full flow. If neither are around then your eyes and ears will be treated to over 4,000 wigeon, 1500 teal and the plover fall out from the scrapes. A nice surprise has been the lingering pink-footed goose flock which has occasionally nudged into 4 figures. These are most often see in the fields next to the barn. Look for the spotted redshank at the north end of Roads Farm, this is the wettest part of the grassland as we are already prepping for water management and regimes for Spring 2017. If we get it right, that end could be excellent in May...
• Saltmarsh - The main attraction out on the marsh is the continuing raptor presence. 2 different male hen harrier have been moving around and up to 4 ringtails have been seen throughout the day. Multiples of both merlin and marsh harrier aren't uncommon. Both short-eared owl and barn owl can be picked up from the Raptor Viewpoint and don't forget to grill the hedgerow behind for corn bunting and the hundreds of fieldfare.  We've also noticed and increase in rock pipit too, feeding around the sea wall and on the strand line.

I think that pretty much covers the regulars. With so many birds about there is bound to be something extra tucked away so have a good sift through and please don't forget to stay to sundown as there is always something to see.

The dark-bellied brent goose in the fields to the north of the reedbed are a sight and sound to behold from a distance but there will be times when you can get right underneath them. A bit of luck is needed for this memorable moment though, that or a hulking peregrine on her rounds.

 
dark-bellied brent goose - Chris Cox

We have had successive peak counts of wigeon over the last 3 years, will we see a 4th record breaking year? The habitats are looking good so if we get the reserve a little wetter and we have a cold snap to move birds about then a high six thousand count could be on the cards.

wigeon - Jeremy Eyeons

We don't have the abundance and variety of waders that we get in the Spring and Autumn but there are still a fair few around to be found and they can be very approachable.

 
black-tailed godwit - Neil Smith

The avian buffet is hard to resist for our falcons and often it's this buffet that gives them away. A rising flock is a good indication that something's on the prowl but picking both merlin and peregrine in flight can be tricky. Keep scanning all the posts on the grasslands and saltmarsh for your best chance of seeing one.

 
merlin - Oliver Woodman

North Scrape is a favoured hunting ground for both merlin and sparrowhawk with the seed rich bounty bringing in lots of our smaller birds. As we start to flood up, these will be replaced by the duck and geese that will devour the seeds and greenery, passing them and making conditions perfect for wader food when we draw it down in the Autumn. Until then though enjoy the finches, larks, chats and buntings that feed in and among the seedy heads.

 
dunnock - Stuart

 
stonechat - Steve Nikols

And even if you don't get to venture out very far, the Visitor Centre feeding station is always worth a watch. We've recently welcomed back a Yellowhammer or two and as the temperatures drop, their numbers will increase. In the mean time there is plenty to keep you entertained.

 
starling - Debsie Pickering

 
tree sparrow - Debsie Pickering

 
reed bunting female - Purple Jaguar

 
reed bunting male - Debsie Pickering

That's all from us 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 enjoy taking pictures and have a Flickr account then please join our group and share your images with everyone. If you are thinking of paying a visit from near or far please do check out the tide times which can make a big difference to both numbers and variety of birds seen on the day.