Stone the Crows!

Well, maybe not literally! But there was an unusual sighting yesterday, out on the reserve.

During a bird survey out on the salt marshes, Simon (our assistant warden) and George (our conservation intern) spotted a crow. OK, nothing unusual about that, we see quite a few. But this wasn't your run-of-the-mill ordinary crow. This was a hooded crow, their more northerly cousin. Whilst our normal crows are jet black, hooded crows are grey, with black wings and head, the latter giving them their name. The two birds were originally thought to be two different types of the same bird, as they can interbreed. But in 2002 it was decided they were two separate species.

Hooded crows are normally to be found in Scandinavia, Ireland, north and west Scotland and the Isle of Man. Often in hilly mountainous areas. Quite what it made of this area of Lincolnshire is anyone's guess! Not quite sure how it came to be here, but it probably has something to do with all those strong winds over the weekend. Birds can often get picked up by such winds, then arrive in the oddest of places.

Hooded crow, photo by Dick Daniels

Obviously, this is an important record for the site. In fact, to the best of our knowledge, there has never been one previously at Frampton. Though there was one in the 1980's at Freiston Shore.

Also during the survey, the team were pleased to see a stonechat and a nice flock of 50 fieldfares, newly arrived from Scandinavia