Waders on the move

While September is usually the best time for numbers and variety of waders on the reserves, we have hit a little purple patch and through some good planing and management of our water levels, we have some excellent feeding opportunities across the reserve, which in turn has brought in some great birds. On the 23rd a Pectoral Sandpiper was found on Middle Scrape. Unlike the white-rumped sandpiper that had been reported a few days earlier and proved impossible to pin down, this was well observed and well photographed. As good as this was, it was about to get better.

The next day one of our regulars popped in to see the 'Pec' and when asking where it was, found himself being pointed towards a Broad-billed Sandpiper! This was a great surprise and fantastic opportunity for those (like me) that didn't manage to catch up with the bird we had in May. It performed fantastically well to a hide full of people all day Sunday and the following day and is still present at time of writing. If you want to see some great images, have a look here, but if you want to see the bird for yourself then pop down and see us.

On Monday Ed did a full wader count and managed 19 species from the 360 Hide alone!

Oystercatcher
Avocet
Little Ringed Plover
Ringed Plover
Lapwing
Knot
Dunlin
Curlew Sandpiper 
Broad-billed Sandpiper
Little Stint 
Common Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Redshank
Spotted Redshank
Greenshank
Black-tailed Godwit
Curlew
Snipe
Ruff

Later on others also had green sandpiper and golden plover, taking the days tally to 21.

If they'd have ventured out towards the saltmarsh, whimbrel, bar-tailed godwit and grey plover were all possible while on the wet grassland we have had turnstone and wood sandpiper in the last few days. 

*Lunchtime Update* Just seen this blog by Dave who had 24 species that day, and even better, got pictures of them all! Great effort :D

*29th July Update* The Broad-billed Sandpiper and Pectoral Sandpiper weren't seen on the 28th but visitors were treated to a cracking adult White-rumped Sandpiper instead. A little bit of digging and while many would assume that this was the Snettisham bird from the weekend, it was actually the bird seen previously at Beacon Ponds near Spurn on the 27th. Look at the white spot at the base of the lower mandible... #clincher 

Anyone fancy the not very catchily titled '26 wader species in a day Frampton Challenge?'

Here's a blog I did last year regarding the ecology and management of our scrapes and the how's and whys of attracting all these waders. Hope it's of interest and if you have any questions, please get in touch. 

If you want to keep your finger on the Frampton pulse and find on up to date sightings, look for us on Twitter @RSPBNorfolkLinc or search for #rspbFrampton You don't need to be signed up or a member of Twitter to access these pages so just click on the links mentioned and all the hard work has been done for you :) 

See you soon