Hello,
yetserday and today provided us with some of the highest tides of the year. Here at RSPB Frampton Marsh, the saltmarsh, which is one of the largest continuous areas of saltmarsh in the world, was completely covered by the sea. This amazing spectacle only happens a couple of times a year.
As the tide comes in it pushes the wading birds from the food rich mudflats of The Wash, on to the reedbed and scrape areas of the reserve. This provides our visitors with excellent close up views of some of the UK's most interesting waders. At this time of year, migrant birds are returning from their Northern breeding grounds, heading towards their wintering grounds in southern Europe and Africa.
Spotted on the reedbed today were:
Curlew sandpiper 22! (27 yesterday!)
Little stint 10
Greenshank 10
Black-tailed godwit 170
Wood sandpiper 2
Green sandpiper 6
Common sandpiper 2
also seen were,
Peregrine, merlin and 5 marsh harriers. All taking advantage of the large number of roosting waders.
Also spotted were 7 gannets flying offshore.
The high tides will continue to be quite impressive for the rest of the week.
Friday 2nd high tide of 8.1m at 0929
Saturday 3rd high tide of 7.6m at 1012
Sunday 4th high tide of 7m at 1059.
These extra high spring tides will also provide amazing spectacles at RSPB Freiston Shore and RSPB Snettisham.
Cheers,
Simon.
Hi- I was at Freiston for HT wednesday- it was good but not spectacular. The waders werent that close ( see my mystery pics in IDENTIFY THIS) as the water level in the lagoon seemed to be lower than last year.
Black tailed Godwit- 80
Bar tailed Godwit- 6
Curlew sandpiper- 4
Whimbrel- 1
Knot- 100
Dunlin- 25
Redshank- 50
Curlew- 2
Ringed Plover- 20
:)
S
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