David and I set of Frampton
Marsh today hoping for Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper that had both been
present yesterday. There were two Red
Kites observed near Morcott in Rutland and then a Kestrel and a Whitethroat
near Crowland in Lincolnshire on route.
When we arrived at Frampton
Marsh we drove to the old car park near the sea wall and found masses of waders
feeding on the pools to the south-west of the road. They were mostly Ringed Plover and Dunlin and
we estimated that there were at least ninety Ringed Plover and 300+
Dunlin. As we scanned through the waders
we found a Sanderling but other than Avocets and Redshanks we couldn’t find
anything else. On the other side of the
road we found several Black-tailed Godwits and two first-summer Little Gulls
and there was also several Common Terns.
We spent quite some time scanning the area and the David found the
summer Little Stint that wasn’t too far away.
Another birder then informed
us that they had seen the Curlew Sandpiper close to the raptor watch point on
the sea wall. The waders had flown a
couple of times and the raptor watch point on the sea wall. The waders had flown a couple of times and
although most had come back down we were unable to find the Little Stint and so
set off along the sea wall to the raptor watch point. As we approached the area there were plenty
of waders and again most were Ringed Plovers and Dunlin with circa ninety and
150+ respectively. We soon found the
summer plumaged Curlew Sandpiper, which was rather splendid and there was also
a winter plumaged Knot and two more Sanderling.
Dunlin feeding near the old car park
Dunlin in flight near the old car park
Dunlin in flight near the old car park
As we scanned the salt marsh
we found a single Short-eared Owl quartering the ground but there was no sign
of the reported second bird or two Marsh Harriers that had been seen earlier.
When we got back to the road
we decided to continue along the sea wall towards the East Hide. There was more water in this area and
consequently we saw few waders but did see a Shelduck escorting nine tiny young
and a couple of Little Grebes. We didn’t
enter the East Hide but continued along the track towards Reedbed Hide and
found a Corn Bunting singing to the right of the path. The area to the left of the path, which is
usually an area of shallow water and islands, was quite dry and it was clear
that work was being carried out.
When we reached Reedbed Hide
it was clear that a number of Black-headed Gulls were nesting on the islands
but it was difficult to see how many or if anything else was there due to the
dense vegetation. We did find a Little
Ringed Plover and Sanderling to the right of the hide and a single Lesser
Black-backed Gull dropped in but there was no sign of the hoped for
Mediterranean Gulls.
When we got back to the car
all of the waders had disappeared and had presumably gone out onto The Wash to
feed as the tide receded. We drove back
along the road to the main car park where we had some lunch and found Rick, who
had just arrived.
After lunch we made a quick
visit to the Visitors Centre where we found a Little Ringed Plover but there
was still no sign of the Mediterranean Gulls and so we set off with Rick to the
reservoir where we hoped to see a Turtle Dove.
There had been no reported
sighting of the doves this morning and as we made our way along the path
another birder said they weren’t there.
Between the centre and the reservoir we heard a Cetti’s Warbler on
several occasions and also heard Chiffchaff and Blackcap as well as seeing a
couple of Sedge Warblers and there was a party of twelve Black-tailed Godwits
on the marsh and two distant Egyptian Geese.
When we reached the reservoir
and looked back at the favoured trees of the Turtle Doves there was just a
Woodpigeon and two Magpies but we decided to give it some time in the hope they
would appear. The Woodpigeon remained
perched in the bushes but the Magpies were quite active. Two Stock Doves flew over and shortly
afterwards two Turtle Doves flew in.
They probably were there for just about a minute when they flew off over
the top of the hedge and we didn’t see them again but at least we had seen
them.
A Reed Warbler was observed just
before we started to walk back and as we continued down the road to the
footpath two Jays flew over.
We went back to the centre
with the intention of looking for the Mediterranean Gulls but found that a Wood
Sandpiper had been reported near the raptor watch point. David needed it for a year-tick and so we
returned the old car park and walked back along the sea wall to view the pools
near the raptor watch point. The area
was now almost devoid of birds with just the winter plumaged Knot and two
Dunlin present and there was no sign of the Wood Sandpiper. As I scanned the salt marsh I picked up a
female-type Marsh Harrier but it dropped before David could get on it.
After getting back to the car
park we went into the centre again where David found a first-summer
Mediterranean Gull in flight that initially came towards us before flying off
to the northeast.
As we headed back towards
Frampton village we found a Grey Partridge quite close to the road but the only
other bird of note on the way home was a Buzzard near Gaulby in Leicestershire.
Grey Partridge
It had been an excellent days
birding with eighty species recorded that included two year-ticks, Little Stint
and Curlew Sandpiper. There was also a good
supporting cast with Grey Partridge, Knot, Sanderling, Little Gull,
Mediterranean Gull, Short-eared Owl and Turtle Dove.
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