Hello,
It has been a bright but breezy day today at RSPB Frampfon Marsh.
Highlights have included:
Pink – footed goose 2
Ruddy duck 1 drake
Garganey pair
Pochard 2
Quail 1 heard only
Black-tailed godwit 16
Little stint 1
Red – necked phalarope 1 stunning female
Little ringed plover 8
Have a lovely Bank Holiday weekend, if you get the chance, why not drop in and have a walk around our cracking reserve.
Best wishes,
Simon.
A short blog today but I just wanted to share two of the positive things that happened to me today!
The first occurred at the beginning of the day, when Graham (Warden) and I went to check on the pump, which needed a clean before being switched on. Two kingfishers flew out from the weir as we descended the bank. I pointed at the first as the flash of blue flew away from me, only for Graham to gesture that their was a second. As if this wasn’t positive enough, we went to check the pump again thios afternoon, and this time disturbed three kingfishers. The third sat on a rail for a second before flying, and I got the closest ‘picture postcard view’ I’ve ever had of one of these birds. Fantastic!
Photo: Kingfisher (Paul Sullivan)
The other positive event during the day, was when we went down to the Visitor centre slightly after closing to fuel up, and on one of the window ledges was a just fledged blue tit. I watched as a parent appeared and fed it, an amazing moment! There was another fledgling in the area, and they were great to watch, as we closed the shutters to say ‘good night’.
So remember to keep your eyes open cause the natural world provides us with so many positive experiences if we just look. And do come and share in the positives Frampton Marsh has to offer!
As I’m out-of-town for the next couple of days, I thought I’d get a blog written early this week. I’m off on a ‘Working Together’ course in Bedford…so might return having learnt something?
Saturday morning was an enjoyable time for me. It was the monthly WeBS count (nothing to do with spiders but a bird survey!), and I recently started doing the Frampton South sector, something I haven’t quite got over the excitement of…no doubt one day I’ll be claiming WeBS spoils my weekend like the Warden but not yet!
I start my count off at the top of Marsh Farm, and was surprised when a car pulled up only minutes after I’d started, and even more surprised to find it was one of my practical volunteers (also a keen birder) and some friends. As they approached it became clear what they were after, as I was asked if the mandarin was here? I replyed that I hadn’t seen it, and that I didn’t even no there was one about. I was informed it had been found on the reedbed but then reported seen flying this way. They walked as far as the end of the reservoir, scanning all sides before parting with some of the group heading off, while others deciding on the walk to Tabb’s Head as high tide approached.
I continued my count, walk along the crossbank towards the seawall. There were small heaths dancing around my feet, while skylarks serenaded me from above. The lapwings appeared from the grass when crows and pigeons flew over, while the mute swans (many sleeping) sat calmly in the fields. There were redshanks to be found in the ditches, and several little egrets enjoying the sunshine. It was a joy to stroll along, counting the birds as I went.
Once on the seawall, I had a view of the saltmarsh. Although, it was approaching high tide at this point due to its extensive area, other than the pools and creeks, the area remained largely dry. I love the view of the area stretched out before me, and enjoyed my walk round to College Farm at the far end of the site, where you leave our reserve and join Natural England’s land. Walking back, I decided to have a quick look at a job that’s on my list, so wandered back along the sea bank all the way to the old car park, jotting down two more jobs as I went. Passing through the cattle enjoying a rest in the sun on the back, I found lots of common blues fluttering about.
I headed back to the Visitor centre, and decided just to pop in to see what I’d missed. I enjoyed a cup of tea, and heard the mandarin duck was to be found on an island visble from reedbed hide. I decided to make the short walk to see it, and sure enough it was to be found asleep in the sun. I watched the sand martins for short while, I love these birds constant activity as they pop in and out of their holes. Their behaviour is fascinating, so please do remember to have a look at our sand martin bank. Then, I headed back smiling at the sun filled and beautiful reserve we have here, at Frampton Marsh!
And my end to a wonderful morning, was listening to the cuckoo as I walked back through the hedgerow, just super!
It has been a warm but windy day today at RSPB Frampton Marsh. Visitors were treated to some excellent views of watervoles and some of the season’s first dragonflies.
Dark-bellied brent goose 140
Marsh harrier 1
Avocet 16
Ringed plover 50
Temminck’s stint 1
Dunlin 20
Black-tailed godwit 40
Greenshank 2
Wood sandpiper 1
Turtle dove 2
Cuckoo 1
Cheers,
Hello!
The new community pages are up! What does everyone think?
So, I haven't had a chance to tell you all about my mega exciting boat trip last week!.... Tony (who was doing the commentary) very kindly brought me along to one of the South Lincs RSPB Local Group Bird Watching Cruises so I could see what they’re all about and recommend them to everyone. With the first mention of me getting the chance to go on a boat I was pretty excited. By the time we were about to jump on I was more excited than anyone else I think! It was a great day! First we went and had a cream tea at the café on the dock which was really yummy, the scones were light and fluffy and I had lots of cream and jam. A lot of people going on the boat had the same idea so there was a great buzz in the café.
We then boarded the boat and headed off through the lock and down the river. It was a beautiful boat ride out into the Wash and past both the Frampton and Freiston reserves. I think in total I counted 45 bird species including grey and golden plovers and marsh harriers. The atmosphere on the boat was great, it felt so relaxed and everyone was enjoying themselves. It rained a bit and it was quite windy at times but that didn’t matter, we just put our raincoats on or headed into the covered part of the boat.
The cruises are run by the South Lincs RSPB local group and get booked up really quickly and I can see why!
On Friday I was back on the reserve. I had been in the visitor centre Monday afternoon, Tuesday morning and Wednesday afternoon so I was missing it. It didn’t take me long to find an excuse to head down to the visitor centre. I created a new display for one of the whiteboards. It is now covered with beautiful butterflies and dragonflies. Whilst I was putting it up, lots of people chatted to me about the butterflies they had seen on the reserve that morning so it’s great it’s getting people talking. I think making it even helped me with my insect ID!
So another great week and if any of you are down on the reserve and see any butterflies or dragonflies I haven’t mentioned on the board tell us and I’ll add them!
Jaz