Hello,
as regular readers will know, I usually do a little weather and sightings update on a Friday afternoon. Tomorrow (Friday) I will be visiting RSPB Titchwell Marsh on the North-Norfolk coast, so I will not have the opportunity to let you know what birds have been seen at Frampton.
As I know that you are keen to know what could be seen on your weekend trip to the Lincolnshire Wash, I thought it best that I do a sightings report today.
Highlights have included,
Barn owl 1
Black-tailed godwit 19
Pink-footed goose 2
Little ringed plover 8
Cuckoo 1
Turtle dove 2
Marsh harrier 1 male
Bee Orchid 3
Water vole 2
Have a nice weekend,
Simon.
Hi everyone!
So today started off well, it was windy and I was bringing my laptop into work (being an old thing it’s pretty heavy) so I decided to set off early. I was ready for 8.00, half an hour before I normally set off! I went out and got my bike, but before I even left the garden I got a massive thorn stuck in my tyre. I considered just leaving it in and hoping for the best but decided eventually to pull the thing out....PSSSHHHHH!!!! There went all the air in my tyre and my good mood. It’s unlike me to stay grumpy for long and I did start to see the funny side of it whist attempting to get the wheel off. I caught a lift in and have had a good day in the office. I’m putting together some wildlife explorer backpacks! Yes, they are as exciting as they sound. I’m really hoping these will be ready soon for you all to enjoy.With bug pots, binoculars and loads of fun activities to do I can’t wait to test them out, although I have to admit that I’ve already been scavenging for bugs around the office (the bug pots have awesome magnifying glasses in the top!). On Monday I had a great day in the visitor centre. I saw two new birds to add to my life list! Just as I arrived in the morning, one of our regular visitors pointed a little owl out to me. It was sat on a fence post in the field opposite the visitor centre. At first I just couldn’t see it, then I realised that the slightly longer post was in fact post + owl. Later on that day I saw a stonechat. It was a young one so it was brown and spotty (like everything else) but I did manage to point it out to visitors later that day. I was in the visitor centre yesterday as well and I got to see the little owl again. I was so excited that I went and got a telescope from inside so I could show everyone! The kestrel chicks also made an appearance in the entrance of the nest box just beyond the car park. We reckon they’ll be off at the end of this week so to get great views you better be quick. I’ll be out on the reserve quite a bit for the rest of the week. I’m planning on doing a survey tomorrow so if you see me make sure you come and say hello. I carried out a survey yesterday, it was really windy but great to be out. I saw a few dragonflies and damselflies and nearly stood on a toad (see piccie)! Hope to see you soonJaz
It has been a bit of a rough day weather-wise today at RSPB Frampton Marsh. Some visitors have braved the windy conditions and joined us for a day out. The rain has managed to stay away for most of the day, apart from a sharp down pour around 2ish.
Today's sightings highlights have included:
Goldeneye 1
Little egret 19
Peregrine 1
Buzzard 1
Marsh harrier 3
Wood sandpiper 1
Green sandpiper 2
and 3 very stunning bee orchids, which are the first that I have seen at RSPB Frampton Marsh.
Image of one of the RSPB Frampton Marsh bee orchids taken by RSPB Feild Teacher Jonathan Bye. Thanks Jonathan!!
Thanks for reading, hopefully see you soon,
HI everyone!
We're coming to the end of another lovely week on the reserve. There’s been lots to see and we’ve had some really gorgeous weather!
I’m quite excited today because there’s a 100% chance of cake eating later! It’s Tony’s (one of our amazing volunteers) birthday soon and I decided I’d make him a birthday cake (any excuse).
So, after getting John (our sites manager) to buy me the ingredients I set to work baking fairy cakes which I planned to decorate with iced birds and the RSPB logo (setting my sights a little too high maybe, but it’s good to challenge yourself).
When John very kindly dropped off the ingredients he informed me that there were no writing icing sets with blue in, but it was ok because I could just mix yellow and green together. Feeling a bit stupid that I couldn’t remember my primary colours I agreed and started baking.
So one green RSPB logo later (after many attempts to create blue to no avail I remembered that blue is in fact a primary colour), I was onto the birds. If you are new to bird watching and are developing your bird ID skills I will put it to you that icing pictures of birds is a good way to learn (as long as you don't mind your bird ID book getting a bit sticky!). It's like drawing them but you get to eat it afterwards!
I’m quite proud- ok a lot proud- of my cakes, hence the photo. Let’s hope everyone enjoys eating them as much as I like looking at them.
On the subject of bird watching I have noticed a switch in my bird watching habits. Until recently I’ve been concentrating so much on identifying the birds that I haven’t noticed what they’ve been up to. The other day whilst in the visitor centre I was watching a great crested grebe with chicks on her back, something I’d never seen before and also a heron fishing. Spending time watching these fantastic birds carrying out their daily activities is great, especially with a cup of tea in one hand and a cake in the other!
If you’ve been inspired to make bird cakes of you own, bring or send a piccy in and we can compare!
Hey everyone!
Another Monday morning has somehow arrived, I can’t believe I’ve been here at Frampton Marsh for over 2 months already! Last week I was on a training course for a couple of days which was great as I got to see the other two Visitor Services Trainees and have a catch up (and learn lots of course).
I learnt lots of skills including how to hoot like an owl from Alison (VST, yes I’m super cool and acronyming our job titles, at Middleton Lakes)! You know you’re fast becoming a bird geek when you spend your evening making owl impersonations and telling each other why your reserve is better ('we have a heronry at Middleton', 'yeh well we had over 40 little egrets roosting the other night')
Unfortunately I was mega tired at the end of last week, it’s definitely a sign you’re getting old when it takes you three days to recover from lack of sleep (see ‘I am not an early bird!’). I am now recovered after a lovely weekend.
The last few times I’ve been in the visitor centre it has been rainy and the reserve has been quieter than normal. I don’t understand it, I love being in the visitor centre when it’s raining, the skies can be really dramatic and it’s great to have a hot chocolate whilst watching the birds.
Yesterday I decided to go out on my bike in the rain (yes I needed some cereal and chocolate, all the essentials, but mainly I wanted to be outside). When I was little my mum and dad used to take me and my brother out for walks in the rain. We loved it, it was much more exciting than walks in the sunshine because we got to splash in puddles and put on our red wellies and awesome multicoloured raincoats (see photo!).
When we got home we’d always have a hot chocolate and a piece of cake whilst watching The Three Amigos (best film ever). So, as I was missing home a bit I went out on my bike then came back and had a hot chocolate whilst watching Avatar. I even made a pie for dinner. None of these things would have been as good if it had not been raining outside.
I haven’t looked at the weather forecast for this week (I never believe it anyway) but if it rains I implore you to put on your red (or most likely green now!) wellies and head outside, or even better, to Frampton Marsh. Make sure you splash in any puddles and when you get home, or come into the visitor centre, have a well deserved hot drink and a biscuit.
I hope to see you all about soon