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Recent sightings

• 17 June 2013

  A redshank is spotted

  So what is newsworthy about that? People spot redshanks all the time on the reserve. It was the reason we started here, back in 1984, as it was one of the best redshank breeding sites in the country.

  No, I'm not talking about normal redshanks. I'm talking a spotted redshank.

  Slightly larger than the usual sort, in winter you might be hard pushed to notice the difference. But at this time of year, birds are starting to pass through the reserve on their southwards migration. They breed up in the Arctic, then spend the majority of the year in West Africa and around the shores of western Europe. A few stay with us over the winter too. But this means the bird is in full summer plummage, jet black with white speckles. Definitely something to be seen. You can even guess at the sex of the bird too. Spotted redshanks are one of the few birds where the female takes little or no maternal interest. Instead she abandons the eggs or chicks and leaves their upbringing entirely to the male.

  One spotted redshank was seen briefly yesterday on the freshwater scrapes, another (or the same one?) was on the reedbed this morning. Both times the bird was rather elusive.Spotted redshank by Mike Langman

  So why is the bird here? Well, she's probably done her part in creating the next generation and has left. It is quite early to see one, which is why I think it is a female. She might be off on her way down to Africa. Shje might be staying here. Either way, Frampton Marsh is a great home for her (or them) for a bit. Lots of shallow water to look for food in, right by the coast. if it wasn't for RSPB nature reserves provided spaces like this, what would happen to many of our migrating wading birds? 

  Posted by Chris Andrews

• 10 June 2013

  Black is the new black

  A few goodies around at the weekend. Curlew sandpiper on the reedbed, male garganey, pectoral sandpiper still hanging around. but over the last few days the highlight has been with our black terns.

  Black terns are freshwater terns, as opposed to marine terns like the common and arctic terns. They used to be a common bird in the fens, but the widespread drainage of such places coupled with egg collecting really had a huge impact on them. They now do not breed in the UK, more is the pity. but we do still get birds visiting us during the late spring and early summer. Whio knows, through the RSPB's work in recreating wetland habitats, maybe in the future they will nest again? Smaller than other terns, they have a black body, slate-grey upperside to their wings and white underside. They often have a rather lazy dipping flight, and do not dive into the water to catch fish. Instead they delicately pluck food from the surface of the water.

  Up to three birds have been seen around the freshwater scrapes. Something to keep your eyes open for!

   Black tern by Neil Smith

  Posted by Chris Andrews

• 3 June 2013

  Long-legged beauties grace reserve

  No, we haven't been visited by Kate Moss and Helena Christensen (more is the pity). Instead we had news early this morning that two black-winged stilts had appeared on the reserve.

  Black-winged stilts are rather elegant wading birds that winter in Africa but breed in western Europe. Britain is very much at the edge of their range, and the UK gets a few records every year. Most famous of these was 'Sammy', who stayed at Titchwell for an incredible 13 years.

  They have incredibly long red legs (which gives them their name) and a shining white body with black wings. The female has an all white head, the male has grey on the back of the head. they are mostly likely to be found picking their way around shallow pools, in search of their insect food. Ours spent their time at the weedy margins of the reedbed, giving very close views indeed. So much so that one chap complained they were too close to focus on with his telescope!

  Drawing by Mike Langman

  With global warming, who knows. In the future we may just start to see some breeding birds. They certainly seem to be sighted more and more these days. Of course, with global warming we are also likely to get a rise in sea level, drowning out the very coastal wetlands they would like to nest in. Which is why some of the work by the RSPB in preserving coastal habitats is so important.

  And just like buses, one rare bird appears and we get another sighted. Out on the freshwater scrapes at this time was a pectoral sandpiper. This is a bird that lives in Siberia and North America, so it had got quite lost! Thought about 50 or so do turn up in the UK each year. Mostly young birds, caught up in weather systems during their first migration.

  So, with the sun shining, all in all it was a pretty good day!

   

  Posted by Chris Andrews

• 31 May 2013

  Hello Mr Blue Sky

  Well, not actually today. Still rather grey. But the last weather report I saw for the weekend looks somewhat promising for decent weather. So what might you find if you come down to Frampton?
  
  Well, on the birds front, three curlew sandpipers are being regularly seen on the wet grassland. One in full breeding colours too, very nice! A spoonbill is often on the scrapes and the turtle doves are still in the hedgerow. Mediterranean gulls are now being seen again from the reedbed hide, in amongst their black-headed cousins.

  Plenty of cute avocet chicks about too, including on the island right in front of the visitor centre. Lapwing chicks and gull chicks are about too.  There are cygnets, coot chicks (which I personally call cootlings) and yesterday the first sighting of mallard ducklings. 

  If you are bringing the kids, there is great stuff for them to do too, as well as seeing the cute chicks. Our self-guided pond-dipping is running, a chance to investigate a weedy watery world. We also have a treasure trail. You can follow the clues to solve a puzzle and win a prize. Then on Sunday we have a family fun day. Some great craft activities PLUS a unique performance by the 'Nerdy Birdies' performance artists. They will be doing shows at 12, 2 and 4. And that promises to be lots of fun.

  Hope to see you there!

  Posted by Chris Andrews

• 20 May 2013

  That Was The Weekend That Was

  You know, I really shouldn't know some of these cultural references. I'm much younger than that!

  But what a stonking weekend. OK, Saturday was a bit grey and cloudy. But wasn't Sunday a lovely day? Great to see so many people out on the reserve enjoying it.

  The birds did their part too, with some exciting sightings. And yes, the Temminck's stint was amongst them. Plus five of its mates. We had six stints, all feeding away in the pools on the wet grassland behind the east hide. Not quite beating last year's record of seven. But who knows what the week ahead will bring.

  Also weighing in, on Sunday there was a Montagu's harrier spotted over the saltmarsh. The reservoir on the wet grasslands had wood sandpiper, common sandpiper and whinchat all hanging around it. The turtle doves in the hedgerow were being vocal and a spoonbill spent a lot of Saturday wading around the freshwater scrapes. The scrapes were also playing host to two little gulls (still being pestered by the black-headed gulls).

  In other exciting news, we are now the proud landlords of some very cute chicks. Both avocets and lapwings hatched out at the weekend. You are most likely to see the little balls of fluff from the east hide, as they look for food shepherded around by proud (if anxious ) parents. The avocets particularly tend to be very protective, trying to drive away anything that comes close to their little darlings.

   Photo by Chris Gomersall (rspb-images.com)

  Posted by Chris Andrews

• 17 May 2013

  Something for the weekend, Sir?

  Or Madam, we aren't sexist here at Framton Marsh.

  So, what is about that you might like to see this weekend?

  Well, top of the list would be the two Temminck's stints that have been out on the reserve for a day or two. not always the easiest birds to see. Your best bet is probably to be in the East Hide, often looking out over the wet grassland towards the seabank. Check the edges of the pools and channels there. or get up on the seabank itself and look down over the same area.

  A spoonbill has dropped in to pay us a visit, spending some of the time on the freshwater scrapes at Frampton, some on the wet grassland of Freiston. Also at Freiston there was a garganey yesterday, hiding away in the channels in the wet grassland at the south end of the reserve. Back at Frampton, a wood sandpiper and a greenshank have both been at the 'reservoir', the large pool of water on the grassland (check the map and you'll see where I mean). Close by there, in the hedgerow, a turtle dove pair have been literally billing and cooing.

  Back onto the wetter areas, and the freshwater scrapes have been home to quite a few common terns recently. also with a tern-like flight, a little gull has been hanging around too. On the wader front, turnstones and ruff have been putting on their lovely summer plummage, as have black-tailed godwit. Plus, we hear our first avocet chicks have hatched. Aww, fluffies!

  Amongst other birds about, wheatear have been seen out on the salt marsh, corn buntings are singing from the small stunty trees at the back of the reedbed, swifts and swallows seem to be everywhere and the local marsh harriers have been giving some great views. All in all, well worth a visit!

  Posted by Chris Andrews

• 11 May 2013

  After work birding

  One of the advantages of actually working on a reserve like Frampton is that you can often do a bit of birding on a whim. So, at 5:30 yesterday having finished work, I decided to pop down to the reserve to see what was about.

  To start with, it really wasn't that promising. Dark clouds were looming and the wind was gusting along. So rather than go right out to the East hide, I figured a trip to the 360 hide was in order instead. Having got there, I started to scan through the various birds on offer. Amongst my first thoughts were that there were a fair number of common terns about. including a pair that seemed to be trying to make a nest on one of the islands. Though as it was shared with a bunch of gulls, that might have been optimistic on both our parts! A few small waders were dotted about. Ruff, dunlin, redshanks, ringed and little ringed plovers. A sandpiper picking its way along the back of the freshwater scrapes gave me pause for thought, before deciding it was probably a green sandpiper.

  As I was doing this, a small wader popped into view. And yes, it was small. A passing ringed plover dwarfed it. It seemed to be having real trouble keeping its footing in the strong winds, almost being blown sideways. It avoided the company of the other waders, preferring to poke about in sparsely vegetated areas. Pale legs, white belly, straight dark bill, brownish upperparts. Could it be...? Yes it was. The temminck's sting which had been reported to the pagers on Thursday (but not to us, grrrrr) was still about. There was a worry that it might be a little stint, but they have dark legs and pale lines on the back, which this didn't have. Temmincks are rather more unusual, but do turn up during spring and autumn migrations.

  Now, whilst I was watching this, something kept flitting in and out of my view. Refocussing my attention, it turned out to be a young little gull. Vastly smaller than the usual black headed gulls, and with an obvious black W mark over its back. One of the local black headed gulls had evidently taken a dislike to it and was chasing it all over the place. The big bully! The little gull was twisting away from the attacks with ease though, rather more agile and indeed tern-like in its flight.

  All in all, a pretty good haul. I'm glad I didn't go straight home!

  Posted by Chris Andrews

• 7 May 2013

  Black-winged Stilt

  The conversation went something like this.....

  Me (speaking from Frampton office): "Hi Graham, how are you?"

  Graham (RSPB Reserve Ecologist based in Bedfordshire): "Oh so you've phoned up to gloat then have you?"

  Me: "No.....er....what about?"

  Graham: "Being the first RSPB reserve to have a stilt this year?"

  Me: "What!....where?"

  Graham: "It's been on all the pagers for the past couple of hours"

  Me: "Really?....You're kidding, no-one has mentioned anything..."

  Sure enough there was a black-winged stilt on the reserve. They really are superb looking birds, with such incredibly long pink legs they almost look 'made up'. Hopefully it will hang around for a while for visitors to enjoy......do pop into the visitors centre to ask for the latest news.....

  John (always last to know) Site Manager

  Posted by John Badley

• 7 May 2013

  Wood you believe it?

  What a lovely bank holiday Monday it was! The sun was out, temperatures were up and we had a lot of happy visitors wandering around the reserve. So nice to meet everyone and to hear the very positive comments about the site.

  In terms of birdlife, highlight of Monday is probably the very showy wood sandpiper. This will be on its way back to its breeding ground in northern Scotland, after spending the winter down in Africa. It spent most of Monday poking around the shoreline of the freshwater sacrapes, by the path leading to the East hide. It will have been picking up flies and other insects, to give it a boost of energy ready for the final push northwards. At times it really was rather close. No need for a scope, binoculars or even just looking gave a really rather good view.

  

  Elsewhere, there was a party of 20 whimbrel on the wet grasslands. Two turtle doves were seen on-and-off during the day in the hedgerow around the back of the grassland. A male ruff was spotted trying to court the ladies, maybe a bit ambitious since he hadn't fully developed his feather plumes.

  There are still quite a few brent geese about. Maybe 500 or so. They won't be with us for too much longer, soon they will head off to the Artic to breed. Still a bit nippy up there though, so for the moment they are enjoying the spring sunshine down here. In amongst them is a 'black brant', the darker North American version.

  Posted by Chris Andrews