Alan Shorrock offered me the opportunity to visit Frampton Marsh today and I leapt at the suggestion. With Autumn wader migration starting to gather pace the chance to check this usually excellent reserve was just too good to miss. While the weather forecast had suggested a dry but grey sort of day there were actually some pretty sharp and heavy showers during our visit, I'm so glad that I'd took a rain coat with me!
 |
| Pacific Golden Plover |
Star of the show today was a Pacific Golden Plover which initially was showing on the salt marsh beyond the sea wall, we got there just before a rather heavy rain shower arrived. Although I could only manage a few record shots of the bird I did at least get great views through the scope. During the rainy spell the bird became quite mobile and we got some good views, once the shower had stopped the bird returned to its favourite patch on the salt marsh. This was only the third time that I've seen this species and luckily for me two of them have been in Summer plumage.
 |
| Wood Sandpiper and Spotted Redshanks |
Another good wader showing from the sea wall was a close Wood Sandpiper, we enjoyed excellent views. Other waders of note included four Spotted Redshanks and a good sized flock of Greenshanks. Out on the marsh a Short-eared Owl was fence post hopping in the distance while several Yellow Wagtails were also noted. Returnning to those waders and Black-tailed Godwits were the commonest species though Ruffs and Avocets did not lag that far behind them. Numbers of Dunlin were gathered on the reserve though a check through them could not produce anything more exotic. Frampton has in recent years become a good place to see Spoonbills and today was no exception with at least a dozen birds being seen. Not too much else to mention but it was a pretty good session and even that unwelcome rain could not put the dampeners on it.
 |
| Ruff, Knot and Spoonbills |
No comments:
Post a Comment