Spoonbills

 Alan Shorrock and I took a trip over to Frampton Marsh this morning where we hoped to catch up with a passage wader or two. There was plenty of sunshine on offer but this was offset to some degree by a stiff easterly breeze. We didn't see anything rare but there was a decent selection of birds on view and we were kept entertained for most of our walk around the reserve.

Spoonbill, Small Tortie and Blackwit

Over forty Spoonbills were noted with many being young birds, it's good to know that this species is currently doing so well in the UK. Plenty of Black-tailed Godwits were also present on the main lake next to the visitor centre where Alan picked out a Water Rail. The walk round to the Reedbed Hide and the 360 Hide was fairly unproductive, a Small Tortoiseshell being the only highlight that springs to mind. We added Greenshank to the day list but not a great deal else. From East hide four Spotted Redshanks were the highlight

Avocet, Spotted Redshanks (with Blackwits) and Greenshank

Having left East Hide we braved the breeze along the sea wall noting decent numbers of Avocets as we walked. More Spotted Redshanks were seen and an additional brace of Greenshanks too. A tip off from another birder put me on to some Curlew Sandpipers and on our way to find them we saw a Whimbrel. The three Curlew Sands showed well and I was able to get a few pictures before we began the return hike back to the car.

Whimbrel and Curlew Sandpipers

On the way we saw more Whimbrels moving through and also a male Marsh Harrier. A small group of birders alerted us to the presence of a Little Stint. It treated us to some good views through the scope before flying off. Last act of the birding day was a sighting of a Cattle Egret from just outside the visitor centre. Somewhat later on whilst sitting in the Vine at Market Deeping and reviewing our photographs Alan realised that he'd photographed yet another male Southern Migrant Hawker at Priors Hall yesterday making a grand total of three so far. 

Dunlins, Little Stint and Cattle Egret