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| Black-tailed Godwit (A Barrett) |
Weather: Sunny and warm
Members and friends: 24 Driver: Glenn
24
members and friends turned up for the societies second trip to Frampton Marsh
RSPB reserve. We left Stockport at the usual time and headed over to
Lincolnshire via the A628 Woodhead Pass. We managed to see a couple of Red
Grouse as we passed Gallows Moss, a Buzzard was also recorded. At Woodall
services on the M1, as we alighted for provisions, we were greeted by a dozen Pied
Wagtail in the car park.
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| Wheatear (J Wharton) |
Approaching Frampton Marsh RSPB reserve, we noted a dozen Buzzard circling close to the entrance. As we disembarked from the coach, we were quickly informed by RSPB volunteers that the juvenile Black Stork was showing well in the field adjacent to the car park. Excellent views through scopes were obtained, and whilst the bird was immobile at first, it proceeded to put on quite a show throughout the day including a couple of low fly-overs. The huge size of the bird dwarfed anything else in the vicinity. It was a first sighting of this species on a society trip. A Merlin was also noted on the adjacent field gate.
Black Stork (J. Wharton) 
Black Stork (A Barrett)
On the pools behind the visitor centre, we were greeting by a large conglomeration of birds, with over a thousand Black-tailed Godwit joining a variety of other waders. Avocet, Ruff, Snipe, Golden Plover, Dunlin, Knot, Ringed Plover and, at one point later in the day, Little Stint were all recorded. Twenty-nine Spoonbill were counted and moulting duck included Shoveler, Mallard and Teal. Grey Heron, Little Egret and Little Grebe were also sharing the pools. Gulls were present with all the commoner species seen. Cormorant and Canada Geese loafed on the sandbanks.
Spoonbill (A Barrett)
Taking
the path south east, after stopping to get closer views of the Black Stork, we
found our way to the Wash Trail, overlooking the vast area of saltmarsh. From this
viewpoint we quickly picked up on small parties of Yellow Wagtail, flicking
through the grassland and channels below our vantage position. White Wagtail
was also identified. Over the saltmarsh a drifting Red Kite put up Curlew and Little
Egret. The kite was seen a few times through the day, at one point being mobbed
by a Sparrowhawk.
On
the saltmarsh a single Wheatear was found and a few flocks of Linnet and
Goldfinch could be seen. A Marsh Harrier floated by and many of the fence
posts, out on the marsh, seems to have a resident Kestrel perched on top. The channels
of water held more Black-tailed Godwits, with Knot and Redshank in attendance.
A Peregrine was also seen out distantly out on the saltmarsh, perched up on a
fence post.
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| Osprey (A Barrett) |
A wander around the Grassland Trail, in the south section of the reserve, produced further sightings of Yellow Wagtail, with Meadow Pipit and Goldfinch accompanying them. A Whinchat was seen in a hedgerow which also held a Whitethroat and a Reed Bunting. A small mixed party of Swallows and House Martins moved through overhead. A Stock Dove was sat on a barn in an adjacent field.
On the lagoon in the far south west corner of the reserve a large number of moulting ducks were found. Mainly Wigeon with a handful of Pintail, Gadwall and Teal, all in their eclipse plumage. Little Grebe and Mute Swan were on the water with Grey Heron in the margins.
Yellow Wagtail (J Wharton)
Walking
around the reserve to the pools in the north east section members of our party
found Shelduck and Water Rail. A lucky few had good views of an overflying
Osprey. The pools in this section held a handful of Little Stint and Spotted
Redshank with a single Greenshank and a Pectoral Sandpiper. Oddly we had this
same rare American vagrant on the same trip nearly a year ago to the day. Viewing
was difficult due to the vegetation.
Each small body of water held Redshank, with small parties of Ruff and the occasional Ringed Plover. Lapwing were in the muddy margins and a lucky few sighted Curlew Sandpiper. The majority of the rarer waders were elusive for much of the day.
Water Rail (A Barrett)
Birds seen;
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