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| Spoonbill, Geese, Duck (J Wharton) |
9th
September 2023
Weather: Sunny and very hot
Members and friends: 33 Driver: Glenn
Thirty-three
members and friends turned up for the societies trip to Frampton Marsh RSPB
reserve. We left Stockport at the usual time and headed over to Lincolnshire
via the A628 Woodhead Pass. As we passed through the Longdendale Valley flocks
of Swallow, Woodpigeon and Jackdaw were moving through. The occasional Buzzard
was spotted. We managed to see a handful of Red Grouse as we passed Gallows
Moss, a generally guaranteed spot for this species. Buzzard and Red Kite were
seen as we passed RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire.
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| Yellow Wagtail (A Barrett) |
Approaching
Frampton Marsh RSPB reserve, we noted Rook, Kestrel, Red-legged Partridge,
Pheasant and Collared Dove in the adjacent farmland. The reserve has had a new
visitor centre and café constructed since our last visit in 2021, it is now quite
an impressive set up. On the pools behind the visitor centre, we were greeting
by a large conglomeration of birds, with good numbers of Black-tailed Godwit
joining a variety of other waders. Redshank, Ruff, Snipe, Dunlin, Ringed Plover
and Little Ringed Plover were all recorded. At least three smart Greenshank
were identified, with two birds bathing at the back of one of the pools. Two
juvenile Yellow Wagtail were spotted from the cafe window.
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| Goldfinch (J Wharton) |
The
highlight of this area were the Spoonbill, with in excess of twenty birds counted.
Moulting duck were present, including Shelduck, Shoveler, Wigeon, Pintail, Mallard
and Teal. Grey Heron, Little Egret and Cormorant were also sharing the pools. A
single juvenile Great-crested Grebe was in the shallow waters. Gulls were present
with all the commoner species seen. A large flock of noisy Greylag Geese and smaller
numbers of Canada Geese were also present. Pied Wagtails fed in the margins and
Goldfinch on the adjacent teazel. A Cetti’s Warbler was heard calling behind
the centre.
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| Avocet (A Barrett) |
Taking the path to the 360 Hide our group soon picked up on a small party of Curlew Sandpiper plus a handful of Little Stint. A flock of Linnet fed on the ground amongst the vegetation. There were more Avocet, Ruff, Snipe, Redshank, Dunlin, Greenshank and Ringed Plover in the pools by this hide. As well as Little Egret and the usual assortment of moulting duck. A few Tufted Duck were seen in areas of deeper water, as well as a handful of Little Grebe. Coot and Moorhen were added to the day’s list.
Lapwing (J Wharton)
A
wander around the Reedbed trail added Marsh Harrier to our list and we saw the
occasional Reed Bunting and a single Yellow Wagtail. A couple of Reed Warbler were
seen. One unexpected species was a Goldcrest moving through an area of reeds.
Great and Blue tit were found in the hawthorn hedges. A Water Rail was heard.
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| Black-tailed Godwit (A Barrett) |
A wander out on the Wash Trail, overlooking the adjacent saltmarsh produced very little. The extreme heat seemed to result in very little bird movement. We did identify a Green Sandpiper in a gulley and both Skylark and Meadow Pipit were seen. A single Curlew was noted. The highlight of this raised footpath was being able to look down on the reserve and get good, elevated views of an area that held over twenty Yellow Wagtail. A splendid sight, the male’s bright yellow plumage glinting in the sunshine. Overhead flocks of Swallows flew out over the saltmarsh accompanied by the odd House Martin.
Little Egret (J Wharton)
The
sun was against us at the East hide, with views directly into it most of the birds
were but a silhouette. Avocet were present, as were a few individuals of wader
species we had already ticked off. Much of the area around this hide was dried
out, the pools non-existent.
A
few lucky members of the group found and ticked off Raven, Great White Egret,
Sparrowhawk, Golden Plover, Common Sandpiper and Spotted Redshank. Pat B. found
a Kingfisher on her wanderings around the reserve.
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| Ruff (A Barrett) |
The weather had been scorching all day and had sapped the energy out of all of the group. We retreated to the café to enjoy cold drinks and ice cream! The return journey to Stockport was generally uneventful if you ignore missing a turning, missing the services and breaking the air conditioning on the coach. Fortunately, the latter happened just outside of Stockport so, apart from the last twenty minutes of the coach journey we were kept cool. Glenn aborted the last drop off point at the Gateway in case the coach didn’t make it, fortunately those effected were given lifts back to their cars by other helpful members.
Moorhen (J Wharton)
Birds seen;
Total Species: 81
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