RSPB Frampton Marsh

Day two of our weekend was spent at Frampton Marsh. Before lunch we explored the Reed bed trail first.

After lunch we then explored the other part of the reserve. As we walked along the path to the Wash, this Sedge warbler sand to us from the top of some reeds.

There were lots of Brent geese on the reserve, and some had landed near the flood bank so we continued our walk to have a closer look. Some were feeding others were making a noise, not long now before they head for the Arctic Circle.

We walked along the top of the floodbank, and could just see the Wash in the distance. As we climbed down the steps back onto the reserve we saw 2 Yellow wagtails. They were too far away for a decent shot.

East hide was our next stop and on our way there we saw a single whooper swan, We learned later from staff in the visitor centre that although it could fly about the reserve, they think it has a damaged wing, and could not fly back to Iceland. From the path we could see Mediterranean gulls among the many black-headed gulls. We also added ruff, black-tailed godwit, shoveler, gadwall and teal to our day list from the hide, Reedbed hide was the second hide we visited and we were able to add pochard to our list, plus sand martins. There is a sand martin bank to the left of the hide and plenty of birds were visiting it.

Some sand martins were gathering vegetation from the bank near the footpath.

The 360 degree hide was our last hide stop and Barbara found a single pink-footed goose to add to our day list. I was the last of our group to leave the hide and saw a juvenile little gull fly over the lagoon, another year tick. On our way back to the visitor centre a pair of Little-ringed plovers were displaying.

A bit further along on the same mud bank, a Ruff was feeding.

After a visit and a chat to staff in the visitor centre we returned to the hotel. I went to Freiston Shore for about an hour. The high tide had just about covered the saltmarsh and lots of dunlin and turnstones were on the reserve as was this common tern.

On my way back to the car park I came across these two magpies having a fight.