After hearing the summer plumaged adult male Pacific-golden Plover was still present at Frampton Marsh,i completed my WEBS count on the local patch and headed down through the Lincolnshire Wolds to this fantastic RSPB reserve.
After having a quick drink and something to eat,i made my way along the reserve to where the PGP had been seen.
At first views were restricted to seeing the birds head as it dozed,but then it began to preen and before long it was watched feeding,what an absolute beauty!.
This is my first PGP since i saw a bird at North Cotes in July 2002 and i had sort of forgotten just how stunning they are in the flesh.I watched as this beauty,but on a great show and i managed some nice video clips with the scope.To think this bird breeds in Siberia and Winters in China,its a tad out of its range.I have seen four previous birds,the first I found on 18th July 1993 at South Ferriby in North Lincolnshire,with possibly this bird returning the following year,again at South Ferriby,in July 1994,followed by a bird at Brough Haven in Yorkshire in July 2000 and finally the above mentioned bird at North Cotes in 2002.
After enjoying the PGP,it was just wall to wall waders,with some stunning views of Icelandic Black-tailed Godwits,a really confiding adult Wood Sandpiper,with a cracking juvenile seen later,a couple of brick red adult Curlew Sands and a whopping flock of 31 Spoonbills,this place is just mega!.
Away from the wading birds a Hobby and Peregrine gave fantastic fly by's,resulting in panic amongst the wader flocks and birds scattering in all directions,before quickly settling back down to their feeding and resting routines.
In amongst the feeding flocks of Icelandic Black-tailed Godwits,was a colour ringed adult female which i have very kindly been sent the ringing details of by Pete Potts.
She was first ringed 10 years ago on the river Alde at Hazlewood Marshes on the 26th August 2011 and has been subsequently seen at several sites in Suffolk and Norfolk including Welney,Minsmere RSPB,Titchwell RSPB,Cantley Marshes RSPB,Snettisham RSPB,Fen Drayton RSPB In Cambridgeshire and on 13 previous occasions at Frampton itself,making for a well travelled individual.Couple this with visits to Iceland to breed and it just goes to show how invaluable ringing these birds is and to understand their requirements and protect their breeding and wintering/feeding areas.
Seeing waders on my patch in the morning,with small numbers of species,is a complete contrast to this place,with birds literally everywhere as soon as you leave your car and the lads at the RSPB,John,Toby and Anthony have to be congratulated on all their hard work,this place is worth your RSPB membership on it's own!.
After enjoying another brilliant visit,it was sadly time to head for home,i just wish this place was closer and i look forward to visiting this brilliant reserve again in the near future.
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| Phone-scoped Adult Pacific-golden Plover. |
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| Record Shot With The Bridge Camera. |
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| Tufted Duck Family. |
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| The CR 10 Year Old Female Icelandic Black-tailed Godwit. |
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| Ringing Details & Life History Of The Female Icelandic Black-tailed Godwit. |
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