Frampton Marsh RSPB – 5/8/11

Another amazing Frampton day although the primary target of Spotted Crake remained hidden. First bird seen in the scope on the western scrape was the Pectoral Sandpiper, which was the 1^st seen anywhere since autumn 2009! The lagoons also held 3 Wood Sandpipers, 20 Black- tailed Godwits, several Ringed Plovers, 3 Green Sandpipers, 8 Greenshank and 4 Ruff. The saltmarsh held 3 Brent Geese which appear to have taken a liking to the habitat after spending all winter here. A walk along the Haven resulted in a host of other waders feeding on the sandflats including at least 10 Grey Plovers, 50 Ringed Plovers, 500 Oystercatchers, 100 Dunlin, 3 Turnstones, 80 Redshank, 3 Whimbrel and 10 Bar- tailed Godwits. On the return journey I disturbed a covey of at least 10 Grey Partridges most of which were juveniles and a juvenile Marsh Harrier flew over. Back at the footpath’s junction with the reserve a Peregrine shot past spooking a flock of 20 Little Egrets. Finally the reserve was heaving under the weight of Yellow Wagtails – I must have counted more than 100 the bulk of which were juveniles.