black-tailed godwit – tonydavisonphotography.com

A Late Summers Day at Frampton – 29th July 2012

2012, Birds No Responses »

Jul 292012

A Late Summers Day at Frampton - 29th July 2012

Another day spent at Frampton Marsh, near Boston, Lincolnshire, one of the RSPB’s finest reserves. Only an hour or so drive from home and a place I really enjoy visiting. The reserve always has great potential and you never know what you might find here. A recent White-rumped Sandpiper and a good variety of waders was enough to spark our interest. However, the day turned out to be a little disappointing. Very few waders really, several hundred Icelandic Black-tailed Godwit, many still in summer plumage, plenty of Avocets but only 3 Curlew Sandpiper, 1 Dunlin, 2 Ruff, 1 […]

A “peep” in Norfolk – Sunday, 4th December 2011

2011, Birds, Birds of 2011, Year No Responses »

Dec 042011

A "peep" in Norfolk - Sunday, 4th December 2011

2011 has been one of the best years in memory to see American Waders in Britain. At least 17 species had been seen up to 28th November. The only species not found at this time was Western Sandpiper. So it was inevitable that one would be discovered somewhere!. Cley NWT Reserve was to be the host site for this rare wader. It was first identified as a Semi-palmated Sandpiper but as the bird was eventually seen and videoed at close range, the finer points of the bird’s plumage could be seen and it was eventually re-identified as […]

Waders Galore at Blacktoft – 31st July 2011

2011, Birds, Birds of 2011, Year No Responses »

Jul 302011

Waders Galore at Blacktoft - 31st July 2011

Eleven species of wader were on view at the RSPB Reserve at Blacktoft Sands this morning, including the very rare Marsh Sandpiper. The bird had been present in the area for nearly three weeks and so it was about time we came to see it. Plenty of superb Black-tailed Godwit and 18 Spotted Redshank along with 12 Green Sandpiper, Ruff, Avocet, Redshank, Dunlin, Snipe, Lapwing and Greenshank completed the wader list. A few Marsh Harrier and about a dozen Little Egret. The best I could do with the Marsh Sandpiper was a half decent digiscoped effort but at least you […]

Willington GP- early summer – A morning local birding – 5th June 2011

2011, Birds, Birds of 2011, Year No Responses »

Jun 052011

Willington GP- early summer - A morning local birding - 5th June 2011

Early morning at the DWT reserve at Willington Gravel Pits produced just 8 Black-tailed Godwit of note. They very quickly departed after about an hours stay, heading off west. The first gatherings of young Blue & Great Tits were noticeable in the hedgerows. Still a variety of common warblers singing. A few Buzzard were on the wing and there were many swifts feeding over the pools. At Newton Solney several Goosander on the river and a pair of Mute Swan with cygnets. Also came across a Green Sawfly – ~Rhogogaster viridis – a new insect […]