Frampton Marsh, Lincolnshire.

Sunday 20th May 2013 – Early morning at Frampton Marsh, Lincolnshire. I've said this before, I really like birding at this RSPB reserve and there is allways plenty to see. The place is never overcrowded, unless of course there is a major rarity, and the reserve is easy to work. It is one place where Turtle Dove is almost guaranteed and in recent years there can't be many places that can boast that statement. Turtle Dove is by no means a common bird these days and is near enough extinct in Derbyshire. I really can't believe it. When I first started birding, as a young lad, Turtle Dove was a common bird.

We managed to find 6 Temminck's Stint, 3 more than previously counted at the site during the past few days and the largest number I have seen together. However, there were very few waders about. We did see a large flock of summer plumaged Grey Plover fly over, what a sight in the sunshine, also a single Black-tailed Godwit, numbers of Little Ringed Plover a scattering of Ringed Plover, plenty of Avocet and Redshank. 2 first summer Little Gull, a single Corn Bunting and at least three Turtle Dove.Still a large flock of around 300 Brent Goose. Plenty of breeding Black-head Gull and around 8 Common Tern and several Little Egrets around the reserve. So the Year List moves on to 187. You don't allways have to photograph rarities. Our common birds make for a good photograph and some are well overlooked..