Stilt sandpiper at Frampton Marsh

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On checking the website for Frampton Marsh we noticed there had been sightings of a rare stilt sandpiper and although we didn't expect to see it we thought there would be a large number of twitchers there and so it proved to be.

The purpose of my visit was to see some waders which were rather lacking on this years bird list and we were soon rewarded by sightings of black tailed godwit, ruff, and common sandpipers.  Walking round the reserve we came across a group of people armed with long lenses but sadly the rare bird had not been seen. We decided to walk round further and I was soon able to add dunlin, little ringed plover, snipe and avocet to my list together with a single Whooper swan. 

By this time the group of twitchers had moved to another scrape and as we approached we heard an excited whistle. There it was right in front of us busy feeding. Its plumage was very marked with barring on its flanks and long legs,  hence its name although most of its legs were hidden in the water.  So an unexpected addition to my list.   Total birds seen was 33 including all the usual water and meadow birds, though not a yellow wagtail which was supposed to be seen near the cows and also not a spoonbill although these had been seen flying over earlier in the  day. 

I was quite pleased with my list although ironically when we got home, we checked the website again and apparently, not long after we left a red necked phalarope had joined the stilt sandpiper on the scrape and they were busy feeding together. Ah well you win  some and lose some!

Common sandpiper

 Whooper swan

 Whooper swan

 Ruff

 Little Ringed Plover


 Stilt sandpiper

Avocet


Avocet and young

Black tailed godwit and stilt sandpiper

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