Rarities at Frampton Marsh

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 When I heard Richard had a survey just a few miles from Frampton Marsh nature reserve I couldnt miss the opportunity to get a lift there to get  my wader  sightings up whilst he undertook his survey.

On arrival everything was shut up which I was expecting as they dont open until 10am and I arrived just after 9am. However, there were quite a few cars in the car park already and I could see people in the distance silhouetted at the top of the sea wall.  I soon met someone walking back and on asking  whether there was anything  exciting to see, he mentioned the presence of a Pacific plover.  "Where?" I asked and my heart sunk when he said it was the other side of the sea wall, since I hadnt planned to walk that far but decided it would be silly to miss the opportunity of a rare sighting and tick for my list. 

When I got to the bank there were several birders there with their scopes and they soon showed me where they had seen it and when it appeared in view, I was offered a look through a scope.  It was similar to a golden plover but taller and sleeker and I managed to get a photo  when it appeared in a gap between some banks. 

I then made my way back to the steps down but saw a gentleman who had also been looking for it but left sooner than me, beckoning from further along the sea wall, and he pointed out  rare black stork flying  gradually nearer overhead so that was two sightings for the price of one!  

I just had time to visit the two hides before Richard rang to say he was on his way to pick me up but the hides were  both empty so I had to make my own  wader IDs  namely avocet, black tailed godwit, spoonbill and green sandpiper (I think)  I didnt see any small wading birds at all but did see a sedge warbler which I hadnt ticked off this year yet. 

The visitor centre was open when I returned although with only an outside gazebo and the staff were getting very excited about the outline of the flying stork in the distance but I was pleased to say I had seen it quite a lot closer although it was hard to get a close up photo.

Pacific plover


green sandpiper

black tailed godwit

avocet


black stork (rather unusual angle)

spoonbill






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