Martin's Bird Blog & Nature Photos

Tag: RSPB Frampton Marshes

  • 10th August 2024 – RSPB Frampton Marsh

    10th August 2024 – RSPB Frampton Marsh

    I happened to notice a flyer for “Bird Watching” magazine saying that “August is traditionally a time for summer holidays, with plenty of sunshine inviting you into ‘the field’ (or down to the seaside)”. Well we headed to the seaside but there was very little sun.

    Nonetheless, we had a great start to our seaside holiday in Blakeney on the Norfolk coast with a detour to the wonderful RSPB reserve at Frampton Marsh in Lincolnshire. We were a little concerned about doing the trip to Blakeney in one day. So what did we do? We made the journey longer and took in the National Trust property at Belton House near Grantham and then on to this fabulous reserve on the edge of The Wash. We did have a stopover in the wonderful Lincolnshire countryside at Osbournby to make things a little easier for ourselves.

    The sun shone on our visit to Belton House near Grantham
    Fallow deer at Belton House (escorted by a pied wagtail)

    At RSPB Frampton Marsh eyed hawk moth caterpillars in the car park set us off to a great start.

    Eyed hawk moth caterpillar

    Eyed hawk moth caterpillar

    Spoonbills were high on the star attractions list

    Avocets have got to be high on anyone’s list, especially with the super success story they continue to write

    Ruffs were everywhere but rarely very close

    The legs of the redshank were almost florescent in the dull light

    Sand Martin were almost impossible to photograph in this light so I was very happy with this shot

    Avocet in flight

    … and on its way back

    A peregrine caused this mayhem of godwits

    … but they soon came back

    The ringed plovers were displaced too and disappeared over the salt marsh

    Some of the godwits were unmoved

    Greenshank?

    Scaup?

    It was difficult to catch the spoonbills with their bills showing

    But occasionally they were obliging

    Ringed plover

    The greylag geese were easier to photograph but didn’t look at their best in the poor light

    The sun failed to appear all day until we reached Blakeney. Hopefully a good omen for the week.

    Sunset at Blakeney Quay