Frampton Marsh - 14th Jan 2009

Andrew Chick · **Posted:** Wed Jan 14, 2009 6:05 pm

Frampton Marsh - 14th Jan 2009

6 White-fronted Geese
1 Water Rail (very close views)
1 Merlin
c20 Little Egret
c150 Lapwing
2 Snipe
c50 Curlew
c20 Reed Buntings
c25 Twite (distant birds BUT couldn't be anything else???)

Oh, and one of the little egrets was a little buff on the back....

A ringed bird Orange "P" and Yellow "6" Frampton Marsh - 14th Jan 2009

Paul French · **Posted:** Wed Jan 14, 2009 6:53 pm

Hi Andy

Sounds like you had a good day. The Water Rail especially is a good bird for us. Where exactly was it, so that i can spend the next few days staring into a ditch!

If your finches were on the saltmarsh, then yes they probably were Twite. We do get the occasional Linnet out there however. The largest flock of Twite i've seen this year is 31, and that was in the autumn.

PF.

Andrew Chick · **Posted:** Wed Jan 14, 2009 8:01 pm

The Water Rail was seen in the small 'reservoir' on the eastern side of the reserve. Basically park in the 'old' car park, climb up on to the bank and walk towards the Haven. The reservoir is on the left after 200 metres. The Water Rail appeared out of the small ditch on the right and walked across the ice give very good views, also 3 Little Grebes on this small bit of water.
Good Luck!

Andrew

Paul French · **Posted:** Thu Jan 15, 2009 10:35 am

Thanks for the info Andrew. No luck this morning, but did see:

Hen Harrier - young male
Merlin - female
Peregrine - adult male

Andrew Chick · **Posted:** Thu Jan 15, 2009 1:17 pm

Dear Andrew

Thank you for your report of a colour ringed Little Egret. That bird was carrying metal ring number GJ54746. It was ringed as a chick in June 2008 near King's Lynn.

With best wishes,

Diana
Ringing Officer

So this bird with the buff back is a 1st Winter bird?

Paul French · **Posted:** Thu Jan 15, 2009 1:54 pm

The egret is a 1st winter, but not because it has a buff back and coverts. It is just staining from the dykes. Egret plumage is white in all ages. There was another bird present this morning that had a buff base to the foreneck, and no buff elsewhere.

The Lincolnshire Bird Club

Frampton Marsh - 14th Jan 2009

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