Frampton Marsh (Day Trip)

Spring

In April, the marsh and pools are buzzing with activity, as many species of wader use the reserve to roost and feed at various times of the day. High tide sees birds arrive off The Wash mudflats. Wintering Golden Plover, Knot and Black-tailed Godwits will be in breeding plumage, while passage species like Whimbrel, Spotted Redshank and Greenshank will join the breeding waders such as Little Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher, Lapwing and Avocet. The scrapes may also hold Little and Mediterranean Gull and hopefully some of the Black-necked Grebes that bred at Frampton in 2020 will have returned.

The grassland will hold summer gems like Wheatear, Yellow Wagtail and Garganey but our real prize will be the amazingly plumaged Ruff. Patience with the hundreds of breeding Black-headed Gulls may reveal Little and Mediterranean Gulls. Hares should be easily visible as they chase and scuffle around the drier areas.

A walk round the reedbed may find Corn and Reed Bunting and possibly a late leaving Stonechat while our ears will be pricked for Bearded Tit, Cetti’s Warbler and maybe an early returning Sedge Warbler. April often holds lingering wintering birds on the saltmarsh so a scan may produce Hen Harrier, Merlin and Brent Goose.

April highlights

• Yellow Wagtails, Wheatear and Garganey on the grassland
• Thousands of roosting waders in breeding plumage including Knot, Black-tailed Godwit
• Passage waders include Spotted Redshank, Greenshank and Ruff alongside breeding Avocet and Little Ringed Plover
• Breeding specials from last year include Black-necked Grebe, Marsh Harrier, Mediterranean Gull and Corn Bunting

May highlights 

• One of the only places in the UK to see lekking Ruff and most reliable site in Lincolnshire for Turtle Dove
• Wader passage in full flow and we can expect Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper and Wood Sandpiper with outside chance of Temminck's Stint and Pectoral Sandpiper
• Thousands of Dunlin and Ringed Plovers on the grasslands with Common Tern and Avocet nesting on the scrapes

Summer

In summer, the marsh and pools are buzzing with activity, as many species of wader use the reserve to roost and feed at various times of the day. High tide sees birds stream in from The Wash to roost: thousands of Knot and Black-tailed Godwits join the breeding waders such as Little Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Avocet and Redshank on the scrapes on the reserve. At this time of year, a selection of returning migrants such as Little Stint, Spotted Redshank, Curlew Sandpiper and Wood and Green Sandpipers should be present.

Black-necked Grebes bred at Frampton in 2020 and should still be on site in July and August. A handful of Spoonbills are usually loafing about on the pools and we should also be alert for a hunting raptor such as Peregrine or Sparrowhawk putting up the huge flocks of waders. The trick is to try and pick one out amongst the swirling maelstrom of birds! Of course, at this time of year anything might turn up: recent years have seen Stilt Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher, Squacco Heron, two White-rumped Sandpipers, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper and a Caspian Tern!