randombirder

I'd never seen Frampton so dry. Alarming really particular viewing from 360 hide where during spring and autumn, waterbirds are spread across the aquatic environs. Summer had been warm and dry and areas of inundation were largely focused on the pools between the visitors centre and the reedbed hide. There was however a reasonable amount of early autumn quality almost exclusively viewed from the reedbed hide. At least seven curlew sandpiper were wading through the shallow pools with two little stint there, ruff , black-tailed godwit , dunlin and ringed plover . A group of spoonbill were also present there.

Had a really good day today, the sun was out, it was cold but it is winter after all and there is plenty about to keep the post holiday blues away. Starting at Heydon, the kumlien's gull was finally located in amongst a throng of gulls that include two adult and a 1st winter yellow-legged gull .  A notable flock of at least 300 linnet were wheeling round in an adjacent field and around 50 pied wagtail were busily feeding close in. Heading north to Earith was the next stop where six superb glossy ibis were present at the eastern end of Berry Fen, feeding and roosting quite close to the path, glistening iridescence in the low winter light. Next stop were the Beet pits along the Queen Adelaide where within a modest group of eurasian teal , this green-winged teal was present.  It wasn't as lonely as this photo suggests. Keeping distances to a minimum between sites, I headed for Kingfishers Bridge NR that looked fantastic particularly the view over the flash from the viewpoint....

It was a bumper day down on the Dorset coast despite the change in weather.  It stayed dry despite the fog and drizzle en route. The reserve at Lodmoor was teeming with birdlife.  Overwintering Lapwing were constantly made to swirl around the marsh with the constant harassment of the local Marsh Harrier .  Hundreds forced into murmurating with other overwintering waders such as Black-tailed Godwit  and  Dunlin.   Good numbers of Common Snipe were feeding along the muddy fringes. The Lesser Yellowlegs was still present but was frustratingly mobile only settling on the path-side pools for a few minutes before flying out-of-sight into the belly of the reserve. A Sandwich Tern was a nice surprise as it rested on the islands, congregated amongst good numbers of Mediterranean Gull . A total of four Spoonbill were seen around the reserve with three roosting together. This drake Ring-necked Duck was feeding in the ...