An Autumn Visit to Frampton Marsh

1st August 2022

My first autumn visit to Frampton and was pleased to see that the Alders by the car park were still full of Goldfinches.

The reserve was looking fantastic with large expanses of mud for the migrant waders but unfortunately, although there were lots of waders present, they were all out in the middle and therefore distant. There were a number of Black-tailed Godwits and some Dunlin, but the vast majority were Knot still in their red summer plumage.

Because most of the birds were distant I headed straight for East Hide and as I was walking up the track I was greeted by a Reed Warbler. This adult had young nearby and was intent on keeping an eye on me until the danger had passed.

Once inside the hide the show began with a smart Yellow Wagtail and a Meadow Pit feeding on the mud right outside the hide.

Not long after a juvenile Lapwing was feeding along the muddy margins and walked right past the hide.

Out in the nearby shallows Avocets and Black-tailed Godwits were making the most of the wet mud and at times were feeding fairly close.

Note the Ruff in the background

A single Common Sandpiper flew in and worked its way along the muddy margins followed by a couple of Ruff in their rather variable plumage.

But the star of the show today was the Snipe which spent the first couple of hours asleep just eight feet in front of the hide. It eventually woke up and the show began.

It was working its way through the vegetation when a Pied Wagtail suddenly appeared and spooked it, and its immediate response was to adopt a threat posture. This involved laying flat on the mud and fanning its tail to make itself look bigger. How amazing is that??

Well. there is no doubt about it that East Hide, from a photographic point of view, definitely saved the day.