A Trip to Frampton Marsh - Part 1

16th May 2025

This two-day trip to Frampton was a birthday present from my four boys although only the eldest two, Mark and Stuart, were brave enough to face the cold northerly wind blowing across the flat Lincolnshire landscape. Due to the time of year passerines were limited to Reed Buntings, Meadow Pipits and Sky Larks, but only the singing male Reed Buntings posed for any photos.

Most of the wintering ducks have left now, leaving just the usual suspects such as Mallard, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Shoveler, Shelduck and Pintail, and many such as these Tufties are paired up for the breeding season.

The male Shovelers are now looking resplendent in their full breeding plumage, and just look at that bill!!!

And here is a female Shoveler having an early morning stretch.

It was a nice surprise to see this pair of Shelducks so close as they usually keep their distance.

There were two female Pintails present and one of them demonstrated how Pintails take a bath. First you take off as if you were going to fly away.

Then you immediately take a nose-dive................

....................and plunge head-first into the water.

Ahhh, that's better.....................

.........................and now for a wing-flap to dry off.

Both Greylag and Canada Geese had obviously had a good breeding season with this Canada guarding two of its well-grown goslings.

I wasn't too surprised to see Brent Geese at Frampton even at this time of year, but wasn't expecting the large numbers present. The Dark-bellied Brent Geese which we get in the UK normally leave for their breeding grounds in Northern Siberia in April although some stay until May. But today there must have be the high hundreds present if not 1000+ which appears to be exceptional, especially when you consider they will be back in September.

Here they are feeding up on the salt-marsh.

But because they are near the breeding season there are often squabbles.

Also a lot of commuting to and from the reserve and The Wash.

Sadly there were also three Pink-footed Geese on the reserve. They all looked in good health but sad because they should be on their way north to their breeding grounds. No obvious physical damage but presumably unable to fly for some reason.

Well that was a good start so look out for Part 2 coming in a couple of days time.