The Lincolnshire Bird Club

Hi,

There were 11 Curlew Sandpipers on the North Scrape at Frampton Marsh this morning. Thinking spring Curlew Sandpiper was quite a scarce bird and never having recalled hearing of a double figure count in spring before I checked Birdguides. Since 2001 there have only been seven records of more than four birds together in spring up until now, these are;
6 Cley May 2001
7 Titchwell May 2001
6 Ythan Estuary June 2001
9 Cley May 2004
5 Martin Mere May 2007
6 Sunk Island, Yorks June 2007
5 Frampton Marsh May 2010
Therefore according to Birdguides the 11 at Frampton today represents the first double figure count in spring in Britain for at least 11 years!

Also at Frampton today;
Little stint - 1
Black-tailed godwit - 14
Garganey - 3 drakes
Little gull - 3 1st summers
Turtle dove - 1
Cuckoo - 1
Prob. ringtail Montagu's harrier over the saltmarsh - unfortunatley a bit too distant. Had there not been any pallid harriers around I would't have hestitated, but I've only seen one Pallid (and that was an adult male) so I'm just being cautious!
Marsh harrier - 4
Buzzard - 1

Cheers,

John

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Contact: recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk

I decided to spend the afternoon at Frampton and bumped into Andy Sims there
I too had a probable Montagus Harrier over the Saltmarsh just after 17:00. Was some distance away but the ring of white on its tail showed clearly. Colouring suggested an immature bird to me.
Other highlights included
9 Curlew Sandpipers
3 Little Gulls
3 Garganey (from East Hide)
1 Little Stint
1 Marsh Harrier
300+ Swifts and another largish flock over the tip on Whisby Road in Lincoln
100+ Swallows
1 Scaup
15 Little Egrets
1 Black Tailed Godwit
50+ Ringed Plover
c300 Dunlin
c50 Avocet
2 Ruff
14 Oystercatchers
3 Whitethroats
40 Common Tern
300 Brent Geese throughout the day

13 Curlew Sandpipers this morning!

John

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Contact: recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk