Week 2 - Week Beginning 01/01/24 - Flooding

 Janaury 4th 


Me and my mum had originally planned to go bird watching on Tuesday the 2nd of January. However heavy rains predicted for the 2nd we decided to change the day to the 4th of Janaury. On Wednesday we were still unsure where we should go. We had originally considered going to see the flock of around 200 waxwing in the village of Hassop in the peak district. However it was a 2 hour 30 minute drive away and we were worried it would be very busy with other bird watchers. The other plans included visiting Eyebrook Reservoir north of Corby, as several smew had been seen there over the past few days, or RSPB Frampton marshes which is around an hour and 20 minutes away. However the flooding from Tuesday’s rainfall made us reconsider visiting a wetland site. Eventually we decided to visit Frampton marshes and if that was too flooded we decided we could visit Eyebrook on the way back as it's in the same direction. When we arrived at Frampton Marshes the staff at the visitor centre mentioned that a Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes), a rare North American bird closely realted to a Common Redshank (Tringa totanus), had been on the site for the past 107 days. As we were talking one of the staff spotted what appeared to be the Lesser Yellowlegs in the flooded field right next to the carpark. I went outside and took a photo of the bird. The RSPB staff confirmed it was the lesser yellow legs. Other interesting birds sitting in the same field was a possible Ruff (Calidris pugnax) or Common Redshank, unfournately I couldn't see the wing pattern to help confirm identification, and a Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago).


Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes). Frampton Marshes, 04/01/23

Possible Ruff (Calidris pugnax) or Common Redshank (Tringa totanus) centre, Snipe (Gallinago gallinago), right. Frampton Marshes, 04/01/23

After that we decided to walk to the first hide, 360 Hide, on the way there we spotted a flock of European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) feeding on Teasel (Dipsacus fullonum), and a few Lapwings (Vanellus vanellus) flying overhead. There were also a pair of Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata) in the wet grassland.


European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis). Frampton Marshes, 04/01/23

Lapwings (Vanellus vanellus). Frampton Marshes, 04/01/23

Once we were in the hide we noticed the usual suspects of this type of Marshland such as Teal, Northern Shovler, Wigeon and Greylag Geese. Amongst them were Common Redshank, a singular Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus), Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna), 6 Avocets (Recurvirostra avosetta). 


Common Redshank (Tringa totanus). Frampton Marshes, 04/01/23

Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus) centre. Frampton Marshes, 04/01/23

2 Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta). Frampton Marshes, 04/01/23

Next we went to reed bed hide. We had been told by the staff at the visitor centre that some Greater Scaup (Aythya marila) amongst the Tufted Ducks. Uncertain as to what I was looking for I took photos of as many of the tufted ducks I could in hopes of photographing the Scaup. There were also Male and Female Pochard and Golden Eye. 

Golden Eye (Bucephala clangula). Frampton Marshes, 04/01/23

We then visited the final hide, with a little bit of flooding needed to get to the hide. On the way to the hide we heard strange calls we later realised were Brent Geese (Branta bernicla). At the hide we saw more Common Redshank, and a Little Egret (Egretta garzetta). We sat here and had lucnh and then I spotted a pair of Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) that we had missed at first. Another 2 birders arrived in their hide. Based on their advice we decided that at some point later we should go and see if we could spot the Bramling (Fringilla montifringilla) spotted on the site.

Little Egret (Egretta garzetta). Frampton Marshes, 04/01/23

Northern Pintail (Anas acuta). Frampton Marshes, 04/01/23

After the final Hide we decided to head up the embankment to have a short walk along the wash, where we watched a large flock of Brent Geese. Afterwards we headed over to the Sunflower patch where the Bramling had been spotted. On the way we spotted a pair of Linnet (Linaria cannabina), which during winter can be seperated from Twite (Linaria flavirostris) by their streaked throat. Once we got to the sun flowers we waited several minutes until spotting the Bramling there were also Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Reed Bunting and a Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) watching them with interest. 

Linnet (Linaria cannabina). Frampton Marshes, 04/01/23

Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs). Frampton Marshes, 04/01/23



Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus). Frampton Marshes, 04/01/23

After this we decided to make our way back to the visitor centre to have cake and hot chocolate before watching the roosting at susnet, there was a large amount of flooding in this section with water. With the water coming high on my wellies. When we arrived there were a large number of Ruff amongst the Redshank in the area of the carpark where the lesser yellow legs was earlier. I counted 18 in total. The first photo shows the difference between Common Redshank (Tringa totanus), left, with the plain uniform wing feathers, and Ruff (Calidris pugnax), right, with the patterened wing feathers. After waiting in the Cafe till around 2.45pm we decided to head to the bird hide.


Common Redshank (Tringa totanus), left, Ruff (Calidris pugnax). Frampton Marshes, 04/01/23

Ruff Ruff (Calidris pugnax), Female 2 Centre left, Male Centre Back. Frampton Marshes, 04/01/23

We then headed to the Reed Bed Hide to watch the roosting, where I photographed a male Reed Bunting ((Emberiza schoeniclus) on the way. There we saw a Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) and finally managed to get a definitive photo of the Scaup, looking at information when getting home I figured out some of differences between Greater Scaup and Tufted Ducks. There wasn't much activity but there were large flocks of  starling, geese and Lapwing coming in to rest. Aswell as a few Mrash Harriers (Circus aeruginosus). At around 4pm we left and headed back to go the car park after a long and amazing day.

Reed Bunting ((Emberiza schoeniclus). Frampton Marshes, 04/01/23

Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis). Frampton Marshes, 04/01/23

Greater Scaup (Aythya marila). Frampton Marshes, 04/01/23

Sunday 7th 

I decided to walk from Raunds to Keyston today. A 8km walk depending on the route you take. Keyston is a lovely small village in West Cambridgeshire just over the border from raunds. with an impressive church a lovely pub and some historical cottages. I left around 11.35 am. The first thing I noticed was a large flock of Starlings and Goldfinch on the corner of Brook Road that leads towards towards Thrapston and the A14 road. Whilst walking along the road I saw a red kite sitting in a tree. Further along the road I photographed a solitary Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris).

Red Kite (Milvus milvus). W3W; unscrew.tomato.exist. 07/01/23

Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris). W3W; darkens.tomato.exist. 07/01/23

Next the route took me of to the right down a very narrow, muddy footpath, through a small and long coppice of trees. There wasn't much to see down this section apart from blackbirds, more Fieldfare and a singular Red Kite flying low over the path and neighbouring field. Once I exited the row of trees I was confronted by a large flock of around 100 Fieldfare feeding on the hawthorn berries. I also noticed a small bird amongst the Fieldfare which I later realised was a Yellow Hammer (Emberiza citrinella).



Yellow Hammer (Emberiza citrinella). W3W; Unkown. 07/01/23

Next I saw a small flock of Long Tailed Tits (Aegithalos caudatus), around 6 of them, in a small wood outside Keystone. 

Long Tailed Tits (Aegithalos caudatus). W3W; Unkown. 07/01/23

Finally when I arrived on the outskirts of Keystone there was a large number of House Sparrows and Goldfinch. 


House Sparrow (Passer domesticus). W3W; quicksand.novelists.played. 07/01/23










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