RSPB Frampton Marsh

A late April visit to RSPB Frampton always offers so much. With waders on the move, warblers arriving and the first juveniles leaving the nest, it is an exciting time. There were a few birds that were high on the list to see. A returning Black-winged Stilt that fledged from here last year was the main target and was picked up quite quickly despite the rain that was coming down. 

Close to the car park and in the lagoons were a Spotted Redshank, Ruff, Lapwings, and several Yellow Wagtails. What a great start, without putting in any effort. It almost felt like cheating. Usually you have to walk some distance and then also get lucky in finding your birds. Not at Frampton! There was even a Spoonbill that was awake and actually moving towards us rather than away. That is not normally the scenario with this bird. 

First year female Black-winged Stilt.

Spoonbill

Yellow Wagtail

Juvenile Lapwing

My first Swift sighting of the year, is always a great moment.

Swifts

Over the years I've spent countless minutes and hours trying to photograph Swifts and members of the Hirundine family in flight, to no avail. Trying to master their movements is difficult. Getting the camera to focus on a small dark moving object in a wide expanse of blue or pale grey is very tricky indeed. It hasn't stopped me trying though. 

I seem to be getting better results with this camera than my previous camera. As yet it hadn't been trialled properly on this small moving target, but the autofocus seems to lock on better and it stays with the subject. So I tried again a few weeks ago, when the Swifts had just arrived. They were quite low in the sky and so this made it a bit easier for me. Anyway, I think these are the best result I have had and so I thought I'd share with you. 

I should say that if you click on a picture it will enlarge it for you.

Common Swift

This is my favourite

Pennington Flash

These pictures are from a few weeks back when I took a visit to Pennington Flash, which is one of the premier birding sites in the North West. Such a varied array of habitats, it attracts so many different species.
It was a bright morning (always a bonus) and there was lots to see. There were Reed and Sedge Warblers in the reed beds. A Kingfisher zipped past while I was watching some of the many Grey Herons, and the main water held hundreds of Swifts, Swallows and Sand Martins. It was a fantastic Spring morning.

A male Blackcap was letting everyone know he was around.

Common Terns taking a rest in front of Horrock's hide.

Great crested Grebe.

A juvenile Grey Heron, and some Lapwings behind.

Little ringed plover.

Stock Dove

Something I try every year. Catching a Swift in flight. It's not very easy.