Playing the Prat warms up freezing Frampton

It had to be done, particularly as my good friend Neil Hart needed it, so we spent the afternoon in Lincolnshire at Frampton Marsh RSPB reserve. Arriving to be greeted by dark clouds, a delightfully unpleasant north wind and some rain... we made our way to the ORIENTAL PRATINCOLE, which like any good observer should have been, was hidden away behind the highest stand of cover it could find!!!



And it remained there, albeit showing wellish on the deck for an hour and more before the sun came out and it performed delightfully and proving itself to be a worthwhile wait for the small crowd that had gathered.
I thought I'd include some record shots of the bird as it is highly unlikely, unless the bird comes to Yorkshire, that the words Oriental Pratincole will be published in my blog again! So here are the best of a great bird that was difficult to photograph!



Many other good birds at Frampton today: 2+ Curlew Sandpipers, several Ruff, Avocets, Common Terns and impressive numbers of Brent Geese for the time of year.



We finished the day with a visit to Covenham Reservoir. Again very cold, 2 Common Terns, a Yellow Wagtail and c800 Swifts amongst the many Swallows, House and Sand Martins made for a spectacle. Two Turtle Doves and a Cuckoo nearby were year ticks.