Dave McCulley Photography : Framton Marsh

I took a trip to Framton today as the weather looked to be ok but very windy.
On the drive there 2 Barn owls were hunting on the grass verge next to the A16 road, a bit worrying with all the trucks that use that road!!

The water levels were quite high at Framton today, therefore the mud flats close to the paths had vanished, pushing most of the waders back to the salt marshes. Still quite a few Curlew, Ruff, Black Tailed Godwits, Redshank, Dunlin and Lapwing hanging about, also around a dozen Ringed Plover grouped on an island near the 360 hide.

Curlew.

Ruff.

Black Tailed Godwit.

Approximately 30 Whooper swans are still hanging around near the 360 hide also but flew together and headed north instead of the usual west where they have been spending time, are they heading home?

Whooper Swans.

Around 30 or so Avocets have arrived already at Framton, I was informed that they usually get a good number turning up and they spend most of the time quite close to the hides.

An approachable female Stonechat can be seen at the far side of the lagoon by the visitor centre, she spends her time around a small row of bushes, but will fly around the reeds and comes to within 10 meters before retuning to the safety of the bushes.