Oriental Pratincole, Frampton RSPB, Lincs. 
Oriental Pratincole
Oriental Pratincole
Oriental Pratincole
Oriental Pratincole
Oriental Pratincole
Oriental Pratincole and Little Gull
Avocet
Corn BuntingSunday 16th May 2010
Frampton is a RSPB managed reserve in the Lincolnshire fens not far from The Wash. It is an excellent facility and a pleasure to visit. Having said that there were rather alot of visitors on Saturday, attracted by the presence of an Oriental Pratincole. The hides were difficult, crammed with people determined to see whatever species was called out. There are though, plenty of wader/plover/duck friendly scrapes and islands to scan outside the hides.
After parking up Julian Allen and I walked around to get our bearings. People were scattered all over the place so there was no obvious best view point for the Pratincole which seemed to be in the centre of a large Cow pasture. We saw a Northern Wheatear and Yellow wagtail before making our way back to to east side of the reserve where most of the scrapes were located. When we got to the East Hide the Oriental Praticole was flying around what seemed to be its favoured location, frequently landing on an island in front of the hide. After filling our boots we checked out the other hides. Although not in big numbers there was an interesting variety of waders with a Temminck's Stint and Wood Sandpiper leading the cast. Other species included Dunlin, Black tailed Godwit, Avocet, Turnstone and Ruff. A drake Garganey and drake Pintail brightened up the pool in front of the visitors centre and a Marsh Harrier flew over high. It was also good to see a number of Corn Bunting on site.
So after a few hours very enjoyable birding in the sun we moved on to Ilkeston to see the Great Reed warbler. It was again very difficult but Julian managed to get some acceptable views but it was never 'showing well' while we were there.
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