The Best Reserve in England?

 You have probably heard a lot about Frampton, but it really is the best reserve, certainly for waders, in the country. Problem is, the more visitors a reserve gets, the more disturbance and noise there is, and the less birds feel it is a safe haven, especially on migration. Thankfully, due to enlightened wardens, the reserves development has been largely for the benefit of birds rather than visitors. A new visitor centre has recently been built, but it is small with a small cafe and a few outside tables/chairs, and inside are knowledgeable volunteers and an up-to-date sightings board. No concrete hides, no full car parks (although an overflow park has had to be created recently), and plenty of space.

It is the size of the reserve that makes it so good, along with obviously its location on The Wash. I have been visiting the area since before the RSPB bought it, and overall it has remained largely unchanged in terms of where you can go. Not all the area is RSPB, you can walk along the sea wall in both directions. One path leads to Cut End, where the Lincolnshire Bird Club have a hide (keyholders only) on the "shoreline". I haven't walked that far in the other direction, but the sea wall obviously runs to Kings Lynn, with breaks for the odd river (Great Ouse!). The further you walk the more likely you are to see raptors such as Hen Harriers and Merlins in winter, and Short-eared Owls and Marsh Harriers all year. Hobbies are frequently seen in the summer, and the last few years have seen a pair of Peregrines take up residence. The female is huge, and sometimes to be seen sitting on the scrapes digesting an ex-duck. It is also possible to take paths back to the reserve, one of which passes the farm reservoir, another spot many visitors don't go. Turtle Doves used to breed at the associated barn, perhaps they will again if French hunters stop killing them, and I have seen singing Grasshopper Warbler in the hedgerows. There is always the possibility of a return by Monty's, the reason for the RSPB's initial interest, and many people will remember the observation post up on the sea wall. Whilst numbers are in decline, they do seem to move nest sites after a few years, and there have been historically several sites in the Wash, some well-known, others kept quiet to a degree.

Whilst some species have declined drastically, such as Corn Bunting, others have taken their place. Bearded Reedlings (or whatever I'm supposed to call them now) have established a small colony, and Black-necked Grebes and Black-winged Stilts have bred. Bittern has occurred occasionally, but water levels are maintained for waders so it is unlikely to breed. There's enough places to see them now anyway. Avocets are fairly recent, thankfully because the area is so large they don't seem to be as aggressive  towards other species as at many reserves, although they do make a row when birders pass by. I recently saw one performing a distraction manoeuvre down the path to the hides! Other rare or scarce birds recorded at Frampton include Glossy Ibis (which attempted to breed, unsuccessfully), Black Stork, American Wigeon, Smew, Green-winged Teal, Rough-legged Buzzard, Honey Buzzard, Spotted Crake, Wryneck, Buff-bellied Pipit, Black-eared Wheatear, Pallas' and Yellow-browed Warblers, Red-backed, Great Grey and Woodchat Shrikes.

My main interest at Frampton is obviously waders, and I keep a Frampton wader list for a bit of fun.

 Well, it's supposed to be fun, but having missed Kentish Plover earlier this year, I was stressed for    several days before finally seeing the Semi-palmated Sandpiper on my way home from Shetland, having come off the ferry at Aberdeen that morning. Frampton's wader list stands at 50, mine is 44, the "missing" six are three short staying rarities (Common Pratincole, Kentish Plover and Wilson's Phalarope), Woodcock and two species which aren't uncommon but not in Frampton habitat (Purple Sandpiper and Grey Phalarope). I've never had a wader tick at Frampton but have found Temminck's Stint. Waders often stay for a long time but the size of the reserve often means they move around and go missing for long periods. The Lesser Yellowlegs currently there turned up in October, but has been on the scrapes, the farm reservoir, down by the sea wall, and its current location. Year listers may disturb it as it comes very close to the car park, and it may move again. I rarely go out on the 1st unless for a specific bird, but I'm sure I'll see it again soon. Many of you will remember at least some of the birds shown, but as yet there's never been a Sandplover, Marsh or Terek Sandpiper, or Hudsonian Godwit. I wouldn't bet against any of them!