Raincoats or woolly jumpers?…

It rained all night and, despite yesterday’s optimistic weather forecast, the rain continued all through breakfast (bacon and eggs) so we felt there was no rush to leave the orchard. However, the latest forecast seemed to indicate that the area to the west of the Wash was going to be pretty rain-free for the afternoon so we decided to head off to RSPB Frampton Marsh in Lincolnshire, a few miles from Boston.

Lincolnshire is, of course, well known for its vegetable growing and we came across people in fluorescent orange suits, who, together with this complicated looking bit of machinery, were picking cabbages.

Down on the marsh the carpark was virtually deserted for the first time ever.  Perhaps other people hadn’t trusted the weather forecast?  We headed off to the 360 degree hide and were surprised to see the local sheep wading their way from island to island in search of the best grazing.  This one was practicaly up to his tummy in water!

Around the sheep flew flocks of Lapwings and Green Winged Teal

with the pale sun gradually bringing our their exotic colouring. I don’t know why but their heads always look to me like they’re made of felt!

We spotted this lone Avocet – just for you, Sean!

Alone in our huge hide we watched as flocks of Golden Plover arrived to inhabit the spits of land.

We loved this “conversation” between a Lapwing and this Golden Plover:

Every now and then, huge flocks of what turned out to be Sandpipers could be seen in the distance weaving the way across the fields, one minute glinting in the sun and the next minute virtually disappearing as they turned away…

A few came in to land in the near distance to keep this Mallard and Redshank company…

Another sheep ambled past our hide enjoying the dry land and the warming sunshine…

… and far in the distance swam some Shelducks (the one in the front looks like a tour quide!)

and a Pintail Duck:

Elsewhere, a cheeky Lapwing seemed to be playing leapfrog with this Teal!

The sun had begun to sink lower in the sky so we left the hide walking between the teasels and leaving the local inhabitants to enjoy the last golden rays.

Red sky at night shepherds’ delight?  We hope so…