Three Pratincoles on my list

I've done little since returning from Mongolia except processing photos, but have been birding a few times. Frampton is my nearest reserve, and my favourite, despite the possibility of being blinded by reflections from a pointless "sculpture" in the early mornings. I keep a Frampton wader list for fun, which currently stands at about 43, so I had to go for the Pratincole recently. As many will know, there are three on the British list, Common, formerly known as Collared, being the commonest; Black-winged, and Oriental, of which there have only been nine records involving five birds. In my twitching days I saw all three in roughly that order and numbers, my first Common in 1986 (total 9). Black-winged in 1988 (total 6) and Oriental later in 1988 (total 3).

Ive seen all three species abroad on several occasions, but as they are among my favourite waders I'm always happy to see more. I would like to see Grey, my last Pratincole, but currently the bank manager won't allow it, and I'm busy with other things. However, Pratincoles at Frampton are a different matter. My first was an Oriental. I had just finished lunch (a Sunday I believe) when the news broke in 2010. Ann had seen two previously with me so I was allowed to leave the clearing up (no seriously, Ann is very understanding). About 25 minutes later I arrived to hear the bird had just flown, but it hadn't gone far, and soon showed well for about the next ten days, a return visit to photograph it being easy. To this day when asked how long it takes me to get to Frampton I reply "forty minutes, or 25 if there's an Oriental Pratincole there" (officer). I think this was the bird that started my Frampton wader list, but I was somewhat dismayed to find I had missed a Common Pratincole there the previous year. I had been unable to go for some reason (probably abroad).


 By 2019 my wader list had increased markedly, to the extent I had seen most species occuring at Frampton since 2010, and a Black-winged Pratincole turned up for three days. I went with Mike (so many reminders of the birds we saw together) and it spent most of its time alternately hawking insects and landing briefly to the south of the main footpath. Easy. 


 For some reason, the last and most common pratincole caused me all kinds of problems. I suppose it was my own fault, but I didn't go on the day the bird turned up, when it showed every hour or so on the ground. I was the first birder there the following morning as I've still not entirely got used to sleeping after 4.30am (Mongolia). The bird had apparently roosted south of the visitor centre the previous evening, so I parked at the bottom car park and walked back towards the centre as that was the area it had frequented. No sign, so I continued walking south, round the farm resevoir and back along the sea wall, a walk of about 4km. I thought I saw the bird in flight near the resevoir which prompted my wanderings. About halfway my phone app. sent a message-the bird was at a spot it had been the day before- about 100yards from my car! My view is "if you can't take the heat get out of the kitchen", needless to say, it had flown by the time I got there, but was soon relocated from the main hide. I walked there, legs beginning to get a bit tired by now, and as I approached was told it had flown over the path but no-one was sure where. It had been at reedbed hide the previous afternoon, so I reasoned there was a good chance it would be visible from there. Despite several hours searching at both hides and along the furthest path north, the only view I had of it was its tail disappearing behind an island! I then went home for late lunch and some sleep. All the time I was fighting my conscience-"I know it was the bird, I've seen enough pratincoles, and it's my list, I can tick half a bird if I want" 


Thankfully, the bird was eventually relocated that afternoon, and as I wanted photos I went back the following afternoon. I saw it flying from the visitor centre, met up with an old friend, Steve Starling, and eventually watched it from reedbed hide, where it repeatedly flew behind the same island I had seen half of it from the day before! I managed a few record shots, but I've had easier twitches to Scotland. For some reason I still thoroughly enjoy it! Incidentally, the bird has also visited other locations, including Cley, but proved equally difficult everywhere.


 

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