Breeding success for black-winged stilts at Frampton Marsh

Before seeing your post watched Look North as always, the adults and juvs were shown, my only chance of seeing them, enjoyed.

A PAIR of black-winged stilts have made history by becoming the first known pair of the species to breed in Lincolnshire.

The happy news was announced this afternoon by the team at the RSPB nature reserve at Frampton Marsh, near Boston.

The hen laid four eggs all of which have hatched, with the chicks already running free from the nest.

Staff spotted that the birds were nesting last month, but asked reserve visitors to keep the news under wraps for fear that  unscrupulous egg-collectors might swoop.

Now that word is out - for instance on BBC Look North this evening -  the reserve is likely to see a significant increase in visitors.

However, be aware that, at least for the time being, close-up views are not guaranteed.

The stilt family have made their home in long grass and reeds some distance from the visitor centre, and sometimes they are invisible from view.    

* Last year, Yorkshire recorded its first stilt-breeding success, and there could be more news from other parts of Britain later this month given that, so far this year, there have already more than 80 sightings from up and down the land.