randombirder

Another great day at Minsmere - due to Covid - this was the first visit after around eighteen months. Always plenty to see around the reserve.  From the east hide, ten summer plumage spotted redshank were present out on the scrape along with a couple of green sandpiper , black-tailed godwit , and two stunning ruff in breeding plumage. The raucous sound of breeding gulls and terns including hundreds of black-headed gull , sandwich tern , and a few meditteranean gull and little tern were present on the islands. A couple of lovely male dartford warbler were present along the beach and three garganey (1 drake and 2 duck) were seen from the south scrape hide while searching for the roseate tern that weren't seen during the afternoon. A short vigil from the Bittern Hide hoping for the purple heron that failed to alight from the reedbeds was a real pleasure watching marsh harrier on feeding sorties.  A single hobby was seen flying over the reeds.

A trip to Minsmere for some sun, sea air and whatever ever may be lurking within these magnificent environs. The sun was out - briefly - followed by cloud that then exposed a cool south-easterly breeze.  The sun did eventually reappear and stayed to warm the senses and take in what is a fabulous place. It was predictably quiet - migration just starting to take hold but there was plenty to behold.  From the North Wall, two Stone Curlew were strutting around the heath appearing to be in close attendance to a breeding site. A Whimbrel flew strongly by that was later seen on South Scrape.  Common Tern were present in good numbers.  The East Scrape held at least seven Spotted Redshank , three Ruff , Common Sandpiper , Green Sandpiper , four summer plumage Dunlin , Black-tailed Godwit and Avocet . At least four Mediterranean Gull were on South Scrape as was a stunning summer plumage Turnstone and two Ringed Plover . Two Hobby flew over Whin Hill. ...

Flamin' June didn't really live up to its epithet on a grey day.  It was Kat's birthday so we headed over to Suffolk for a long walk.  The route took us through Dunwich Heath, down towards Sizewall, and back through Minsmere, ending with Fish 'n' Chips in Southwold. The Iberian Chiffchaff sang but did not show along the Eastbridge road.  Dunwich held Dartford Warbler that are always relatively easy to see. Minsmere was a throng of life with Gulls and Terns dominating the scrapes.  A good number of Kittiwake had settled on the scrape.  A 1st summer Little Gull flew by and a prolonged view of a Bittern flying low across the reserve was a real bonus.

A quiet day at Minsmere is when you rack up 87 species and also get to observe a variety of other interest things. East Scrape A long day but ultimately worth every mile endured along the arduous route to the reserve. The first stop was the Island Mere hide where a couple of Otter sightings on the far side of the water were typically brief. One of the Savi's Warbler made a couple of attempts to wind up a sustained reel but failed miserably.  Not very vocal and therefore no chance of grabbing a chance sighting. Four flyby sightings of Bittern during the course of the day that were particularly active presumably now feeding young. Watching the aerial Marsh Harrier glide over the vast reedbed, a Hobby feeding over the woodland, Bearded Tit dashing low over the reeds, and listening to the cacophony of Black-headed Gull and Mediterranean Gull on the East Scrape are all part of the sensory experience. On both the East and South Scrapes, a number of Kit...

An early start to make the most of a gorgeous day, not as radiant as the previous day but the east fared well as the weather rolled in from the west.  The morning was crisp, and clear. The first stop was Eastbridge where the Glossy Ibis was feeding along the edges of the flooded marsh.  It was then spooked by a passing Marsh Harrier , it's iridescence shimmering against the morning sun as it flew round and then dropped down again.   A group of Curlew were present there as were a few flighty Common Snipe . I was really looking forward to visiting Minsmere again.  It's such a fabulous reserve with so much to offer all year round. Heading along the path toward Island Mere hide, common birds were now vocalising salutations for the onset of Spring within the woodland.  There is a while to go but today in the sun, the signs were promising. This Robin was really confiding. There were plenty of Siskin and a few Redpoll seen fro...

Today was a celebration of great British wildlife and the woes of the lamentable British traffic. Standing outside the Island Mere hide, there were birds everywhere with at least six Hobby voraciously feeding on insects around the marshes.  A Bittern boomed distantly across the mere with another alighting from the dense reeds and flying past the hide where it was being harangued by an intolerant corvid. Bearded Tits pinged from pretty much everywhere and Marsh Harrier were performing beautifully in the intense sunlight with a food-pass observed between a faithful pair of adult birds. A single Cuckoo called persistently with another male bird nervously flying past. The Savi's Warbler finally broke silence, reeling intermittently somewhere out in the expanse of the reedbed.  It would have been impossible to locate - but at least he was out there. The scrapes were full of bird life.  Boisterous Black-headed Gull and decent numbers of really smart Meditterane...

It is quite extraordinary that this resident of the Americas was found, ostensibly, on the wrong side of the UK.  Extraordinary that it should linger all day in brutish weather.  It was cold, and the northerly wind bared its' teeth. Leaving at 5am, I arrived dead on seven.  There were murmurings that the bird had already been sighted.  There were already around c300 twitchers on site. Moments later, a group of seven  Barn Swallow flew over.  Mass panic. A bird, shorter tailed hung back from the group then disappeared. Then the show began.  The American Cliff Swallow appeared, joining rank with it's European cousins.  Perching on top of a hawthorn for long periods appeared incongruous.  It was hard to imagine there was any food here for them. What appeared to be a juvenile, the short tail, dusty rump and nape, and a distinctive pale face mask made this bird really rather attractive. Then I left the assembled crowd. Spen...

At long last.  It's only taken 24 years to see my first UK Honey Buzzard .  We returned back to Walberswick to the Westwood Lodge viewpoint, but today I felt positive that the bird would show. Almost on cue at around 3.20pm, the HB was seen flying reasonably distantly being mobbed by a Hobby before flying left along the tree-line.  I appreciate that there is generally a degree of ID confusion between this and it's more ubiquitous cousin, but when you see it, it really is a different beast altogether. Having lost it to view, the bird then reappeared much closer soaring with a Marsh Harrier before drifting off again. Also on site was a Woodlark and a Red Kite . Then it was onto Minsmere for a gentle stroll round the reserve where to the chagrin of many visiting birders, the Swamphen had disappeared overnight.  Typical of rare birds to do a bunk on a Friday night and I feel the pain of all the visiting birders hoping to connect with it. From the North Wall...

A lovely morning to have escaped the carnage of London for a day out in the wilds of the Suffolk coast.  We headed to Walberswick, taking in some fresh air with a walk along the beach and round the local nature reserve.  A Whimbrel was seen on the flashes by the beach and a Grey Seal was wrestling a decent catch a couple of hundred metres from the shoreline. There was a target, inevitably, and the search for my first UK Honey Buzzard continues to elude me.  A bit late for the morning sighting, we returned mid-afternoon but with no luck which was particularly frustrating as it had been appearing around this time during the course of the week. A couple of  Hobby  were present here along with a juvenile  Woodlark , and plenty of active  Yellowhammer . However, the 17th century St Andrews church in Walberswick really is an impressive building and was worth a wander round. A few birders had assembled at the Westwood Lodge site (all wai...