26th August - Titchfield Haven, Hampshire

Back at Titchfield Haven today and as I walked around to the west side of the reserve I was wondering what the water levels would be like on the south scrape when a flock of Cormorants flew in from the sea and headed up the valley, probably to the Frying Pan.  Interestingly the lead bird has its mouth open and the gullet full of, probably, air.

Into the Meon Shore hide and a first look showed the levels to be a little lower, there was mud visible and of course the Common Sandpiper on the island in front of the hide.

Another wader on the island was a single Black-tailed Godwit, and at first sight it did not look well, lying prone on the ground, head and neck out stretched and the eyes closed.

Initially thought it might be another victim of the avian Botulism that has been killing birds on the two scrapes.

But then it stood up and seemed to be fine.

Then it was seen to walk across the island and into the water on the other side of the island, and initially started to feed inthe shallow water.

But then a chance to preen so it appears all was well with the bird.

Feeding close in front of the hide, a Lapwing showing some nice reflections.

It was a surprise to see a Common Gull on th eperches in front of the hide, but welcome.

The gulls and terns all went up as they seem to do for no reason, but they alos took quite a few duck with them and it was nice to see these two Shoveler flying around the scrape.

These duck are in eclipse plumage, which can confuse at this time of year, but you can see two features here with these duck, the large 'shoveler' bill and the sky blue speculum.

It won't be long until the males are looking resplendent in their breeding plumage.

Scanning through the Common Terns on the scrape there was this Sandwich Tern, one of four present.

Things seemed to be quiet around the scrape, but as always seems to be the way, something happens and from nowhere a Cattle Egret appeared and it had perched on one of the posts in the water in front of island D, which happens to be a favourite perch site for the Common Terns.

As a result the terns started to dive bomb the egret and the Cattle Egret was seen to be taking evasive action with its bill.

Ducking down showing off the remains of the orange brown breeding plumage on the crest.

The Common Tern though never coming close to the egret's bill.

But a chance to get close to the Cattle Egret and to see the eyes that take on a binocular view rather than being on the side of the head.

Lovely punky crest.

The Common Terns kept coming.

Eventually the Cattle Egret had enough of the attention from the terns and flew off, heading up the valley towards the meadow and the Highland Cattle.

There was also activity amongst the Common Terns themselves, the squabbles continue, despite the end of the breeding season and this produced some wonderful aerial interaction

Here it looks as if the bills have actually touched.

And it continued.

There were a few Mediterranean Gulls around the scrape, several juvenile birds and this sub adult, showing the black edges to the primaries.

Another Common Gull bathing in the fresh water of the scrape.

I had seen the Sandwich Terns earlier but I was listening out for them to be able photograph in flight.  One duly delivered flying around the scrape and in front of the hide.

Sandwich Terns look much whiter as well as being a little larger in the air than the Common Terns, the call is also very distinctive.

A lovely background.

Looking for a perch.

And settling down.

But then heading out, past the hide, to the Solent.

There were two Common Sandpipers around the scrape and one returned to the island in front of the hide and it settled in the water just off the island.

And then a bathe in which it completely submerged.

A Snipe appeared on the right hand side of the hide and then flew into the bay and out of sight, but then flew across in front of the hide and settled in front of the reeds on the left hand side.

Snipe have been far and few between this late summer, so it was nice to see this one out in the open.

Once again if you are prepared to sit it out something will happen here and that was certainly the case today.

17th May - RSPB Minsmere, Suffolk

It was back to RSPB Minsmere today, arriving the same time, but today the conditions were a lot warmer, the wind was more from the south west and much lighter and as a result as we walked to the Island Mere Hide there was plenty of bird song in the woods, including this male Blackcap.

We had decided to miss out the Bittern Hide this morning, the word was that the best views were being seen from the Island Mere, although a little later in the day we were told of a Bittern that fished in th epool in front of the Bittern Hide for about forty five minutes.  Such is life.

It wasn't too busy in the hide and the beauty of the hide is that it has wide, high windows, no leaning forward to look through a small opening, we both were suffering with our necks as a result.

There are great views across the tops of the reeds and of course there were Marsh Harriers, this one a male drifting past.

I had been hearing the calls of Bearded Tit from the moment we walked down the board walk, but they were staying low in the reeds until this male appeared on the edge of the reeds, low down, but showing well.

Some classic Bearded Tit poses in the reeds.

There were three others in the hide and as we looked out across the mere the call went out "Bittern" and one came from the left hand side of the hide, flying low in front of the hide across the cut reeds.  Wonderful, just what we had come for.

In the breeding season the males have a light blue patch around the eye and at the base of the bill.  This was a male bird.

The throat and belly plumage is what catches the eye, due to its ability to hide the Bittern in the reeds, but in flight you get to appreciate the stunning patterns on the wings and back, a truly beautiful bird.

The Camera just fired away as it passed and I couldn't make my mind up which one was the best so here are all of them.

Following a recent census the RSPB reckon that there are twelve breeding pairs around the reed bed, there was a nest to the left of the hide which is thought to now have chicks.

A little after the first Bittern flew past, another took off t=from the are in which we had briefly seen one on Friday.  It flew across the mere to the reeds on the far side.

We settled in once more to see if anymore would show and we did see two more distantly to the west of the hide.  But another surprise was a Common Crane that flew up from the area directly in front of us and behind the mere.

There were two birds and we could hear them calling, with that lovely wild bugling sound.  The pair have a nest and the thinking is that the chicks have hatched and are now being fed.  Another big success for Minsmere.  The adult birds would fly between the area in front of the hid to a spot distant to the west.

Quite a sight in flight with the wide wingspan and long legs extended beyond the wings.

A sedge Warbler was singing and bursting in the air with its display flight on the right hand side of the hide.

While on the left hand side this Reed Warbler seemed to prefer the small hawthorn bush to the reeds to sing in.

With the calmer conditions today the water of the mere was quite still and threw a nice reflection of the Cormorants resting on the wooden platform.

While a Common Tern fished out in the middle of the mere.

Then another surprise one of the Common Cranes took off from the nest area and flew towards us behind the hide.  I came out on to the boardwalk as it began circling to gain height.

Showing off the impressive wingspan and overall size of the bird.

Things quietened a little as we approached lunch time, so we walked back to the centre for a coffee and something to eat.  Sitting outside I couldn't resist the Sand Martins flying to and fro from their nest holes.

As I watched the Sand Martins I was reminded of the first time I came to Minsmere back in the late eighties when the Sand Martin Colony was the back drop for the car park.  That car park would never support the number of visitors the reserve gets today.

We decided to walk around the scrapes once one, coming up to the north wall a Reed Bunting sand from a single branch within the reeds.

There was always a chance of a heavy shower today, but fortunately we were lucky, this one passing to the south of us heading out to the north sea over Thorpeness.

We walked the board walk once again and then up and over into the dunes.  This Brent Goose was a surprise as it headed out to the sea from the scrape, a very late bird.

A Linnet in the gorse by the sluice.

We walked around to the South Hide, but before going in there is a small raised area where you can look over the scrape that can't be seen from the hide.  As I walked up to view all the Common Terns went up together

Kittiwakes nest on the platforms out at sea and come to the scrape to collect nest material.  Always an impressive bird when seen close up.

We went in to the South Hide, mainly to try and find a summer plumaged Grey Plover.  We found the plover but it was much to far away and the heat haze made a photograph, even a record shot a waste of time.

Another bonus though was a first summer Little Gull, however it is in quite a bit of moult with wing and tail feathers growing.

I couldn't leave Minsmere without a photograph of an Avocet and this one was feeding in the shallow water along with a nice reflection.

As we walked back to the car park through the woodland this little Wren sat up nicely on a fallen trunk.

Minsmere always delivers, but even more so at this time of year, the two days here provided some quality birds and and some great photo opportunities.  I mustn't leave it so long for the next visit.