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.

28th March - Blashford Lakes and Fishlake Meadows, Hampshire

There was a cold wind still blowing, but the morning was bright and sunny.  Ian and I had arranged to meet at Blashford Lakes, once again our thoughts were on migrant birds and over the last few days there had been a few here.  There was also the chance of some good birds of prey.

As we got ourselves ready there was a Chiffchaff above us singing away in the sunshine.  From the cars we set off to the Tern Hide.  As we settled in it was clear it wasn't going to be warm in the hide, the north westerly wind blowing through the windows.  I started by checking the scrubby area to the right of the hide.  I was looking for a Little Ringed Plover, a pair had been reported and for some reason they like this area.  It took a bit longer than I thought it would but eventually I found one at the tip of the mound.

This was my second Little Ringed Plover of the year, the first having been in Sri Lanka not really counting.

Scanning around Ibsley Water there was a single Great Crested Grebe, and several Tufted Duck.  Good numbers of gulls on the far side of the water and a group of Black-tailed Godwits that for some reason were spooked and had a little fly around.

In an effort to warm up we walked around the the Goosander Hide.  As we walked the path to the hide there were a lot of Chiffchaffs singing, a male Bullfinch was devouring the the pussy Willow and a single Willow Warbler singing in the same spot we had one last year.  The Bullfinch evaded us, but the Willow Warbler showed well.

If anything the Goosander hide was even colder, the wind bitingly cold.  As we walked in there was a single Sand Martin on the path and there was a large flock over the water in front of the hide.  Once again though they were incredibly difficult to photograph.

We spent some time scanning the distant tree line and there were Buzzards a Red Kite, a probably Goshawk and a possible White-tailed Eagle high above the trees.

We left the hide the birch trees looking special in the sunshine.

We were going to return to the car park, but we stopped for a singing Blackcap and then a Treecreeper.  The Treecreeper showing well around the angled branches over the water.

We then got news of a Kittiwake showing from the Lapwing Hide, so changed our plans and turned back to make our way to the hide.  A little way along the path a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew across in front of us and into a nearby tree.

It was hammering away at the trunk, some drumming but also chipping away the bark to look for food.

It then made its way along the bough to the end where it adopted the Woodpecker look around.

we walked around the path with Chiffchaff singing everywhere.  In the hide it was not as bad as the other two.  Out in front of us were good numbers of Black-headed Gulls, initial scans didn't find the Kittiwake, but eventually after persistence I found it quite close to the hide.  The question is had it been there all the time, I just don't know.  But here was a very nice adult Kittiwake on an inland water and a chance to get close to photograph.

Then it took off and was dip feeding over the water and then turned out closer to us.

For me another of the beautiful gulls, the clean grey plumage with the darker shade around the mantle.  The tips of the primaries black as if dipped in ink and the yellow bill.

It flew back and forth in front of the hide showing extremely well.

Finally it settled on the water a distance from the hide and we decided to move on.  These were the best views I have had of Kittiwake in the county.

We walked around the track again with Chiffchaff and Blackcap singing.  Crossing the road we walked alongside Dockens Water and came across at least three Treecreepers.  It doesn't get any easier photographing this little mouse like birds.

We had always planned for today to be a multi site day, so we were off to Fishlake Meadows, we had targets here too.  We still had sunshine and that would be essential.  From the car park at Fishlake we walked north along the canal path.  There was still a fresh wind blowing and that maybe was responsible for the quietness.  But every so often a Chiffchaff would sing.

A little further along the path there were the blasting song of the Cetti's Warbler and the diminutive Wren.  The Cetti's remained hidden, but the Wren did show.

Then a sign of hope that maybe we could find what we were hoping for, a Peacock butterfly on the path in front of us.

Rather than take the path across the reserve we carried on along the canal path and a shortly Ian found what we had hoped for.  At this time of year this reserve is a good site for the first Orange Tip butterfly.  Today was a little early but there was always the chance and we had got lucky.  We got even luckier as they usually don't stop at this time of year, but this one did, into the bramble where it settled, but we were able to photograph it.  Closed wings, showing how they can camouflage themselves in amongst the vegetation.

Then open winged showing off the lovely orange tips that give it the name.

After the Orange Tip we tried to walk down the centre path, but were beaten by the flooded path.  We weren't too concerned as we hardly ever see anything good from the screens.

Another reason for heading back was the skies away to the north west.  Dramatic clouds building.

As we walked south the clouds appeared to slip away without drenching us.

We stopped at one of the viewing platforms to scan the reeds and watch the storm  Overhead a Raven drifted over.

As we reached the turn to the car park, the storm clouds were making their way towards Southampton.  There were some interesting patterns in the cloud, bulges at the base of the cloud that are caused by the weight of water.

With storm clous all around us we decided to call it for the day,  The Kittiwake had been a bonus and it was good to catch up with Little Ringed Plover and Willow Warbler.  However the Orange Tip was probably the highlight.  The record is two days earlier than we have seen before, so all in all a good day