It was another beautiful autumn day in Suffolk today but slightly fresher in the morning than previous days and certainly a much cooler wind in the afternoon.

We made another trip to RSPB Minsmere and the day started well with a beautiful pheasant in full sunlight in the fields and a muntjac deer in the dark shade of the woods.

A common sight in the countryside of East Anglia at this time of the year

Muntjac deer

We walked out to the Island Mere in the hope of seeing larger birds and were rewarded with good displays of marsh harriers, great white egrets, grey herons and just one bittern; but all a bit too far away to satisfy me as a photographer.

Marsh harriers

Great white egrets

Cormorant

Grey heron

We then visited the North bushes and woodlands in the hope of seeing some smaller birds but saw absolutely nothing. Perhaps the earlier ringing activity had frightened them all away.

Not much bird life but plenty to please the eye

The woods at RSPB Minsmere

Before coming home we went back to Westleton Heath and saw a stone curlew, a stonechat and some distant red deer.

Westleton Heath

The very secretive stone curlew

Red deer which attract lots of visitors to Westleton Heath to see the stags rutting at this time of the year.