Category: Blog

RSPB Minsmere

Following a walk on Dunwich Beach where we saw and heard Sky Larks we made our final visit to  RSPB Minsmere.

There, we only managed one hide as there was so much action that we had to grab a cup of tea before the café closed.

Before we could take a seat in the Bittern hide we saw two Marsh Harriers at close quarters and before they disappeared two Hobbies were on the scene catching dragonflies. Then a Bittern was spotted and before I could focus it took off and flew right in front of us and landed so that we had a close view as it fished for its supper.

The Bittern was not the only successful fisherman as a Grey Heron grabbed a big fish and flew off before a Little Egret dashed in and grabbed a few smaller fry.

If that was’t enough a Jay flew past and perched close by and a Cetti’s Warbler entertained us with its loud call. There was  probably other activity but we couldn’t keep up.

On the way back to the café we had further entertainment from a Stoat and its kits.

Phew! There was so much excitement that I was not too disappointed by a malfunction from my lens (as can be seen from the photos which are the best of a bad bunch). Hope to rescue some more photos later.

RSPB Minsmere

The early bird catches the worm! All of this below before breakfast. I thought it was going to be a good day when we saw a peacock on the way to Minsmere.

Sedge Warbler, Reed Bunting, Grey Heron, Bittern, Marsh Harrier, Kingfisher, Spoonbill, Stonechat, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Pied Wagtail, Swallow and so much more.

Bacon butty in the café and then home by 10 o’clock ready for a swim.

Walberswick, Dunwich Heath and RSPB Minsmere

A fabulous day – but very frustrating from a photography point of view: a Robin and a Pied Wagtail on the lawn of our lovely holiday home in Walberswick; a great deal of effort spent trying to photograph a Dartford Warbler (with very little success) and a female and male Stonechat on Dunwich Heath; a quick tour of RSPB Minsmere watching Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Bearded Tits, Marsh Harriers, Bitterns, Terns fishing  and a Linnet (I think), and searching unsuccessfully for a Stone Curlew. All great fun and some good views but very poor photographs. As someone dear to us once said: “The world is not all about birds”. Certainly true today! Luckily the weather was good and we really enjoyed the swim at 9 o’clock this morning, the walks in the beautiful Suffolk countryside and the meal at the local pub this evening.

RSPB Minsmere

Late afternoon visit to RSPB Minsmere was rewarded with Bearded Tit, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler and lots of action on the scrape.

Walberswick, Suffolk

Morning walk around Walberswick: Robins on the lawn then Sky Lark, Reed Bunting and Song Thrush. Along the River Blyth lots of Starling, Canada Geese, Mute Swans, and Wood Pigeons.

RSPB Minsmere

Torrential rain didn’t spoil the day. RSPB Minsmere throws up loads of stars today.

The best being the very secretive male Bittern (booming too), a female Marsh Harrier and a male Kingfisher. So much to see and lots of drama. I wouldn’t like to try to survive on the scrape!

The three stars from today:

RSPB Minsmere, Suffolk

Wonderful display from male and female Marsh Harrier. So much to see.

I think I photographed these birds:

Avocet
Chaffinch
Cormorant
Marsh Harrier
Little Egret
Arctic Turn
Common Turn
Sandwich Turn
Robin
Sedge Warbler
Sand Martin
Swallow
Dunnock
Magpie
Grey Heron
Black-headed Gull (and chicks)
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Barnacle Goose
Greylag Goose
Linnet
Redshank
Shelduck
Black-tailed Godwit

… and saw these:

Bittern (booming too)
Bearded Tit
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Canada Goose
Wood Pigeon
Chiffchaff
Little Grebe
Great Crested Grebe
Kestrel
Kittiwake
Mallard
Mute Swan
Great Tit
Cetti’s Warbler (heard)
Reed Warbler
Jackdaw
Crow
Blackbird
Mute Swan

Chaffinch

Common Tern

Grey Heron

Grey Heron

Male Marsh Harrier

Male Marsh Harrier

Male Marsh Harrier

Male Marsh Harrier

Male Marsh Harrier

Male Marsh Harrier

Male Marsh Harrier

Male Marsh Harrier

Male Marsh Harrier

Male Marsh Harrier

Male Marsh Harrier

Male Marsh Harrier

Male Marsh Harrier

Grey Heron

Female Marsh Harrier

Female Marsh Harrier

Female Marsh Harrier

Female Marsh Harrier

Female Marsh Harrier

Female Marsh Harrier

Female Marsh Harrier

Female Marsh Harrier

Female Marsh Harrier

Female Marsh Harrier

Female Marsh Harrier

Female Marsh Harrier

Female Marsh Harrier

Female Marsh Harrier

Female Marsh Harrier

Female Marsh Harrier

Female Marsh Harrier

Female Marsh Harrier

Female Marsh Harrier

Cormorant

Sedge Warbler

Sedge Warbler

Magpie

Sand Martin

Sand Martin

Barnacle Goose with Black-headed Gull chicks

Avocet

Sandwich Tern

Common Tern

Black-headed Gull

Black-headed Gull and chicks

Black-headed Gull chick

Black-headed Gull chick

Avocet

Avocet

Black-headed Gull and Avocets

Black-headed Gull and Avocets

Barnacle Goose

Sand Martin

Avocet

Barnacle Goose and Black-headed Gull

Barnacle Goose and Black-headed Gull

Black-headed Gull and chicks

Black-headed Gull chick

Sandwich Tern and Common Tern

Sandwich Tern and Common Tern

Sandwich Tern and Common Tern

Redshank

Black-headed Gull and chick

Avocet

Avocet

Redshank

Avocet

Shelduck

Black-headed Gull chicks

Linnet?

Linnet?

Swallow

Swallow

Little Egret

Little Egret

Little Egret

Little Egret

Greylag Goose

Greylag Goose

Little Egret

Black-tailed Godwit

Robin

Walberswick , Suffolk

Following a seven hour journey to Suffolk we had a walk down to the beach at Walberswick through the reed beds in the early evening.

Little Egret, Reed Warbler, Song Thrush, Black-headed Gull, and Grey Heron.

Little Egret

Reed Warbler

Reed Warbler

Black-headed Gull

Little Egret

Black-headed Gull

Little Egret

Song Thrush

Song Thrush

Grey Heron

Song Thrush

Song Thrush

Song Thrush

Black-headed Gull

RSPB Conwy and Bodnant Garden

Lapwing

Little Grebe

Great Crested Grebe

Great Crested Grebe

Great Crested Grebe

Great Crested Grebe

Great Crested Grebe

Tufted Duck

Little Grebe

Little Egret

Great Crested Grebe

Tufted Duck

Grey Wagtail

Blue Tit

Blue Tit

Blue Tit

Blue Tit

Blue Tit

RSPB Conwy

Great Crested Grebe

Clifton Downs

An hour to kill on The Downs this morning. Jackdaws, a Goldfinch, a Robin and Peregrines at a distance (poor quality photos with prey on the far side of the gorge). Great views of male passing food to female mid-flight but I was not skilful enough or quick enough to get photos.Thousands and thousands of gulls on the grass all over that side of The Downs.

Forest of Dean

Mandarin Ducks and an obliging Nuthatch at Nagshead. More Mandarin Ducks and a Little Grebe at Cannop Ponds.