Minsmere Dawn Chorus

A extremely early start, and getting up at 2:30am and leaving at 2:50am was a bit of a struggle, but on the way, 2 Hedgehog were awake, and so was a ghostly Tawny Owl, my first of the year. We got to Minsmere, and we split up into 2 groups. We headed out at 4:00am, and we were treated to a beautiful Nightingale, also my first for the year, singing it's heart in the lowlights. We headed round the woodland trial, and in the distance the first hearings of Bittern booming, Cuckoo, and Water Rail. We focused mainly on the commoner species such as  Chaffinch, Goldcrest, Treecreeper, Robin and Great Tit. After a great Part 1, we headed to the Island Mere Hide, where Bittern, Bearded Tit, Reed Warbler, Water Rail and Reed Bunting were singing in the reeds.

We completed our guided walk, and headed in for our well earned Breakfast. As light approached us, we headed out to the the other hides we missed out on. We headed to the East Hide, where there were Common Sandpiper, Common Tern, Sandwich Tern, and more exciting, a Roseate Tern. It was huddled up against a Black-headed Gull. I had to ask for some help when I spotted this Tern, as I wasn't sure what it was. After getting confirmation of this Specie by 2 very helpful birders, my Camera didn't fall for me today.

We headed on to the Sluice, where the Little Stint had been seen. Typically, it had gone back out to sea, but it had been replaced by a summer plumaged Knot. OK, it isn't as exciting, but it will do for the time. A pair of Common Gull were hanging out by a Little Gull on one of the mudflats.

TOTAL OF BIRD SPECIES FOR 2012 = 158