Little Bittern at Lakenheath and another day at Minsmere!

On Wednesday, Dad and I headed for Lakenheath to hopefully connect with the Little Bittern. The plan was to arrive at 9:30, see the bird within an hour, then head off to North Norfolk for Dotterel. Sadly, 3 hours later, at 12:30, there was still no flight views, but the bird was constantly calling all day...

Turn the volume up loud to hear it 'croaking'

We began to wonder if all our patience was for nothing, but at 14:20, a clutter in the reeds and the amazing Little Bittern took off and done a brief 5 second flight! This was followed by another flight view about 30 seconds afterwards, but we weren't ready, so this was the best shot we managed - that's what you get for resting!

There were plenty of Cuckoos about with Hobbies and an obliging Common Tern too...

Here are Tim Oakes' fabulous pictures of the Little Bittern. At least someone was ready...

As it was now about 14:30, we thought it was too late to go anywhere, so we stayed for the rest of the afternoon, where the bird didn't show any more, but still, a cracking lifer for me!

The following day, Thursday, I had another day at Minsmere volunteering to guide on the reserve. In the morning, I was with "Spineless Sy, " the two spined stickleback just before Island Mere, and to my surprise, it was actually quite entertaining to watch them. 

I then swapped, and I went into Island Mere for the rest of the morning. We connected with the Great White Egret in 2 flight views, with Bitterns, Bearded Tits and all the other usual birds present. 3 Little Gulls were flying out the back with the Black-headed Gulls.

The Scrape in the afternoon produced more of the same, with 1 Black-tailed Godwit and 1 Turnstone being the only birds of note for this time of year.

I was gutted though to have missed a fishing Osprey at Island Mere, as by accident I turned off the reserve radio! Doh!

Did get some nice Bearded Tits though, with Hobbies about as well...

Happy Birding!

Meeting SIR (should be) Chris Packham!!!

On Monday, Dad and I was at Minsmere, as I had my induction day to become a volunteer. So, Dad obviously went round the reserve for the 3 hours I was getting a tour.

He saw some good stuff, and took some cracking pictures. He got a stonking Bittern outside Bittern Hide and Bearded Tits outside Island Mere...

After I finished my induction day, I caught him up on the scrape. I got Arctic and Sandwich Terns onto the year list, plus all the usual suspects. 

We also got a flock of Kittiwakes on the scrape too

We then went back via the Springwatch Base, and managed to get a glimpse of Chris, Michaela and Martin

And then, they all walked towards us, and I managed to picture with Chris. OMG!!!

HAPPY DAYS!

Lackford Area

Mum, Dad and I went around the Lackford area yesterday. As I was on 90 for the British Year List, my target for the day was to get to 100. Day started off well with a Green Woodpecker in Norton, and a flock of Grey Partridge at Stowlangtoft. We then arrived at our first destination, at West Stow CP. We parked up, and asked a birder for directions for the Crossbills that have been showing extremely well in the puddles. He said "they're right behind you!" I said "it's not a panto mate!" LOL. Anyway, got all the optics set up, and waited for the Crossbills to come to the puddle. Loads of noise and traffic, so its surprising that they a re this tame. We got some great pictures of them in the trees....

They then came down to the puddle...

We then moved on to Lackford Lakes. As it is winter, the Bitterns should have returned to the reserve. I have never seen a Bittern here before, so it would have been great if we were to see one here. We started off with Marsh Tit, Shoveler on the year list, and a cracking male Goldeneye....

We then got a superb Kingfisher in the double decker hide...

We then got a flyover Grey Wagtail as we headed to Steggals Hide. On the way we got a pair of Egyptian Geese on the golf course

We arrived at Steggals and found 4 Red-crested Pochards showing incredibly close!

I then started scanning the reedbeds at the back, and blow me down I spotted a distant Bittern sitting in the reeds!!!!!!!!! OMG! A bit distant for photos, but the digiscope got some decent pics....

An incredible first for the reserve from my perspective. We didn't think the reserve had much else to offer, but we got 6 very distant Goosanders, including 3 drakes.

Finally, we went to Bess' Hide, to see the gull roost, and the hope of picking up something rare. We got in there and had the hide to ourselves. There was about 100 Lesser-black Backed Gulls on the lake, with a lone Barnacle Goose, 3 Goldeneyes and several other common water birds. I started scanning through the gulls and picked up about 3 Yellow-legged Gulls, and a adult gull that looked very suspicious. Either Herring or another Yellow-legged Gull. Maybe a hybrid????

What a great day. Reached 100 species!!!! We never have a bad day. So lucky!

Happy Birding!

Minsmere

Dad and I visited Minsmere yesterday, and what a day it was. We started off going to look at the scrape, and on the Sand Bank by the visitor center were a pair of Black Redstarts, both females I think. The birds were viewed from the bridge over the pond....

We then visited North Hide, and all the regular things were around. Common Snipe, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Avocet, Oystercatcher, Redshank and Lapwing were all the waders present. Also, Black-headed, Great and Lesser Black-backed with Herring Gulls were all present. On the way out, I had a look in North Bushes, and a Muntjac wandered meters in front of me. I was a little scared because these deer can be very aggressive. He just carried on his walk though so I was fine. We continued up to the sea, and a pair of Sand Martins flew over the reedbed, with a Cetti's Warbler and Reed Bunting present. Out to sea, a pair of Pintails North, a Grey Seal, about 50 Red-throated Divers, with this Diver a possible Black-throated, only because the neck is a lot thicker and no upturned bill....

We then went to East Hide, and saw a redhead Smew, and the birds we saw in North Hide. 3 Linnets flew out of the gorse bushes, with a Goldcrest and Chaffinch present.

Then the distinctive call of Green Sandpiper alerted me as one flew over the sluice and onto the scrape, a great find. We then went down to the Konik field where a group of Tufted Duck were present with some Redshank and another Snipe, with a Little Grebe. 

The a white rumped passerine flew across the water and onto the bank. It was a Wheatear! Unfortunately, it wasn't there for long, as some noisy dog walkers flushed it. Nutters! 

We were then directed to another 10 Common Snipes and a Water Rail, when Dad spotted a Bittern out of nowhere skulking about in the open stubble field.

We went back and had lunch, then we went to Island Mere and Bittern Hide. On Island Mere, 2 Garganey, a Water Pipit, a Kingfisher, 2 Great-crested Grebes and Mute Swans....

A third Garganey then joined the group.

We then went to Bittern Hide, where another Bittern was stalking around in front of the hide....

Happy Birding!