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!

North Norfolk Coast

Yesterday Dad and I went onto the North Norfolk Coast to try and get some sea birds and winter passerines onto the year list. We started off at Salthouse, trying to see the Shorelark and the Snow Buntings. These both would have been lifers, but sadly the Shorelark was not present. I was fairly certain we weren't going to see that anyway, but at that time there weren't even any Snow Buntings about. So we walked down towards the Little Eye, to a bit of sea watching. We first spotted a Guillemot not to far out, and then a Black-throated Diver. We then got a few Red-throated Divers flying past, and another Guillemot. Then, I just happened to turn around, and there were about 30+ Snow Buntings!

Delightful little things. They were communicating between the car park, and the Little Eye. We found out that the Snow Buntings had been at Cley first thing, that's why we didn't see them first thing. We then got a Redshank, Stock Dove and the regular Turnstones....

We then got a large flock of Pink-foots over...

We then moved onto Cley, to go and see the Purple Sandpiper. We followed the directions that were given, and found the bird. 

We then moved onto Holkham, to see the Spoonbills, and maybe a Black Brant. First we drove to Burnham Overy, to see if the Rough-legged Buzzard was still about. We saw 2 Common Buzzards, but not Rough-legged. We skipped this challenge and went back to Holkham. We saw that there was a big Brent Goose flock by Lady Annes Drive. We searched through and found a Black Brant.

We then moved onto the Tower Hide, as we heard that that's where the Spoonbills were. On the way we saw Treecreeper, Goldcrest and Coal Tit. We then came across a large pond which held 4 Little Grebes, a Tufted Duck, and more surprisingly, a pair of Goldeneye!

With a Jay for company

We then had great views of a Barn Owl as the light started to fade...

We got to the hide, and could see the 2 Spoonbills on the scrape

They were joined by about 60 White-fronted Geese, to distant for a photo. 

Happy Birding!