Lakenheath Fen

A bit early for the Orioles, but there was still plenty to see at Lakenheath Fen. We started off with a Cuckoo flying over the van in the village Lakenheath, adding another new one on the list. We got to Lakenheath Fen, and the car park was full - all because of that Red-footed Falcon. So we had to park near where the staff do. Another 2 species on the list immediately were Sedge Warbler and Hobby, the latter lying over the visitor center.

Reed Bunting and Warbler were also present

We then got to Joist Fen viewpoint, where a lot of people gathered to see the R-F Falcon. Minutes before we got there it was showing well over the hide, but when we got there it was quite distant. It did get closer, as did a Red Kite. One of the resident Cranes also took to the stage...

Red Kite

Red-footed Falcon

Crane

We then stumbled across a perching Sedge Warbler and one of plenty Whitethroat's

Then we went to the wash, and we got my first Common Tern of the year flying down stream, along with a smashing Red Kite.

WE then went to Lackford Lakes in the hope of a Turtle Dove. We got a singing Nightingale, but no Turtle Doves. We did however get a Kingfisher and my first Arctic Tern of the year. There were 3 Black Tern on the sailing lake, but they weren't there in the afternoon. We also saw a distant Cuckoo.

Mum and I went round my Aunties last night as she has got a pair of Turtle Doves in her garden. I got a flying bird which was great. Also a pair of Stock Dove feeding under the feeders. 

Blue Tit nest-box update:

9 eggs!!!!!!!

Happy Birding!

Another Great Day!

Another day at Minsmere, and another fantastic one. We knew what to expect there today, but we weren't sure if they were still about. I got a phone call from my cousin saying that there were 2 Black-winged Stilts behind the Sluice bushes, in the flooded meadow. Before we went there, we went to see the weeks staying Wryneck near the Visitor Center, pictured top. This stayed in the same position for a while, so we moved on.

Moving through the North Bushes, and a pair of Garden Warblers were singing in the gorse. 2 Ringed Plover, a Sanderling and a Dunlin were all present along the mud flats. But then, a migrant Common Sandpiper moved into view, and brought some Tern species with it. This included Sandwich, Common, Arctic and Little. We then moved on to the Stilts, but they were extremely distant, you couldn't pick them out with binoculars. The commoner summer migrants were all about, with both Whitethroat species, plus Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Reed and Sedge Warblers.

We were then rewarded with an absolute treat. We took a stroll to the Island Mere Hide, where a Bittern was taking fantastic views in front of the hide, pictured middle. Another treat was a brief Otter, which swam across the river, into the reeds. I couldn't believe the number of Hirundines, especially the Swifts! But they weren't the only Hirundine shaped-bird in the flock. Several Hobby's were catching insects as well. Another great day, but not quite finished, as a last stop in Westleton produced a Ring Ouzel, pictured bottom. Fantastic.

TOTAL OF BIRD SPECIES IN 2012 = 154