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!

A Time To Get My Norfolk Year List Going!

On Bank Holiday Monday, Dad took me up to the Norfolk Broads, to try and get some summer birds on my Norfolk Year List, as I hadn't got any. I started the day on 132 for Norfolk, and I wanted to add at least 10 to that by the end of the day. We started off going to Strumpshaw. On the A47, we got a cracking Red Kite (133), which was also new to my British Year List. We also got Swallow, Whitethroat and House Martin (136) on there too.

We got to Strumpshaw, and to Fen Hide. We had just missed a Bittern right in front of the hide - it's always the way isn't it! However, we did get several Marsh Harriers here, which were either nest building, hunting or doing food passes - Great to watch!!!!! Also got a distant flying Whimbrel (137)

We then carried on round, and got a cracking male Reed Bunting...

There were several butterflies about too, including my first Green-veined Whites of the year. I am very proud of my photo's of them :)

We then got singing Garden Warbler, Reed Warbler and Sedge Warbler (140), more Whitethroats and plenty of Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs....

Willow Warblers

There were really good number of Swifts (141) screaming too...

Fen Hide produced some goodies, with an overdue Wigeon, 2 Common Terns (142), and a couple of distant Cuckoo's (143)....

Walking round the rest of the reserve failed to produce a Gropper, but did get a great summer plumaged Bar-tailed Godwit, even if the picture doesn't show for it. We also got my first Large Red Damselfly of the year too along with Hairy Dragonfly.

We then went to Buckenham, where we got Hobby and Lesser Whitethroat (145), and another Red Kite....

As we got closer to the hide, I started to check the Gulls for a Little Gull that had been reported, but didn't see it. We got Redshanks, baby and adult Lapwings, a Ruff, Sedge Warbler and all the common stuff...

But while looking at these, out of nothing almost, the Little Gull had flown in and landed in front of the hide. We raced up to the hide, and went and had a look. We got great views of this little fella through the scope, but it was too distant for the camera, so I thought I would give it a go with some digiscoping. I got my phone out, and hand held it on the scope, and took a couple of great snaps and a video too!!! Not bad for a first attempt eh?

A stop at Beighton Church for the Turtle Doves was unsuccessful, but I did miss one fly right over my head as I was too busy talking. Stupid Boy!

Happy Birding!

Broken 200!!!!!

READ THIS POST BEFORE POST ABOVE!

I have been so busy because it is School Holidays with so many Golf Tournaments. I have been having about 4 a week!!! Since our Isle of Mull visit, we have only been out birding twice, and that was at Lackford and Minsmere. Before both of them visits, I had a walk around Cretingham Golf Club - one of my golf clubs - without playing on it (LOL) taking pictures of the wildlife around the course. Well, here you go....

Black-tailed Skimmer

Comma

I think this is a Four-spotted Chaser?

I think this is a Small Heath

And I think this a Small Heath

About a week after these photos were taken, about 5 Broad-bodied Chasers were taking residence on the 16th hole pond.

On the 24th July, dad and I were both playing golf round Cretingham, and we found a Wood Sandpiper on one of the biggest ponds. This was and incredible sighting, which bought my year list to 198. This bird only stayed for a day.

On the 31st July, Dad and I went to Lackford Lakes. We got Common Tern, Kingfisher, Sparrowhawk, Stoat plus many more.

Kingfisher - Skip the first minute of this video or you'll get bored!

Sparrowhawk

Green Sandpiper

Emerald Damselfly

Common Tern

Then, on the 1st August, Dad and I headed to Minsmere with my 10 times better camera. We got 4 new species for the year, which were Sandwich Tern, Greenshank, Little Gull and Curlew Sandpiper.

The Pictures will be on the post after this one. Scroll up to the next post.

I'm Still Here!

The normal British weather is still lingering over the UK, but I must admit, it is getting better. Every day of the week now, the local Chiffchaff is still calling and showing well by the rabbit hutch on the corner, and I have managed to get some more pics.......

Also in the garden this morning were about 10 Long-tailed Tits in the far bushes, but soon cleared off.

We all headed to Alton Water earlier this week, but unfortunately there wasn't much to see. A Common Sandpiper though was resting on one of the platforms, and plenty of Common Terns, Great Crested Grebes, and Passerines.

Common Tern

We having a weekend stay in Norfolk, and we're leaving tonight, and coming back on Sunday, and I know for a fact we are heading up to Blakeney Point, so wish us luck. Obviously, I will post about it when we get back. Happy Birding.