Stupendous Suffolk!

Yesterday the Hairy Birders struck lucky with one of the best days bird watching we ever had!

A day trip to Minsmere was arranged with a 4.15am start from Green Tye.

An uneventful but speedy journey got us to Minsmere by 6am and we started our walk through the reserve. It was a bit chilly, windy and overcast with mist across the sea.

We walked to the lagoons and there was hundreds of Black Headed Gulls with the odd Med Gull and two Little Gulls amonsgt the norm. Similar amounts of Common Tern were also evident but supplemented by a pair of Little Terns and a super Black Tern which circled over us for a short while.

Waders were thin on the ground at this point with a large number of Avocets, a few Oystercatchers and a lone Bar Tailed Godwit.

There was a good selection of Ducks and Geese but only Barnacles and a pair of Pintail being slightly noteworthy.

Due to the mist, sea watching was a waste of time so we strolled to the Sluice which had the normal Swallows in attendance.

We wandered along about half way to Sizewell but apart from Chaffinches, Goldfinches and Whitethroats there did not seem to be much in the gorse bushes and scrub.

However, views across the Scrape some way away gave us a beautiful summer plumage Grey Plover but it was too far away and windy for photos.

We did notice another birder sitting high on the bank looking across the Scrape and ponds beyond but thought nothing ot it until we bumped into him at another hide overlooking the lagoons. We had spotted a Greenshank and Black Tailed Godwit to add to the list when he asked whether we had seen the pair of Glossy Ibis that were way back in the grass behind the ponds beyond the Scrape. We legged it back and got up high and low and behold there they were - a long way away but great for us. Our first lifer of the day!

Back on the Reserve we took the decision to walk the long way round to the Bittern Hide, Island Mere hide and eventually Canopy Hide.

We came across an obliging dragonfly (sorry Jono not sure what it is!).

The Bittern Hide did not give us much though the March Harriers were displaying well.

The Island Mere Hide was newly built and very impressive but gave nothing more so we walked via the heathland to the Canopy Hide.

An obliging Speckled Wood was a pretty diversion and we continued our walk to the large area of Alders and Rhodedendron bushes.

I then caught a glimpse of a pair of small Tits and my heart jumped a beat. Flitting about were two Marsh Tits. It was impossible to get photos and even when we located one, it was well hidden in the trees. A record shot of the bottom half of the bird is all I have but this bird had eluded me for years so I was well choughed and, of course, the second lifer of the day!

The Canopy Hide was fruitless so we left Minsmere.

I had been reading a blog about under visited Westleton Heath and so we made the short journey and parked. By now the sun was fierce and there was a fair wind blowing too making photos a problem.

However, within a minute or two of searching we saw a pair of Dartford Warblers - the third lifer of the day! We watched for ages and I got a couple of record shots but nothing crystal clear due to the wind.

In all our excitement we were really not paying much attention to anything else when Dave decided to turn around and look across the gorse and heather in the opposite direction. An urgent call to me and he pointed out our fourth lifer of the day - a Woodlark. We watched and saw a few but they were skittish and the only time one landed and I got a photo, the wind was so vigorous it was just too blurry to see!

The area held Linnets and a number of Stonechat including a family with juveniles.

By this time we were beside ourselves. Graeme would have been proud of our hysterical behaviour!

Anything else today would have been almost too much so apart from a quick look round Walberswick which did not give us anything else, we finished our day.

We had a total of 76 species which was respectable in itself but four lifers in a day will be hard to better!

Work trip to Crete

Once again I found myself looking round some lovely hotels in Crete knowing that I would have very little time for bird watching.

However, a bit of research before I went meant that I would stand a chance of getting a lifer or two if I was lucky.

I arrived at my first hotel at 3pm on Wednesday 16th May and after sorting out clothes etc I worked out that I had about an hour before I needed to meet anyone so I quickly nipped out with my binos.

I had hoped to get Armenian Gull which is not uncommon here and saw one within a few minutes. I had great views of the diagnostic dark band round the bill.

Next was another lifer in Italian Sparrow which is really just a House Sparrow with a much whiter face and brown head.

Nothing more bird wise but I did see my first ever Scarce Swallowtail butterfly but sadly it was difficult to photograph.

That was about it for wandering about for the next two days as work took over.

However, my last day was all mine and as my flight was not until later that evening I was able to plan nearly a whole day. It was Shanks Pony so after breakfast went for a walk into the hills to circumnavigate the coast.

There was a surprising lack of bird variety in the three hours I walked through the hills though there were loads of Blackbirds and Great Tits and Sardinian Warblers were everywhere.

Other birds included a Booted Eagle being hounded by a pair of Ravens and a Tawny Pipit who had an amazing habit of moving anytime I put the camera to my eye!

Another lifer for me was Red Rumped Swallows which I saw frequently throughout the day along with Swifts, Barn Swallows, House Martins and Crag Martins.

As I neared civilisation I saw my first ever Serin which was sitting on a fence ideally posed but it flew off just as I had it in view.

Other butterflies included a Southern Grayling, Short Tailed Blue and Common Blue.

Walking through the local town of Elounda I headed to the Venetian Salt Pans which would give me my only real chance of a wader or too. Frankly this was looking particularly disappointing with just a Little Egret to show. However, as I moved round a Squacco Heron took off in front of me. Panning the mud with my bins I could not see a thing and then caught a small movement out of the corner of my eye

Not more than 20 feet away I spotted a Little Stint which allowed my to get a couple of photos and great views.

Finally, apart from a Hooded Crow the only other notable bird was a Crested Lark which settled on a wall and looked somewhat bedraggled.

Although I would not say that this was my best trip I certainly gained some lifers and was paid to go there so it cannot be all that bad!
Dave and I are going to get a day out soon I hope though I will not be allowed to mention butterflies or any other insects for that matter!