Suffolk – Minsmere – 19th June 2010

Arrive as early as you can is my advice for this premier RSPB site, especially in the summer months.

As we stroll down from the car park, breeding Sand Martins are ever present in the old car park and a speculative Peregrine Falcon hangs around overhead for a brief while, before stooping down on to the reed beds. Further down Cetti's Warbler sings and we briefly see it flash across the bushes. Then as we have the reed beds each side there is a very confiding Sedge Warbler.

We stop at the east hide, the mix of very young Black-headed Gulls & Avocets is interesting to say the least also a couple of Spotted Redshanks, a gathering of Barnacle Geese, odd! Ringed Plover & Common Terns. Walking on and around to the South Hide, two Arctic Terns, I'm thinking its early to see them this far south, they are well mixed in with some Sandwich Terns.

We finally end up at the Island Mere, Reed Bunting & Bearded Tit dart around gathering food and two Marsh Harriers get quite close. Such a diverse site. On the way home we stop at Sizewell for a peek at the breeding Kittiwakes, pity they are just too far to photograph, must get a boat!

Life bird count: 395 Year bird count: 209 Month bird count: 80

Photo: Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus)

Suffolk – Trimley Marsh – 5th June 2010

Walking in from the Levington Marina side, you first come across Loompit Trout Lake. Infamous for its large roost (now nesting) colony of Cormorants, allegedly culled in response to their large appetite for Trout! On the lake there are breeding Mute Swans, Mallard, Pochard & Tufted Duck. We proceed past the lake and walk the footpath to the Marsh, Whitethroat are common place in the trees, along with Chaffinch & Chiffchaff. On the first inlet there are Oystercatchers, Ringed Plover & Shelduck. Finally reaching the reed bed we see Reed Bunting & Reed Warbler and there is Skylark singing over. Its evening time and the sun is on the way down, perfect! On our return there is opportunity to photograph a young Pied Wagtail as it looks for food on the foreshore.

Life bird count: 395 Year bird count: 205 Month bird count: 61

Photo: Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba)

Cheshire – Chester Area – 3rd June 2010

I recently had a week in this area because of work commitments, so never being one to miss an opportunity, I took stock of the birds in the vicinity. High numbers of Swifts, House Martins & Swallows were very apparent, also Kestrels & Buzzards frequently overflew the fields, both disturbing the peace with the swallows and the later upsetting Gulls in the area as well. Along the near by railway I saw Blackcap, Whitethroat & Linnet. Whilst on the canal close to the centre of town were breeding Mallard, Moorhen, Wren & Grey Wagtail.

Life bird count: 395 Year bird count: 205 Month bird count: 48 Photo: Common Whitethroat (Sylvia communis)