Suffolk – Minsmere Part 2 – 27th February 2011

Watch out for: Marsh Harrier, Bittern, Red-throated Diver, Cetti’s Warbler, Wildfowl and Waders

For the second part of our visit we exited the woodland and headed toward the coast via the west and south hides.

Here it was becoming evident that the waters on the reserve were very high and thus waders would be at a premium.  In fact on the whole trip we only saw Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank, Dunlin, Oystercatcher and a couple of Ringed Plovers.  On the other hand wildfowl were prolific; with Shoveler, Shelduck, Wigeon, Gadwall, Pintail & Pochard all there.  Of note there were large collections of Gulls all going in summer plumage and a large gathering of Lapwings, but our hundredth bird of the year came with a group of 10 or so Avocets.

We then proceeded to the shore line; very distantly we saw Great-crested Grebes & Brent Goose on the water, then a brief view of Red-throated Diver & Common Scoter in flight.

Finally before heading back to the car park we went to the busy east hide, there were a couple of sleeping Kittiwakes on the limited exposed mud and on walking our we heard another Cetti’s calling and spotted a fleeting small brown job, cut across between two reed fronts from where the call had been heard.

East Anglia Year Count: 105

Life bird count: 399. Year bird count: 105. Month bird count: 79.

Photo: Greylag Goose (Anser anser)