Minsmere and PGP

So firstly tonight after work I stopped off at Breydon Water as a Pacific Golden Plover had been found yesterday I didn't bother going for it as id been at Minsmere all day. I took the chance that another birder would be on site and watching it as I had no optics with me. I got very lucky as Matt a young birder from the South was watching the bird and very kindly let me use his scope. Thanks Matt. What a cracking bird it was either and adult maulting into winter plumage or advanced 1st Summer.

Onto Saturday I started on the patch but saw nothing but a Bee Orchid.

Rach took her mother back home so that left me a bit of time on me own, well with the dogs and as it was sunny I headed for Hickling Broad to try and find some Swallowtail butterflies.

It was a superb day for them with at least 7 flying around, some closer than others but I did get some great views.

Other insects I noted were a Red Breasted Carrion beetle, Black tailed Skimmers and a Four spot chaser.

 

 

 

 

Bird wise it was quiet, 1 Dunlin, 81 Black-tailed Godwits, Avocets and a Hobby. I got The target species however the lovely Swallowtails.

Sunday I was still home alone so went for a 10k run with the dogs around the patch before heading to Minsmere for the day. There was nothing special about so I took the opportunity to practice with the camera with mixed results in the rain. The best birds were Adult Cuckoo, Bitten, Little Gull, 12 Med Gulls, Black tailed Godwits, Little Ringed Plover and lots and lots of young birds of differing species.

Avocets

 

Black headed Gull

 

Black tailed Godwit

 

Common Tern

 

Common Whitethroat

 

Juv Redshank

 

Kittiwake

 

Norfolk Hawker

 

Oystercatcher

 

Juv Stonechat

 

And a Snail

 

Southern Marsh Orchid

 

 

And that's it really, nice to meet Danny, Mia and Paul on the lovely day out.



Patching

Didn't see anything special today but it was a nice morning on the patch.
Curlews were moving at sea (x3) 3 Common Scoter and a Fulmar.
A Hobby turned up at COSW and had a great time watching it trying to catch the Sandmartins.
A Skylark showed well for a few pictures.

I found a new patch of Bee Orchids by the OSW.

Over at the NSW the Reed Warbler put on a great show and I had 3 Dragonflies which were this Emperor, a Norfolk Hawker and a Four Spot chaser.

Home for lunch.