Minsmere

Sometimes I think my digiscoping is getting better, then I realise it's probably just luck.

Today I got 5 year ticks, and I can hear what you're all thinking; "noob stfu" and "gtfo my internets", because as we all know being able to reach late November and still have 5-year-tick days means you're a bad birder. A really bad birder when one of those ticks is lesser redpoll. Shitting cocks, I shouldn't have to admit to that. On the plus side however, hitting that magical 200 species for the year is within my reach - barely a couple of stringed serins away. (And three others).


Today was another trip out with Howard and others, up to Minsmere. The weather was mosly clear and warm (see above) which was amazing considering the forecast hinted that the apocalypse was more likely than cloudless blue skies and mid-teen temperatures. (I wonder what interesting google searches will find my blog now, with "mid-teen" and "birds" in?)

We were primarily hunting the great white egret, and so went straight out to the Island Mere hide. On the way we had numerous marsh tits, treecreepers and other woodland birds, along with a flypast bullfinch, 8 wild red deer and 2 muntjac. Just out of the woods I picked up an egret overhead and gave it a second look - it was the great white. Life ticked, fuck yes. Unfortunately it was leaving the Island Mere area, but we pressed on anyway to find the view sorely lacking in any birds. Still, we stuck around, and shortly after the egret came back in. Then everything happened at once - the marsh harriers came in close, a kingfisher went by, water pipit called overhead (dirtily year ticked), bearded tits were calling all around us and the egret was alternating between stomping round outside the hide and circling the area in the morning sun. Just as we thought it could not get any better from the one spot, 7 berwicks swans flew past (life ticked again) and a bittern came up from the reeds and headed off left. It disturbed a harrier, which disturbed the egret, and at one point as they flew round each other in a state we had all three in one scope view.


The day was off to a fine start and thoroughly satisfied we made to leave. As we got up a flock of at least 35 bearded tits - no, really, 35 in one flock - came through the reeds just a metre or two from the hide. I'd never considered they might congregate in such numbers, so it was totally unexpected and more exciting for it. The numbers built up as we watched to an estimated 50 individuals and we had stunning views for as much time as we wanted. From our raised viewpoint over the reeds we could see down through the reed-heads and watch the birds flying and feeding low down on the stalks. I've never seen anything like that and it's probably a once in a lifetime experience. It was considerably better than the swans and the egret.

From there we cut up to the scrapes, where we had the usual array of waterfowl, snipe and blackwits and close marsh harriers, but nothing else. I can't resist marsh harrier flight shots.

"Hi guys!"

"Oh shit oh fuck oh no what even is this argh"

"Lol"

I honestly think it was just playing. It made no serious attempt at hunting but seemed to aim at putting up as many birds as possible.

The only large gulls were black-backeds and herrings - nothing that we could turn into a caspian. The sea was pretty lifeless, and the dunes held a single stonechat, a couple of linnets and mipits but not the hoped-for snow buntings. Another try at the gulls later revealed a second winter med gull and we left the site after a fantastic lunch of an extra-greasy bacon and sausage sandwich. The centre feeders and tress had more marsh tits, lesser redpolls and a siskin.

This really is a siskin. One of my better efforts.

We aimed for a flock of 40 twite at nearby Walberswick which would have been a year tick had we connected, but we missed out. There's a lot of suitable ground they could be on. The gulls there were as disappointing as Minsmere's, but we had a rock pipit or two, a couple of kittiwakes off shore and a few turnstones. The clear highlight was a low flyover snow bunting, calling as it went - year ticked. Brilliant birds, and a good view. The weather turned, so we left, day list at somewhere around 80.

I've just realised this is probably one of the most boring posts I've ever written and I apologise for that. The life list is now 219 and I'm on 196 for the year, though I'm struggling to think what else I'm likely to see. Serin, twite and caspian gull are possible at Rainham, and I guess the pendulines might be too, but I wouldn't count on any of these. I've still not had a whooper swan and I don't know where I'm going to get one. I'm going to have to be lucky, or twitchy, with birding opportunities fast running out between here and new-year. Oh well.