Suffolk...for a few days.

Earlier this week we spent a few days in the Minsmere area and enjoyed a couple of days of reasonable weather but these were the the exception! However a few photographs were captured of the bird life in this 'flagship' RSPB Reserve but the predation of young birds was somewhat worrying. Gulls were numerous and Black Headed the most common but Mediterranean numbers had increased considerably this year.

Black Headed Gull on nest with chicks.

Other youngsters were a little older.

Adult Mediterranean Gulls

Mediterranean Gull in flight.

Threats and fighting amongst Mediterranean and Black Headed was commonplace.

Mediterranean Gulls were of mixed ages!

Geese were present with Greylags, Barnacles and even Bar Headed....all with young.

Greylag Geese

Barnacle Geese...from a feral flock

Bar Headed Geese...escapees.

Several Shelducks had ducklings!

 Waders were in short supply...here a Redshank

 


...and just one obliging Oystercatcher

 Avocet numbers were drastically less than visits made at the same time of year in previous seasons but some were just outside the West Hide...

Pride of place has to go to a rare visitor...a Purple Heron

Distant shots and big crops but a great bird to see in the U.K.

Outside the reserve on The Meare at Thorpeness there were two broods of Egyptian Geese...

Sand Martins were nesting on the cliffs....( the usual colony at Minsmere was non existent...we were told they had moved to Dunwich but these were at Thorpeness)

Swifts...

What an aerodynamic shape!

Very distant Hobbys at Westleton heath

Huge crop...poor evening light

Finally....'just a Blackbird'