Wader Bonanza Part Two

We left the hotel at 8:30 m and headed five minutes down the road to Weeting heath in hope of Stone curlews.

Stone curlew

When we arrived we met another birder who told us he had been there since 6:30am and there had been no sign of any stoneys, so it did not look good but as we reached the first view point looking over the road out on to the sandy ridges, Rob spotted one walking around feeding, there was no heat haze so good views were had, we also saw the bird in flight so you could see the nice wing markings, we also heard it calling,

From the hide on the other side we had one more stoney and a pair of lapwings with 2 lovely little chicks, a Wheatear put in appearance, also a stoat was hunting amongst the rabbit and going into there burrows ,four swallows were seen flying low over the ground.

On to lakenfen to see if we could get an early Golden oriole but there has been no confirmed sightings.

Common crane

But we did manage to get two common cranes which gave us good views as they flew around the reserve they were also heard calling, we also heard a cuckoo calling as it flew through the poplars and out over the reeds, from the viewing ramp Rob found are first hobby for the day sitting in a bush, there was also eight Marsh harriers seen one was doing its display dance , i picked out a Barn owl hunting along the river ,sedge and whitethroats seemed to be everywhere you walked, me and Rob heard a booming Bittern which was nice to hear, along the river Rob picked out four Common  terns over the pools.

Woodchat shrike

On the way back to the car the news broke out of a White winged black tern in full summer plumage at minsmere so we headed off for it, but on the way we went to Halesworth in hope of connecting with a Woodchat shrike, and with luck after a short wait we where watching it as it perched on a post along the train line showing well.

White winged black tern

At Minsmere we headed straight to the hide that over looked the main scrape, were i picked out the White winged black tern as it flew up and down the scrape, i have seen one before but not in summer plumage what a stunner, we then headed around to the east hide to get a closer view, on the way we heard to nightingales singing , at the east hide the ww black tern showed very well dad even managed to get some shots.

Other birds around were lovely summer plumage Bar-tailed godwits, Avocets, two Grey plover in summer plumage, Common sandpiper, one Greenshank, Ruff and one hunting Marsh harrier,

Black winged stilts

we left minsmere at around four, we had every intention of heading home, but to are amazement four black winged stilts had been found at Wat tyler nature reserve in Essex, so we made a diversion there and soon had all four Black winged stilts feeding on the scrape, what amazing birds, we have been waiting quiet a wile to see some of these lovely waders but it was well worth it, it was good see them flying around abit before settling down to feed, were we watched them for about twenty minutes before they flew up high and then drop out of sight, other birds around were Little grebes, Grey herons, Cuckoo which perched on a telegraph wire and started calling, we enjoyed this reserve but it was time to head home after an amazing day birding

common crane

Common crane

White winged black tern

White winged black tern

Avocet

Avocet

Black winged stilt

Black winged stilt

Black winged stilt