Last trip to Rutland for a while.

I made my last trip to Rutland water for a while as I am moving at the end of the week.
I will miss Rutland as it is a great place even when you see nothing the walk is worth the visit.

While walking along the path to smew hide I thought I seen a Hobby over the wooded area and sure enough he appeared but the sun was not in a great position (well I wasn't) but still managed a few shots.

Other than the Hobby the usual birds were about, although I'm pretty sure I seen a Garden warbler I heard it first and thought it was a black cap until it flew into large bush and It was not a black cap!! 

Up on Lax hill a pair of Hares were showing really well, always nice to just sit and watch them go about there business.  

Broad billed sandpiper at Frampton.

I headed to Frampton for a walk and upon arrival I could see quite a few people up on the sea wall, I headed there as something was drawing attention.
Turns out a Broad billed sandpiper was mixed in with the large ring plover and dunlin flock.

It never really came close, well for photos anyway but was superb via a scope.

Being quite new to birding I would have most likely overlooked this with out a scope, its something I must invest in soon.

Amongst the flock were also a Temmincks stint, Little stint and curlew sandpipers giving me 4 ticks for the year and 2 lifers making it a worth while trip.

Minsmere, Lakenheath and Frampton.

I headed out early to Minsmere on Thursday as I had not been for nearly a year.
Turned out to be a glorious day with high temperatures and little wind.

Upon arrival the sand martins were in full swing feeding over the area and returning to the sand wall.

A bittern made a very brief hop before dropping into the reeds and not showing again. They could be heard booming during the rest of the day.

Along the sea wall plenty of stonechat's were busy feeding the young providing good views.

A few linnet were also about with one female collecting nesting material from a dead rabbit in  the form of fur.

Common tern are in good numbers and busy heading out to sea and returning with food.

Three little tern were present but never came close and remained on the spit.

Quite a few waders about including turnstone, dunlin, redshank, avocet and sanderling.

A pair of kittiwakes were on the main pool and showing well from the hide.

Up to 4 marsh harriers were also out over the reed beds, along with a few buzzards.

Reed and sedge warblers are in good numbers along the reed beds.

On the way back I called into Lakenheath Fen 30 mins before the centre closed, so decided to do one lap of the main area as this was the first time I had visited.

Bitterns are here in abundance with at least 4 separate heard booming but I still only managed a quick glimpse. 

Cuckoo are also in abundance with 4 separate birds seen but always in a high tree, until a pair flew past calling.

The marsh harrier showed well but with the heat haze it made getting a picture tricky and also the reeds are quite high along the path.

Lakenheath is a great place, at one point a bittern was booming, cetti's calling, cuckoo calling the marsh harrier was up and a kingfisher flew past I did not know where to look or photograph.

  

Spotted Flycatcher and Glossy Ibis.

Called into Marshside this afternoon just as the rain came down very heavy. Reports of a Glossy Ibis had been around so had to go for a look with it being so close.

I was not disappointed it was found within minutes and showing well despite the rain and dull conditions. ( it was superb sunshine 10 mins before I got there)

Quite a few Wheatear around the old sand works and what looked to be a Rock pipit but I was to far away to 100% id and lost it around a mound of sand.

On the way back to the car I got a surprise as Spotted flycatcher appeared from a bush It was a little far away so grabbed a few record shots, just as well because a dog walker appeared over the sand mounds with 2 dogs running lose and bye bye flycatcher.

Marshside and Lunt Meadows.

I headed to Martin mere for a look around this morning but I think every school in the North west had booked a trip today. After a few hours and nothing out of the ordinary I headed to Marshside in serch of Wheatear.

I was not disappointed as around 30+ are present on the old sand works next to the car park and showing well. The only problem was the heat haze again. Still managed a few shots.

After Marshside I headed along to Lunt meadows for the rest of the day, a few people were about and reported an Osprey over that actually dived for a fish and was successful before moving off in the Formby direction. A Peregrine was also seen over head.

The  highlight of the afternoon was spotted by Tony in the form of a superb male Whinchat that was showing well on and off and coming within 30 ft at times. This was a lifer for me so was really happy I went to Lunt this afternoon. 

Even after I went back to the car for a cup of tea and retuned 30 mins later with Mark, It was located within a few minutes hanging around the very same area.

Another high point of the day was finally getting a good shot a a Sedge warbler, these little things have eluded me for a year with only half covered by bramble shots being the norm.