A quiet day at Minsmere......but still worth the visit.

Good afternoon, all.  Yesterday Limpy and I paid a visit to one of our favourite reserves - and what a quiet day it was!  No bitterns, no hobbies......no marsh harriers!  Still plenty to see, though, as I feel that there is no bird that is not worthwhile.  The first thing I snapped, though, wasn't a bird at all:

I saw these from the footpath to the East Hide - a lovely sight!  On reaching the East Hide I saw a few of these in front of me:

I've had to look at my bird ID book for these and the closest thing I can guess at are goosanders - am I right?

Whatever is the bird in the middle?  I can see a red beak but it doesn't have red legs, which rules out redshank and black tailed godwit.

I'm pretty sure the lovely reddish bird is a black tailed godwit.  I'd love to know how it came to be called a godwit!

There were loads of Canada geese about - I kind of like these as I can identify them easily.

The peace and quiet was shattered as this horde arrived!

Starlings are one of Ian's favourites so I hope he enjoys these pictures!

After watching the starlings come in to land I decided to head down to the sluice and back up to the West Hide.  I didn't get very far as I came across a crowd of people all keeping an eye out for two wrynecks who were lurking nearby!  I didn't see them but I did manage to snap this lovely little bird:

There is no such thing as 'only' a reed bunting!

I passed the sluice and headed up towards the West Hide, but stopped again to snap these:

I first thought these were ring plovers but the head colouring doesn't look quite the same as in my book so I'll wait (hopefully) to be corrected.

I can't get enough of seeing little egrets - they're so beautifully white and elegant!  These weren't the only waders around:

This heron looked hot on someone's trail.........

........but all he really wanted was a good spot to preen himself in.  I then headed off for a nice hot cuppa with Limpy and we then headed to the Island Mere hide.  In the complete absence of bearded tits, bitterns, hobbies and marsh harriers I thought I'd make the most of what was in front of me.  This cheeky cormorant caught my eye - I've been following the ospreys at Loch Garten since March and the way that this cormorant was sitting brought back happy memories of Odin, the Loch Garten male!  Here he is:

A number of gulls were taking advantage of the wind to enjoy some flying practice - I managed to catch these two juveniles:

And also an adult with a juvenile:

I'm not great at catching birds in flight so I was quite pleased with these.

There was a mass lurking and preening session going on in the middle!

This swan appeared to be quite low in the water - he was clearly having a nice bath.

As always, enjoy!