It was a lovely sunny day at Minsmere today, though I failed to take full advantage of this as I only arrived at noon. I did have time to head to the Island Mere Hide before heading to the Reception desk for my afternoon shift - it was quiet after the hordes of common gulls I saw earlier this year had departed but there were some lovely birds about:
These great crested grebes were being punks for the day.
A lunch party of tufted ducks float happily on the mere.
I hope the tufties were keeping their collective eyes on this rather interesting bird which was lurking in the vicinity!
A very obliging little grebe actually stays on the surface.
It was very busy in the car park and extra staff had been drafted to help out.
A beautiful dunnock suns itself on the wall surrounding the feeders.
And another one! There seemed to be several about.
A lovely splash of colour from one of our resident magpies.
Another snap for the excellent Mr Barthorpe as I know he likes them!
Finishing with these female pheasants getting away from it all on top of the cycle shelter.
Our herring gulls are red listed birds. Think about that the next time you hear some flaming idiot calling for a cull of them.