Difficult morning, but...

Visited Lakenheath Fen this morning, 17 June, arriving pretty early at just after 5. There was a little sunshine, but a lot of wind, which kept most birds down. So, it was more an aural than visual experience. As I walked past the Visitor Centre towards the Trial Wood, the most common sound, apart from the rushing wind through the reeds, was of COMMON WHITETHROATS, BLACKCAPS and CORVIDS. I thrust forth towards The Joist Fen viewpoint, with the pinging of BEARDED TITS, summer warblers and the occasional CETTI'S WARBLER for company. Particularly prevalent were the Bearded Tits, though more in the hearing than the seeing. MARSH HARRIERS and COMMON TERNS seemed to be the only birds willing to risk exposure in the open winds. After a while, the / a GOLDEN ORIOLE began to sing and seemed to head west, the along the front of the East (?) Wood. COMMON CUCKOOS began to call. I decided to head back, frustrated by the invisibility of the birds and chilled by the stiff breeze, but elected to pause at the bench between the West and East (?) Woods, in the hope of seeing the oriole fly between the woods. No such luck while I was there. However, it was great to hear and see a SISKIN, perhaps an odd Suffolk visitor in June and even better to hear my first GRASSHOPPER WARBLER of the year. More summery was the brief sighting of a HOBBY. Stopped for a while at the New Fen viewpoint, from where it was possible to see more Bearded Tits, REED WARBLERS, REED BUNTINGS and a single GREAT CRESTED GREBE. Heard the booming of a BITTERN but no view. As I headed back to the car park, I heard a(nother) Golden Oriole singing in the Trial Wood. Met up with a fellow birder who reported a GARGANEY pair on the river, but decided against spending more time when I had two daughters at home waiting to wish me Happy Father's Day, so I left at 8.30 a.m.