As Old Man of Minsmere mentions in his Crake thread, Bittern hide was heaving on Sunday, queues formed outside and all in all, Mrs WJ and I decided it would hardly contribute to the relaxing day we'd hoped for, so we gave it a wide berth. No shortage of other stuff to see!
This chap was on a bit of a mission, striding across the scrape
until a suitable Little Egret posing spot was found
Stonechats were flitting about (at least, I think it's a Stonechat!)
A Greenshank and Spotted Redshank were eyeing each other up and obviously avoiding one another...
Uh oh - too close for comfort! Bit of a flurry and off flew the Greenshank
Little Grebes were fishing well in front of the Wildlife Lookout
and Mrs WJ had a Beardie land right next to her. It was probably running away from me at the other end of the boardwalk where I was laying in wait with the big lens (sigh)
Mrs WJ had more success with the cruising Hawkers
nor could she resist getting down and talking to the spiders!
Glad we didn't join the crush for the Crake :-)
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aiki said: Great pics, WJ. The light on those waders is to die for!
Great pics, WJ. The light on those waders is to die for!
It's amazing isn't it?
Unicum arbustum haud alit duos erithacos
(One bush does not shelter two Robins)
Zenodotus (3rd Century B.C.)
The best place to sit depends on what's about really. If you've never been before, I'd suggest you try and get there as early as possible and do the two loops. Visitor Centre, through the woods, Bittern, Island Mere, back to the road, Canopy Hide, Visitor Centre. Give yourself a decent hour in Bittern and another in Island Mere at least, but keep your ears & eyes open as you wander along. Lunch at the Centre, then do the second loop; pond, North hide, North bushes, along the North wall to the sea. Along the beach, East hide, Public hide, Sluice (all those gorse bushes Phil mentions). Back into the reserve, South hide, Wildlife Lookout (West hide) & back through the woods again.
That will give you a good flavour of what Minsmere has to offer :-)
Hi Joe, I do like to sit around the Sluices if I am there on my own, but for a first time visitor or if there is more than one of you I would recommend your route, including the lunch break! And yes check what is around on the day cause you can always change your plans, eg yesterday if I had been there I would have spent the whole day around Island Mere looking for the Penduline Tits!
The sluice is also be the best place for the starlings so far this year. Around 50,000 already and probably several thousand more to come. I hope they don't decamp to another reedbed, as spending evenings in Minsmere is my favourite occupation.
Thank you, duly noted.
Thanks Phil, I will do that
Thank you all, I appreciate the advice, and if I have sent the wrong thing, I apologise, it is the first time I have used a forum, and not sure what I am doing. Really looking forward to seeing Minsmere wildlife. If you see an odd person next week jumping up and down, that will be me, having seen something 'new', for me, at least.
You won't see me next week, alas, as I'll be elsewhere for the next couple of weekends, but we'll look forward to seeing your update on what was about when you return :-)