A Bright and Sunny day at Minsmere.

The forecast was sunny with little wind so I thought I would try my luck looking for Bearded Tits again.

Walking along the path through the reeds looking for Beardies the first sighting was a Juvenile Whooper Swan. There was an adult as well but it slipped into the reeds and avoided being photographed.

Soon a Stonechat popped up to give me more practise using pre-burst mode to get the take off shot.

No Beardies in the reeds so out along the dunes looking for Dartford Warblers. One very brief glimpse and that was it for the day for Dartfords.

Wandering back through the reeds giving the Beardies another chance I was watching some Widgeon.

I glanced over my shoulder and found this Muntjac deer the other side of the path.

It made no move as I turned round to photograph it and was relaxed enough to have a wash. It only wandered off into the reeds when some people came along the path.

More pre-burst practise with another obliging Stonechat.

Although I've got loads of these shots I always take more in the hope that something different will happen and this time it did. A Meadow Pipit photobombed the shot and flew straight past and landed just out of shot

I've not had much luck with Meadow Pipits taking off so I lined this one up with Pre-burst set and was rewarded with the Stonechat taking exception to the intruder and seeing it off.

The Meadow Pipit looking out for the Stonechat

Get off my perch.

This is my territory.

The Pipit didn't go far but thought better of staying and tried a vertical take off.

A wander through the woods to Island Mere Hide, a brief glimpse of a tree Creeper.

A Jackdaw with it's beady eye on me.

Island Mere is usually my favourite place for seeing Marsh Harriers and today was rewarding.

Then a game of can you see the Snipe and only seeing them when they finally move about.

A return of the Marsh Harrier

No Beardies apart from a couple of glimpses but another Stonechat in the late afternoon sun.

A birds eye view of my only sunset picture of the day.

Another lovely day at Minsmere spread over about 7 or 8 hours of wandering about the reserve and another lovely cheese scone for lunch.

Best Wishes,

Trevor