Visit o Minsmere 25 February

Had a really enjoyable visit to Minsmere. Cold and windy but bright and warm enough to persuade the highlights of the day to come out for a bask. There was a distant Bittern and some very distant aerobatics by up to 6 Marsh Harriers plus a very are drake Smew, whose wife refused to show. For me though, the stars of the day were two male Adders.

  • Fab set Bob with great variety. 2 things I've never seen, adder and smew... both striking in their own ways...never realised adders had red eyes!
    Thanks for sharing :o)
  • A good bit of variety for a day's wander round the reserve :-) Shame Mr & Mrs Smew had a falling out - they did that last week too and spent the day on opposite sides of the scrape, but were reconciled a day later. Obviously a bit of an on-off relationship! It definitely looks like you've got a pic of the adder "Sandy Martin" - he was one of four we saw in that area yesterday so they're all up and about now.
    Between Adders and sky-dancing Marsh Harriers, Spring must be here!

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  • What a pretty bird the Smew, haven't seen one before, some lovely pics Bob of the area, Marsh Harrier, Bittern, Avocet and even the Stonechat, all making a good day for you, I can understand the attraction of the Adders, we have them here but I have not come across any in my daily ramblings, maybe just as well with walking dogs. Maybe if I sneak out now with camera only in hand I might come across one or two.

    Lot to learn

  • A brilliant set of photos Bob, adders, and avocets.

  • Wonderful photos, Bob. Looks like you had a gorgeous sunny day. Love the Smew, Avocet, the courting Marsh Harriers, well all of the birds actually, and I can even admire the photos of Adders but would not want to get close to one myself! A great place, Minsmere, and the first place we saw Marsh Harriers, Avocets and Bearded Tits--all several decades ago although we have been back several times since then.

    Kind regards, Ann