I've not been to Minsmere for a little while, so I thought, could I see the up to 6 Glossy Ibis that have been reported recently..
Being early enough that there weren't many people about has it's benefits, a Muntjac Deer on the path.
Down on the beach the Common Terns were back and forth out to sea fishing.
View from East Hide
After at bit of effort, got it.
Limbering up.
And off.
Near South Hide, a Reed Bunting where I always see one.
A few feet further on and a Cetti's Warbler makes itself heard somewhere in a nearby bush, but hidden as usual.
Then I hear it again, to the left this time, and unexpectedly in the open in a dead tree.
It hopped about but stayed in the open, singing occasionally.
It even waited while I move around to get the twig out shot.
Then it gave me one final classic pose before flying off.
While I walked along thinking how lucky was that, I saw this female Bearded Tit in the open outside the Wildlife Hide.
From the Bittern Hide some distant views of a Bittern, my first this year, then some Marsh Harriers.
I was watching a Male when he shot straight off at speed and confronted another male.
Just to the right of the Bittern Hide I heard another Cetti's Warbler, could this be an extra lucky day.
Looking into the small tree where I heard the call I found this instead. A pair of recently fledged Blackcaps.
They were very deep in the tree and I needed manual focus and a very small angle of view to get a picture.
Very soon the parents turned up, so I left them to it.
Near the visitor Centre, the Sand Martin nests. Difficult getting pictures of a moving bird against a similar coloured background.
You may have noticed, no Glossy Ibis, there's always next time.
Best Wishes,
Trevor
Just to clarify, the pictures of the young Blackcaps were taken a few feet back from the tree they were in and from a path. They are cropped pictures taken at 800mm (Micro 4/3 equivalent) and I was just lucky that the only line of sight through the leaves was at my head height, any movement and I couldn't see them at all. I don't advocate getting too close to wildlife, but sometimes if you are quiet and still, the wildlife may come to you.
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Regards, Hazel
Lot to learn
Cracking photos Trevor, and how obliging of the cetti's warbler to accommodate you moving position for a twig free shot. The marsh harrier action shots, were stunning.
Thank you for sharing.
Mike
Flickr: Peak Rambler