The Spoonbill comes closer!

After a very blustery night the morning dawned bright but a lot cooler than of late.  Highlight of the morning was a much closer view of the Spoonbill feeding near the sluice gate in Whites Creek.

Preening.

A fascinating bird and interesting to watch as it sweeps its bill from side to side sifting the water in search of small fish, snails and molluscs.

There were few other unusual birds and many of the waders were hunkered down out of the wind.

A Lapwing in Breech Pool.

The Cormorant on its usual perch at the back of the sluice.

 Grey Plovers sheltering in Whites Creek

A Curlew in the shallows.

Earlier in the week I had looked for the Cattle Egrets but could only locate this one in the company of a grey Heron and with a few cattle south of Halsey farm.

An overnight arrival of ten Little Grebe in the lagoon.

A week in Suffolk

Each year we usually make several trips to Suffolk but this year we made just the one visit in September. Usually at this 'end of summer /early autumn'  time we do well for migrants. However it turned out to be a quiet week birdwise. We had apparently missed a few interesting waders and passage passerines seemed slow or absent.
We only clocked up 70 species but nevertheless it was a pleasant week....here are a few somewhat disappointing photos, just for the record.

Firstly a few waders all at RSPB Minsmere...

Common Sandpiper

Ruff

Black Tailed Godwit

Bar Tailed Godwit (juvenile)

Canada Geese

Female Mandarin on the Meare Thorpeness

Redstart showing its tail...brilliantly!
North Bushes, Minsmere.

Redstart feeding on the ground...much less impressive!

Chiffchaff

A well hidden Dartford Warbler in bushes near Lucky Pool Minsmere

Stonechat

Mistle Thrush...Westwood Marshes Dunwich.

From Island Mere, Minsmere we looked for the reported Otters with no success

...just a Grey Heron

...and a distant Hobby

Catching dragonflies

On Friday we met the Waveney Bird Ringers who, likewise agreed 'things were quiet'!

During our visit a Blue Tit, Great Tit and this Reed Warbler were ringed...

...so its back now to Pagham Harbour....with Cattle Egrets, Spoonbill, waders and migrants!

Cattle Egrets galore!!

Having searched unsuccessfully for the reported roving flock of ten or so Cattle Egrets yesterday I was pleased to learn  that they were still about this morning. First find the cattle! Yes, right in the distance, west  of Halsey Farm a few cows. As I reached the "correct" field a group of birders were just making their back but they told me they were here until a few minutes ago but now the cows had moved on, along with the egrets. All was not lost - they were soon located in the adjoining field. I was joined by Paul from Essex who was staying in Pagham for a few days and we were able to enjoy the spectacle for a good half hour or more. The biggest problem was an over friendly cow who took a liking to my tripod and would keep licking it and causing a certain amount of vibration! Although ten had been reported we could only see nine...a good number for Pagham and possibly a record  for Sussex...here are a few photos of the many taken!

.....and as a bonus about 25 Yellow Wagtails.

...a great morning!