A Wryneck at last.

Just back from a week in Suffolk and news that a Wryneck had been reported at the Severals for a few days. This was a bird that I had hoped to see whilst on the east coast but the only one reported was a bird caught in a mist net on Havergate Island.
At just before 8.00 am I caught up with a small group of birders on the beach between Church Norton and Selsey to be told it had been showing really well on top of a bramble only about about 10 to 12 metres away. I waited and waited and waited as the group was convinced it had dropped down within the bush and had not moved away. There was a cool east breeze blowing and as I had no top coat (as the others) it was getting unpleasant! Eventually I moved away and noted some Whitethroats and Blackcaps and a Redstart. About an hour and a half later I widened my search convinced the bird was NOT still in the bush . I was back on the main path and about to give up when this elusive bird flew up from the ground from under a ground hugging bramble and disappeared between two other bramble clumps. It soon appeared but a photograph was virtually impossible. However it did at last show well on the top of the bramble but even so there was always a  branch spoiling the photo.
Here are a few photos of this elusive bird....

First glimpse!

Starting to show.

Getting better

...and better!

 ...but still that wretched twig spoilt an otherwise acceptable photo! 

Well at least I didn't 'dip out' but it was a close run thing.

Minsmere highlights to follow in a separate blog later.