Suffolk in September

 We always look forward to a week in Suffolk in September and have made scores of visits throughout the past 50 years after we first discovered Thorpeness in1970! 

Minsmere is only a short drive away and although we've seen many changes over the years we have never seen so little water in the reserve. The hide overlooking the East Scrape never disappoints but this time it was cracked and dry and 'desertlike'.

View from East Scrape hide...usually perfect for waders but without water of very little interest.

Waders were very few and far between and even those that we could see from West Hide and North Hide were very distant.  3 Green Sandpipers, 5 Curlew Sandpipers and a few Dunlin. the  occasional Black Tailed Godwit and on one occasion, 15 Avocets. 

Ducks were starting to move in where patches of water were available... mainly Teal, with a few Wigeon and Gadwall.

Photography was at an all time low but below are a few random  'highlights'. 

Stone Curlew on the outskirts of the reserve.

Barnacle Goose...part of a local 'feral' flock maybe.

Cormorant...on Island Mere

Closeup of a Muntjac.

Distant view of a Marsh Harrier

Greylag Goose

Black Tailed Godwits  ...just the two.

Resident Canada Geese

Leucistic Canada goose ?

Greylag Goose

Spotted Flycatcher

Initially took this to be a Chiffchaff but on looking at the photo noticed a touch of orange in some breast feathers and a rather grey crown. Suggestions please. 

Distant Marsh Harrier

Great White Harrier from Bittern hide (but no Bittern seen)

Juvenile Cuckoo by the slice gate on the beach.

Whilst back at home around Pagham Harbour Wrynecks (plural!). Redstarts, Whinchats, Little Stint, Glossy Ibis, Ospreys were all being seen!

The weather was a plus factor for a holiday with undiluted sunshine which seemed somewhat different to what was happening on the south coast.  

 Heyho, can't win them all!