Stone Curlews !!

 We have just returned from a week in Suffolk and having looked through my photographs there is only one species which really stands out! 

We learned from a local that there were a few 'Heath Chickens' still around the Minsmere RSPB reserve and so we decided to look in the evening at the specified site. Sure enough there were a few fairly distant birds but they were against the low evening light and photography was very difficult / well nigh impossible. A decision was made to return next morning and we were able to see them a lot better and actually heard their strange calls. Having taken many photos with the 500mm  lens with 1.4 extender results were not acceptable but ok as record shots.

Another attempt was made the following morning but although 11 birds were noted they were still a fair distance away. However just as we were about to leave we saw one bird a little closer as it 'emerged' from behind a bush and in just a few minutes we were able to capture these photos....

I saw these birds at Wicken Fen in Norfolk some years ago but never got any photographs due to the distance involved. The only other records for me are nesting birds in S'albufertta in Mallorca but heat shimmer was then a bit of a problem.

Other birds in Suffolk paled into insignificance but the 18 Spoonbills on Hazelwood Marshes were good to see but only a distant shot resulted...here are a few at the high tide roost.

Egyptian Goose on The Mere, Thorpeness

Barnacle Goose,  East Scrape, Minsmere




Little Stint....South Scrape just as sun was setting.

Great White Egret on Island Mere, Minsmere; again late evening and distant.

Barn Owl...seen when leaving Minsmere, just before the Eels Foot. (ISO 10,000)

Hobby...North Warren reserve.

Kestrel...North Warren

Wheatear...on the beach at Thorpeness.

...and a final distant deer ....from North Wall Minsmere (early evening) 

A real autumn morning...

The first thing I noticed when I headed for the North Wall this morning was the Substantial reduction of the water level in the Breech Pool...there were actually muddy edges for the first time for a very long time.

The first wader was a Greenshank but as I was on the lower path it was not easy to shoot through the reeds...

Second wader of note was this Spotted Redshank...

As I approached the Halsey fields a group of cows were accompanied by Cattle Egrets

Surrounded and avoiding being trod on!

In the Halsey stream a single Common Sandpiper was feeding

As I made my way towards Owl Point a coupler of Spotted Flycatchers were busy doing what they do best...catching flies.

A squirrel appeared on the scene.

Above the big pine Hirundines were gathering and Swallows were trying to alight on the top most branches.

Sand Martins

Swallows

A buzzard suddenly appeared overhead

As I headed towards Owl point I came across another herd of cows and this time a flock of about 30 Yellow Wagtails was in attendance.

...and then a Whinchat 

...and finally the back view of a Wheatear on the North wall rocks on my return.

A great morning!!