Minsmere 5th April - Black-necked Grebe and Garganey
My wife, Lisa, and I took a drive down to Dunwich Heath on Saturday. We stopped briefly en-route at Westleton Heath to listen to Woodlark singing in the rain. From there it was only a few minutes to the National Trust car park on Dunwich cliffs. Walking down the cliff and along the beach, we made it to the first RSPB hide before getting to wet. Bearded Tit were "pinging" in the reed beds, an Avocet was right in front of the hide and I tried to get a few pictures of these iconic waders. A pair of Mediterranean Gulls also gave good photo opportunities, a good photographer would have done much better. Lisa decided to walk on and let me dawdle around the reserve at my own pace. I did so, dodging the light showers by popping into hides at the appropriate time.
The sluice bushes were pretty quiet with single Chiffchaff, a Cetti’s Warbler and my first Willow Warbler of the year. At the south hide were two stunning summer plumage Black-necked Grebe, I’m afraid these photos do no justice to the birds at all. Through a telescope they were just lovely. I also managed a few fleeting glimpses of a male Garganey from the next hide before heading back through the woods, along the north wall and up the beach to a welcome cup of tea at the car.
To finish a good afternoon we went Beccles for a curry..
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