Showing posts with label Sand Martin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sand Martin. Show all posts

Wednesday, 9 May 2018

Snapshots from RSPB Minsmere


We spent a couple of hours at RSPB Minsmere over the Bank Holiday weekend. The weather turned slightly hazy, but it was largely bright. There were a few butterflies on the wing but nothing like the numbers we had seen at Wicken Fen two weeks before. 


We were told that the Adders were about, so we kept an eagle eye on the ground. At one point when David was standing still he sensed a scuffle, and there scuttling across the path towards his foot was a Common Lizard.





It didn't hang about for long: you can just see it disappearing into the dead leaves on the far side.


The Bluebell wood was shimmering in the dappled light ...


... and, as you can see, Bluebells were not the only plants in flower on the reserve.


Look at the size of this Sea Cabbage: it will be enormous soon!


The sea is hard to beat, but this is one of my favourite Minsmere views, looking over the reedbeds and up to the coastguard cottages on Dunwich Heath. 


It was good to see that the Sand Martins had returned.

David

Thursday, 21 May 2015

RSPB Minsmere ... Best of the Rest


Those of you who read my last post will have seen my Adder photographs from RSPB Minsmere, here in Suffolk, UK.

The snakes were undoubtedly a highlight, but there were other wonderful wildlife moments, too. This Robin was singing its heart out near the Visitors' Centre. 



There were more than a few signs that the BBC Springwatch crew
were in the area, such as this red tag. 
I wonder what is special about this particular bramble patch!
 


The weather improved a bit, but the conditions were not ideal for butterflies. 
This Red Admiral was resting in a sheltered spot.



 We watched the Avocets on the scrapes.
Some were doing what waders do best ...


and others were sitting on their nests. 
There were some chicks, but we failed to see these. 
There were also some stately Little Egret ...


... and a Bittern. 

We saw a second Bittern (above) later on,
flying past Island Mere Hide. 


We came face to face with a couple of well-fed Red-legged Partridges
who were 'hanging out' near the tea room. 


The air was filled with Sand Martins,
and while they took to the skies,
the rabbits scampered about in the sand bank. 


These fluffy goslings commanded a lot of attention, particularly since they were easy to see ...


... unlike the fabulous but elusive Bearded tits,
who kept disappearing in the reedbeds. 
The one above is a male 
(note the 'beard' or moustache).


This is a female, though she is hard to see!


I believe this tiny insect is a grasshopper,
my first one in 2015.
It is hard to tell how long those antennae are!  

Update: 27 May - I now think it is a Groundhopper


The Common Tern
kept us entertained while we waited
for the Bearded tits to emerge. 

While I was watching the Adders, I fell into conversation with an artist-illustrator,
Narisa Togo, who was sketching the snakes.

Narisa gave me details of her wonderful blog here.
Do take a look ...