EARLY START AT MINSMERE PLUS A SURPRISE

  After looking at the weather forecast last night I decided on an early start today and arrived at Island mere hide just after 4 am where I was rewarded with the sight of literally 1000 plus swifts low over the reed beds hunting for insects in the clear sky. The reeds were alive with Reed warblers and in the distance a flock of 50 or so Black tailed Godwits rose from the ground and made its way over to the scrape.

   As the sun got up the wind increased and the Bitterns started to take to the sky with several female birds embarking on feeding flights to collect food for their young on the nests. The females do all the feeding as once mating is over the males have nothing further to do with the eggs or chicks which rely on the mother for food for up to 8 weeks until they become independent. I spent most of the morning watching the Bitterns and at one point a bird was hunting right underneath the boardwalk leading up to the hide as there were so few people about. As well as these birds there were a whole load of raptors around including Marsh Harriers, Hobbies, Buzzards, a Sparrow Hawk, a Kestrel and a pair of Red Kites.

   Finally as the number of people increased in the hide I decided to make a move and walked round to the sluice where Swallows were landing on the muddy banks of a tidal dyke to collect mud in their beaks with which they build their nests under the brick sluice. These Swallows always seem to be very confiding and make quite easy subjects to photograph as long as they aren't flying.

   On the way back to the visitor centre I called in at the East hide and it was just as well that I did as on entering I was informed that a Red Necked Phalarope was on the scrape. These birds are quite rare in this country with reportedly only about 30 pairs which nest in the north of Scotland and Ireland. They are completely different to most birds in that once the eggs are laid the male incubates and looks after the young and unusually the female has the brighter plumage. Once I located the bird which was at an extreme distance I managed a few pictures which were only any use as record shots to confirm identification but I was more than happy just to see one as they are so unusual around here.