Trip reports

Minsmere

Marsh Harrier (female), close up of head
RSPB

Sunday, 31 May 2009

There was the biggest turnout of the season for our coach trip to Minsmere. The day was dry, sunny and warm - as long as you kept out of the wind. It was the height of the breeding season, and we had great views from the scrape hides of black-headed gull chicks, and greylag, barnacle and Canada geese with goslings. There was at least one family of Mediterranean gulls. Terns were also nesting, though not so far on with it. Elsewhere we watched whitethroat parents bringing food to their young, and two tiny whitethroat fledglings were nearly underfoot on one of the paths. From the tower hides we had great views of marsh harriers on the wing over the reed beds. Some also saw bittern and bearded tits flying across. The sound stars of the day were undoubtedly the nightingales and Cetti's warblers. We heard lots of both, without getting much more than glimpses of them. Between us we chalked up 93 bird species, along with 9 different butterflies and several dragon and damselflies.