Great day at Minsmere

On Friday 22nd February, it was surprisingly good at Minsmere today, but conditions difficult early & late with fog then looking into v.low bright sunshine. It was initially foggy at Minsmere, but by 10am the fog was beginning to clear and from the West hide looking north east from the hide, I saw the excellent female Smew who was busy preening sat on a spit on the other side, when she had finished preening she dipped her head down and couldn't be seen again, the sawbill was mostly hidden though. 12 Black- tailed Godwits were also seen from the West hide. From the South hide, a group of 30 Avocets huddled together in the middle of the Scrape. Also 8 Mediterranean Gulls were very much in evidence here, all winter adults. Hearing of Dartford Warblers on the beach near the sluice, I walked around but despite the increasing volume of families walking along the beach, a male Stonechat was first seen perched high and then a pair of Dartford Warblers showed exceptionally well. Seen anywhere between east hide and the sluice, the male was particularly showy, and would frequently pop up in front of me as I walked along the footpath, he was especially obliging when he was singing from the top of the gorse and they didn't seem fazed by people at all. Along the beach edge, 3 female Reed Bunting seen too. Entering East hide, I saw John Grant and the fog rolled in again, however it briefly lifted for some 2o minutes revealing a 1st winter Caspian Gull, another Caspian Gull and a Yellow- legged Herring Gull seen too. A great trip!