Good day at Minsmere

On Thursday 14th March, I had a day's leave to use up from work and I had a good day at Minsmere today, initially no sign of the Smew from the mounds by the old car park, however in the company of David B and his wife, who first spotted them the 3 Smew (1 male and 2 females)came swimming out from the left half way back viewed from the West scrape hide, the male particularly resplendent amongst the more dapper redhead females. Also whilst walking back along the trail nearly to the woods, I saw a female Long- tailed Tit fly into a Long-tailed Tits nest in the middle of some brambles. David told me about some Adders along the Adder trail and his description of the spot was spot on and helped helpfully by on the wardens too, by an obvious bush in the roped off area that formed a triangle to the left hand side. First one and the 2 Adders seen lying on the ground along the left hand side of the bush, they moved around a little and one even flattened his body. Both looked like males (both having the black zig-zag) one looked as if it had shed skin already being more silvery than the other browner individual (yet to shed its skin?) The from the Island Mere, 2 Sand Martin (my earliest ever!) seen flying over the water. Along the rhododendron tunnel, 2 Treecreepers seen in a tree and a Marsh Tit too, but missed the Firecrest all I saw in the scrub behind the East hide was Goldcrest & Blue Tit. Finally by the mounds, the first pool I saw the 3 Smew.