Carlton trio of Garganey

On Good Friday, 29th March, I walked down to the far scrape, Peto's Marsh and just before the first hide, I saw Chris D and he kindly pointed out all 3 Garganey, a male stood facing right and a female was just left of him and a another male Garganey was swimming just behind him. A single BT Godwit, 3 Pintail (2 males and a female), still quite a few Wigeon c30 plus Great Egret flew left at the back. I also heard Chiff- Chaff and walking back near the old centre track, I saw and heard a single note calling Chiff- Chaff low down in the foliage and a singing Linnet high up in the tree.

Minsmere again

On Wednesday 27th March, I went back to Minsmere, unfortunately they were doing road repairs on the entrance road so no SC, I walked out to the old car parl area below the SM cliff and finally saw all 3 Adders, 3 males, 1 called Bracken was the showiest, whilst Edmund, the Black Adder was at the back and only seen briefly. Around 8 Sand Martins flew over too. Likewise the third male Adder, who was tucked in more. Then I walked to Island Mere, the fine Jack Snipe was seen bobbing, when not asleep, amongst the stubble but always for me, obscured but just right of the main channel and resonably close.

Minsmere Lesser Scaup

On Sunday 24 March, after a gridlocked Lowestoft which took 90 minutes to get past the bridge, along Westleton, I saw and heard a Chiff- Chaff, my first of the yearI arrived mid afternoon and saw the Lesser Scaup on island Mere, 3 males and 2 females, with the first group of 3 almost staright out (2 males and a female) and further over to the right the pair (male and female). ZAlso seen were 2 superb Cranes which flew right over the Mere and to the left, 3 Bitterns suddenly rocketed out of the reedbed and flew east. I saw Jeremy B and nearby we saw a super Stone Curlew stood up on the top of the field right hand side but by this time the light was going.