Quintet of Purple Sands & Minsmere visit for bird report

On December 20th, 5 Purple Sandpiper (my highest tally this winter so far- not difficult when I'd only seen 1 before!) on the finger at Ness Point this afternoon then 3 of their number on rocks just south of there. On Dec 22nd, at Minsmere, a look around the reserve after purchasing the Suffolk Birds report for 2017 included no Whoopers sadly behind the south hide. Birds seen from East scrape included a 1st winter Caspian Gull, 4 Pink- footed Geese over the far side on the extreme left hand of the island almost obscured by the Greylags, around 4 Dunlin seen too. A Female Sparrowhawk flying low and south over the scrape scattered most of the birds. In the North bushes, 4 Redwing, a Song Thrush and Blackbird.