A short trip over the KGV reservoir with the boys gets me three year ticks. We walk up the ramp, and as soon as we scan the reservoir, we find seven Black Terns flying over the water. We are only on them briefly before they fly up high and away from view, and never come back while we are here.
As we walk around, I get a tick when we spot 3 Common Sandpipers, and a Lesser Whitethroat gives me tick number 3. On the walk round, we meet up with Stewart and Harry, always nice to see them.
Next up, we plan a trip to Minsmere in Suffolk.
On the way into the car park, we stop by a gate where we have seen Stone Curlews before and get lucky when we have a good view of one in the scope, not needed for a tick, but always good to spot such a funny-looking bird.
We head up to the east hide, along the smart boardwalk that saves us having to walk along the sand, so much easier on the old legs.
In the hide, we soon see Kittiwake and Sandwich Tern for a couple of ticks. Bartail and Blacktail Godwits in nice colour, along with Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers, show well.
A birder upstairs calls out that he has a Wood Sandpiper in view, so we shoot up there and all three of us tick it, along with a Little Gull.
Brian finds a pair of Garganey once again. We don't need them for a tick, but people in the hide did, so good for them.
As we walk around the reserve a single Spoonbill flies over and we hear Bearded Tits.
When we enter the Bittern hide, we are put on a single Bittern just coming into view, and it
walks right out into the open to give the packed hide good, long views of it.
While in the hide, I get my first Hobby of the year on top of a bush.
A quick run up to Dunich gets Jimmy and me a tick when we follow a local up the track to see 2 Dartford Warblers. A good day's birding, and I end up with 6-year ticks.
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