Spotted Sandpiper and Great Reed Warbler, Cambridgeshire.

A surprise call from Brian asking if we wanted to head to Cambridgeshire for the Spotted Sandpiper, the surprise was that he had already been and seen the Sandpiper.  Both Jimmy and I were free, so we met up and set off to Grafham Water. As we get near, it comes out as not having been seen, so we head instead to RSPB Ouse Fen to try to get me a tick that the boys had already seen.  

With the car parked, we walk a short way down a grass track to Cranes Fen, and as we near the end of the track, we hear the Great-Reed Warbler calling long and loud, and then we get some really good sightings of it. 

I also get a tick when a single Crane flies along the tree line over the reeds and lands out of sight.

Next, we see a lot of Hobbies and we pick out a single Red-footed Falcon amongst them for another year tick.

We see that the Spotted Sandpiper has been seen again. So off we go to Grafham Water and park at Plummer car park.

Just a short walk and we spot the bird in a sheltered corner of the reservoir and get a cracking view of the first one with spots on. We have seen a couple of them, but only first-year birds with no spots. What a cracking-looking bird. 

                                                             

                                                             

The Spotted Sandpiper.

                                                                  

                                                                         

The Great Reed Warbler.

                                                                   

Minsmere, KGV res, and trip to Cambridge.

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.

                                                            

Bittern