Wednesday, 16 June 2021

(not) LANDGUARD - 16th June

 Another clear, sunny and eventually very warm and humid day, I walked round Minsmere from early in the morning and there was a very different feel to the place since my last visit two weeks ago; first off there were big numbers of Avocet and Black-headed Gull chicks running around (the Common Terns seem to be still on eggs) but there was a definite autumnal touch to proceedings with a noticeable influx of returning ducks with a drake Pintail with 13+ Teal, 35+ Shoveler, 50+ Gadwall and plenty of grotty looking Mallards while 2 Spotted Redshanks (both stunning black ones) and 3 Greenshank were also returning waders and there were many more Avocets, Kittiwakes and Sandwich Terns just loafing around in groups doing nothing – failed / non-breeding birds already making it look like autumn.    

Other bits of note comprised a 3cy Yellow-legged Gull on East Scrape, 41+ Black-tailed Godwits, 7+ Mediterranean Gulls and loads of Norfolk Hawkers – again only colonized in the last eight or so years.





Shoveler



Common Tern



Sandwich Tern



Common Tern and Kittiwake antics



2cy Kittiwake


Adult Kittiwake


I doubt this is a current nesting attempt as its a bit late to start and its in full wing moult


Avocet


Reed Bunting


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