Minsmere was brilliant – it’s the first time I’d been there (although I’d passed close by when I went to Dunwich last year) and it’s a shame. Well worth a whole day out in the future.
I’d left Aaalburgh under a glorious blue sky but as I headed east (and slightly to the south) the sky gradually clouded over and by the time I arrived it was a dull, overcast day. Fine for watching birds. Not so good for photographing them through a scope (especially as it’s going to take me a while to find out how best to do so).
From a bird watching point of view it was a resounding success. The scope was great for anything that was stationary (the field of view’s just too small to find something that’s moving – but that’s just as expected) and I’m delighted with my “present”.
I saw my first hobby, my first bittern, my first reed warbler. I could go on (and on) but I shalln’t. I just wish I could show you photos to prove this.
All I can offer you are the rather poor results from my snapping. They’ll improve … I hope.
In my defence I feel that I should point out that the marsh harrier must have been at least 80 yards away.
On my way back to the car I re-entered an area with mobile phone coverage and caught up with some twitters which had been sent my way. I took Alan‘s advice, called in to the visitor centre and picked up a bag of nyjer seeds plus a nyjer seed feeder then headed home via the garden centre (as I now needed a bracket from which to hang said feeder.
I rearranged and topped up the food station, set up the camera and sat and waited for the flocks of goldfinches to arrive.
And waited.
And waited for any bird to arrive.
And waited.
Eventually I was visited by collared doves (hoovering up the finch seed that I’d spilled when refilling the finch’s feeders), a blackbird (checking on the contents of the ground feeder) and a starling (who got confused by my having moved the fat balls to the other end of the garden – I’m sure the ruckus they create when feeding is scaring off more timid birds).
No goldfinches, though. Not yet.
I sat there until seven o’clock but then had to choose between waiting for the goldfinches and going in to watch Doctor Who. Who won.
I mean “Who” won.
There’ll be finches tomorrow (I hope) and I’ll be ready (I hope).
Exciting, isn’t it?
