We started the day after a drive to our accommodation in Westleton at Minsmere RSPB. After missing a Bittern at Bittern Hide, we moved on to Island Mere where we were rewarded with great views of a pair of Bearded Tits collecting nesting material. We then walked back around the scrapes, seeing a few Mediterranean Gulls and the common wader species there. After a fruitless attempt to photograph Marsh Harriers 'sky dancing', we headed back to the visitor centre. Here we asked for directions to Eastbridge, where a Glossy Ibis had been spending the last few days. To our relief it was only a few minutes away, and we arrived to a small group of birders watching it feed on a flooded field. It soon walked out of sight, but not before everyone had got fantastic views! We then travelled to Iken estuary, where we got good views of lots of waders, including an extreme close up of a Greenshank. As the sun began to set over the estuary, we headed back to Westleton.
We started the day by heading towards Sotterley Park, as we had heard that Garganey had been sighted there. After getting lost several times, and asking directions, we eventually made it to the huge house and grounds, and found the small lake, where we were immediately found the pair of Garganey. They were typically flighty, but eventually settled close enough for a few photos and a great view through the scope. There was a good selection of other ducks, including a pair of Mandarin, and after half an hour we set off to our next stop- White Cast Marshes.
We arrived there, and after a long walk, and taking the wrong path a few times, we found a group of birders watching a Great Grey Shrike on some distant bushes. Luckily, as I hadn't brought my scope, a man there let us have a look through his Leica, and we could really get a good look at this beautiful bird. When we'd had a good enough look, we headed on our way back to London, and decided to stop off at Trimley Marshes SWT reserve to try and see a Stone Curlew that had been reported here. We parked and set off on the incredibly long trek down the path to the reserve, where we scanned the area that the Stone Curlew was meant to have occupied earlier that day. After around half an hour, the wardens that had been looking with us gave up, but we decided to have one quick check before leaving. i noticed a surprisingly streaky rock, and realised, as it raised its head, that this was the Stone Curlew. We snapped a long distance record shot before heading back to London.