WAB at Minsmere 19/20th April 08

[mrs fish]

I have started this new thread for the WAB meet at Minsmere



What time would people like to meet in the carpark ,does 9.30 am on the sat sound ok?

[mrs fish]

Who is coming to Minsmere on April 19th?


Not long now people

I will be there

[Wild-Woman]

Me and the Wild-Man! All being well.
Jules

[DavyG]

We'll be there.

Dave (and the boss).

[Hobjob]

I'll be there

[smartie]

We're not going to manage the Saturday now, as I have to work (boo hoo) but might manage to get over on the Sunday. If so we'll find you

[PMG]

By this time next week we should be wandering around a happy bunch of bunnies......... I hope the weather has gone milder by then tho - its still on the edge of sharp to brrrr here in the north west - having said that tho there werre sand and house martins and swallows at work last night - the martins were whizzing past my ears below gutter level on the visitor centre

We had a look over Leighton Moss earlier this week while having a night away at the caravan and altho the marsh harriers were displaying really well - I didn't hear a bittern - we weren't there long tho and the bitterns are more noisy in the mornings - so I'm not unduly worried that they were quiet....

See you really soon now
Pauline

[DavyG]

I haven't been to Minsmere since we saw the Bluethroat a few weeks ago, so I'm really looking forward to next weekend.

The weather isn't too bad in Suffolk at the moment, hopefully it will be a tad warmer next weekend though.

Here's the latest report from Minsmere:

Tuesday, 8 April 2008

A red-rumped swallow spent the evening in front of the Island Mere hide yesterday, arriving with a large flock of sand martins and barn swallows. Red-rumped swallows breed in Southern Europe and this bird has flown too far north on spring migration. This represents the fifth record for Minsmere and the earliest spring record for Suffolk. We have now confirmed 11 booming bittern territories, the highest number at Minsmere since at least 1976, and birds can be heard booming in the late afternoon and early evening, particularly near the Island Mere hide. Avocet numbers have increased to a peak of 183 and up to six ruffs and seven spotted redshanks and a single common sandpiper have been seen. Up to 23 summer-plumaged Mediterranean gulls on the scrape have provided quite a spectacle. Two summer-plumaged black-necked grebes made a brief visit on 5 April when a common crane also flew south. A yellow wagtail accompanied a white wagtail this morning, adding a splash of colour to the grazing marshes on the levels amongst the Konik horses.

I'm looking forward to meeting you all next weekend.

Dave

[mrs fish]

I am looking forward to meeting you all who I haven't already met

Tursiops should be coming too

[PMG]

Wow Davy G - thats some report - now my mouth is watering - bring it on!

Pauline

[John]

I will certainly be there. It will be the kick start to a week I am having in that area, culminating with a Birdforum meet at Minsmere the following week end.

I look forward to meeting old and new friends.

John

[DavyG]

Todays report from Minsmere, with thanks to the RSPB.

Tuesday, 15 April 2008

Highlights this morning include a juvenile glaucous gull on the Scrape, a pair of garganey on the levels and the first redstart of the spring singing alongside the bridleway leading to Dunwich Heath. Recent counts have included over 250 avocet and 160 black-tailed godwit on the Scrape. Good numbers of sedge and willow warblers and blackcaps are singing in the scrub and woodland, and they have been joined by a couple of nightingale since 12 April. Spring birds of prey have included a red kite and common buzzard and a single purple heron was seen briefly on 9 & 10 April.

Dave

[PMG]

Originally Posted by DavyG

Todays report from Minsmere, with thanks to the RSPB.

Tuesday, 15 April 2008

Highlights this morning include a juvenile glaucous gull on the Scrape, a pair of garganey on the levels and the first redstart of the spring singing alongside the bridleway leading to Dunwich Heath. Recent counts have included over 250 avocet and 160 black-tailed godwit on the Scrape. Good numbers of sedge and willow warblers and blackcaps are singing in the scrub and woodland, and they have been joined by a couple of nightingale since 12 April. Spring birds of prey have included a red kite and common buzzard and a single purple heron was seen briefly on 9 & 10 April.

Dave

Throw in a few marsh harriers and bitterns and that will do nicely sir!! Weather forecast seems to be the fly in the ointment at the mo but theres time for them to change their minds yet.......... see you soon......

Pauline

[mrs fish]

I am pleased April is being April this year

Best year for bitterns since 1976

[Hobjob]

Originally Posted by PMG

Throw in a few marsh harriers and bitterns and that will do nicely sir!! Weather forecast seems to be the fly in the ointment at the mo but theres time for them to change their minds yet.......... see you soon......

Pauline

Marsh Harries are 100% -- Bitterns .........

But the weather forcast for coastal Suffolk is often
wrong, there are little micro-climates and the rain has
often dried up by the time fronts reach the coast.

[PMG]

Originally Posted by Hobjob

Marsh Harries are 100% -- Bitterns .........

But the weather forcast for coastal Suffolk is often
wrong, there are little micro-climates and the rain has
often dried up by the time fronts reach the coast.

Yes thats what I'm hoping for - Leighton Moss and around Morecambe Bay can be like that and certainly Southport on Sunday stayed fine, dry and very sunny despite a forecast for rain. We sat in the hide at Marshide in strong sunlight and watched heavy showers trolling north inland and at home and the roads were wet and slippy on the way home.

It matters little now as I'm just looking forward to the break and I do so like the area of Minsmere.

I'm off out now to see to the camper and finalise the packing after a very stressful morning at work..............

See you very soon

Pauline

[pressld2]

Sadly I won't be able to join you as it's the weekend my eldest goes back to uni so I'll be toiling up and down the M1 while you're all enjoying yourselves!

But like the Murphy's, I'm not bitter. Hope you all have a great weekend and I look forward to seeing plenty of photos afterwards!

Dave P.

[PMG]

Mucho apologies and grovelling - sadly we are not setting off tomorrow

I know I shall get a reputation for saying I'm going somewhere and then cancelling and I'm fair gutted but the forecast is not good for East Anglia (I know they not always right but with a prevailing easterly and bad weather coming from the continent - I doubt they are far out this time). Anyway I can't justify spending £150 on fuel and a bad forecast....

Husband has allowed me to have a spend on a 500 lens (we should have been picking it up on our way down to save on postage) but coming so close on top of his 400 there now has to be some 'belt tightening' esp as I am still on part time working

I'm still gutted guys (and I now have to turn up at work in the morning the boss has allowed me to cancel my day off bless him).

Have a lovely time and hope to meet up at some point ..... I'm off to sulk and have a brew now - gutted

Pauline

[mrs fish]

What a shame

Yes it is freezing here to-day with strong easterlies bringing the migrants in (I hope) if there are any left

The forecast looks a bit grey for sat, good job for the cosy hides

[Wild-Woman]

We're gonna brave it out! So what time where Mrs Fish?

[PMG]

Originally Posted by mrs fish

What a shame

Yes it is freezing here to-day with strong easterlies bringing the migrants in (I hope) if there are any left

The forecast looks a bit grey for sat, good job for the cosy hides

Yes I know - you're going to see all sorts and have a fantastic time - don't forget the Water Voles in the pond before you go off birding round those cosy fantastic hides. Keep eyes open for spring fungi too in those smashing short grass and bramble bush areas - perhaps even Grass Snakes sunbathing..... Oh cripes I wish it had been better but husband says belt tightening now that we are to have a big lens each (something I wasn;t anticipating at all) but sharing means someone has to sit out of the action..........

Never mind there is later in the year..........

Pauline

[DavyG]

Pauline,

I'm gutted, I was looking forward to meeting you and getting some tips on photography!

Never mind, I hope you enjoy your new lens, I'll watch for the pics from it.

Will you be attending the Priory Water meet in June?

Dave

[PMG]

Originally Posted by DavyG

Pauline,

I'm gutted, I was looking forward to meeting you and getting some tips on photography!

Never mind, I hope you enjoy your new lens, I'll watch for the pics from it.

Will you be attending the Priory Water meet in June?

Dave

I know I'm really really sorry - I feel rotten - but yes I now have all my hopes pinned on the Priory meet tho maybe I should go quiet about it and not trumpet about how I will be there and how much I am actually looking forward to it - in case that goes pear shaped as well........... I should learn to keep my big mouth shut - maybe if I did life wouldn't know what I was planning and drop bombs on it?!

Have a lovely time - I shall be thinking about it and going round the reserve in my minds eye - we had a terrific time there last year despite the terrible weather - it rained at some point every single day of the fortnight - but staying at Scots Hall in the grounds of Minsmere was the best thing ever....... I shall never forget it - and just walking out the door and into the hides ten mins later having heard nightingale and seen hornets and then dozens of marsh harriers and a bittern flying past - it was just fantastic........

Pauline

[mrs fish]

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

We're gonna brave it out! So what time where Mrs Fish?

Is 9.30 in the car park ok with you ?



You will need to wrap up really well