We headed out to the Westleton/Dunwich Heath complex, with my brother, in the hope of witnessing the RED DEER rut. This is one of those wildlife spectaculars that happens in Suffolk, one that just has to be seen. However after scoring a blank from the viewing mound at Westleton Heath, we went to Dunwich Heath where the woman at the information centre told us we were rather too early in the season. The stags were only just starting to flex their muscles, just starting to gather the females. So with that information we decided to spend the rest of the day at Minsmere, and it was a fairly decent day.
At the Visitors Centre we were told that the PEC SAND had moved on, a species which has so far eluded me, although I have had many close calls where I haven't had the courage to fully identify the bird species.
However the Scrape still held a decent number of WADERS, with passage still going strong. Highlights were three LITTLE STINTS, a new bird for my brother, which would often associate with the four RINGED PLOVERS present, giving a good comparison of their size. Two RUFF, small flocks of DUNLIN, some remnant AVOCETS, a CURLEW, a BAR TAILED GODWIT and the usual common WADERS were also present.
DUCKS were emerging from their dull eclipse plumage, with the males starting to look a lot more colourful, with all the usual suspects about, mainly tucked up asleep on the Scrape.
The day was quite windy, so all the small birds were keeping low in the vegetation, but there were three STONECHATS in the dunes and a KINGFISHER flew in front of the South Hide. There was also a MARSH TIT on the feeders in the North Bushes, and some SWALLOWS were still about.
In the reeds immediately in front of West Hide we found a WARBLER SPECIES, with yellow legs, an olive green colour and some barring near the wing. It was like no species I have seen before, and looking through the bird guides in the shop, still couldn't identify it.
Over and around the reedbed hides, nothing much was present except the usual HARRIERS. A HOBBY was seen behind Island Mere Hide, probably the last one of the summer, and a BEARDED TIT right beside the path to the hide.
A CHINESE WATER DEER was present in the same place we saw it last visit, grazing on the reedbed edge in the Konik fields.
So it was good birding and at the end of the day we had encountered most of the birds present today, which is no small feat. Here's hoping October is a good one and lots of rarities end up in this corner of the world, I think we deserve that.
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