Once set up we went up to the Coastguard cottages (no cameras) just to take in the sea air and relax with a cup of coffee.
On Sunday we went to Minsmere. Reception said that Island Mere had been good first thing so that's the hide we headed to. Although the hide was busy the birds seemed to be lacking, there were Bearded tits about but much too windy to try to photograph, but we were treated to a Hobby hawking over the mere catching dragonflies, this was our first opportunity to photograph Hobby and although quite distant were happy with the results.
In the afternoon I headed up onto the heath to try and find a Dartford warbler, a bird I have been trying to photograph for about 4 years now. Although I could hear them and did get a couple of fleeting sightings there were no images to be had. The only bird I came close enough to on the heath was this Stonechat.
Before I went back to the site I took a look over at the cliff edge and spotted a Kestrel approaching and this is the best image on this occasion.
No photography Monday morning, we just went out for a drive around the area, but after lunch I went on a Fungi foray. This is not something I have had much success at. I don't know what they are but this first image was a small fungi I spotted by the path not much more than an inch tall. So getting down low with the 100 macro this is the result.
With this image of a group of fungi, I was having difficulty in getting it all in focus so it gave me the chance to try out our tilt and shift lens. It took several images before I found the right tilt and focus points but just about managed it.
When I was up on Dunwich Heath I got talking to one of the volunteers about Dartford warbler and he suggested trying Westleton Heath so that's where we went on Tuesday. There was quite a lot of bird activity by the car park with Blue and Great tit and as we walked onto the heath saw a Stonechat.
We had been walking for about half an hour when I spotted a bird flitting about between a small branch and the heather, a quick glance with the binoculars confirmed it as Dartford warbler and for the next 15 or so minutes we managed to get some pretty good images. My 4 years of trying to photograph Dartford had come to an end.
Minsmere is well known for it's Marsh harriers and we always try to photograph them when we come here. Although we saw them most days they were more often than not quite distant views. So what I have tried to do is show one in its environment and one which is quite a tight crop but I think I have just about got away with it.
After a coffee back at the cafe we went for a walk along the beach and to the east hide. These next two images are by Gella. there wasn't a great deal going on in the hide but Gella did get this image of a Shoveler coming into land, and while walking along the sand dunes took this image of a Kestrel hunting.
One of the main reasons for going to Minsmere at this time was for the Red deer rut. The RSPB run Deer Safaris onto the reserve in 4 wheel drive vehicles. They do 3 a day lasting 90 minutes each and is a great way to see the Deer. We had done it a couple of years ago but didn't get very good weather and were too late for the rut. But it seems this year, although the weather was good we were too early for the rut. It should have been the perfect time but as all things in nature you never know. That said we still had a good drive and did manage some pleasing images, and are already booked in for another go next year.
We hope you enjoy our blog "A week in Suffolk" as much as we enjoyed being there and taking these images.
Thanks Mick & Gella
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