Trumpeter Swans: up close & personal!

Martin, my oldest birding buddy, was keen to see the Trumpeters, so we started early and made our way through the narrow lanes to Boyton. To my amazement, these beautiful birds were the closest swans in the herd, being just a couple of hundred yards from the river levee. I managed some decent pictures and, whatever their origin (and I am firmly in the 'possible' camp!) they are just terrific creatures to watch.

Other birds at the reserve included Water Pipit, Reed Bunting, Stonechat and lots of Little Egrets.

A move to North Warren produced distant views of at least a couple of Lesser Whitefronts and lots of Whitefronts among the Barnacles, but the Beans seem to have moved on. Tea and a vegetable samosa at the excellent Mere Café at Thorpeness and then we headed north.

Last stop was Minsmere, where the female Smew showed distantly on Island Mere, in company with three Otters. Less timid were a group of Red Deer and a Muntjac....