A run around Suffolk!

Following a 7.30 pick up, Brian, Norman and I decided to head for the Waveney Forest to look for Short-eared Owls. Following a longish walk (past the numerous picturesque burned out cars that litter the site) we found ourselves at the famous mound.

Ever had one of those days? Almost immediately we saw some potentially interesting birds, but everything was too far away for any kind of decent photography. We did manage brief views of a Bittern, at least two Cattle Egrets and a Water Rail, while a couple of Buzzards sat up on hedges and gate posts. One of these looked quite good for a Rough-legged Buzzard, but was too far away to be anything like certain. Good to meet Chris Lansdell again: he was kind enough to give us directions to Sotterley Church, which became our next destination. Also pleasant to chat with Lee Evans and his posse, out for an East Anglian mop-up.

There have been some mouth-watering photos online of Hawfinches at Sotterley, but we only had brief flight views of a couple of females. There were lots of Fieldfares and a few Buzzards, as well as a Cormorant on the small lake.

Last stop was Minsmere: a walk around gave us just Pintail and Muntjac, so we headed home just in time to avoid the rain!