Spoonbills, Bitterns and Egrets: the Thurne Valley is the place to be!

An early start saw Brian and me at Potter Heigham Marsh before the sea-fret dissipated. However, by the time we reached the electric pump, the mist cleared and we were able to enjoy this wonderful location without the heat haze that is often a problem here.

Lots of Sedge, Cetti's and Reed Warblers as well, all singing their heads off. (Does this mean they are 'second brooding'?) Plenty of Black-tailed Godwits and Reed Buntings too. Great to see a flock of six Spoonbills at comparatively close range: with the forty or so Little Egrets and Avocets, there was a definite feel of the Somme Estuary about East Norfolk today. Occasionally a Hobby dashed across the water, putting up the Godwits and Lapwings: when the camera is set up for white birds wading in water, it struggles with a dark shape moving rapidly against a bright background!

With no sign of the Caspian Tern, we walked back and drove on to Hickling, arriving at 8.30: to our surprise, we were the first people on the reserve. A double circuit added Bittern, more Little Egrets, a Crane and a few Common Terns to the daylist. We did see some Swallowtails, but they flew rapidly across the reedbeds without settling.