Three year ticks at Minsmere

With nothing new on the north coast and the Caspian having departed the Brecks, Brian, Norman and I weaved through the traffic to Minsmere. Among the first to arrive, we walked out to the public viewing platform where I quickly found ✔ number one: a Little Gull. After a bit of a delay, a guy with a 'scope pinned down ✔ number 2: the long-staying (but elusive) Roseate Tern. We watched this delightful sprite for nearly an hour: although somewhat distant, we could pick out all the salient features - a terrific bird! Moving round to Island Mere, I met John Richardson and his posse: one of these pointed out ✔ number 3: a small group of Goldcrests! Other birds included Mediterranean Gull, Hobby and Sparrowhawk.

We finished the outing with a walk round Dunwich Heath, starting by the 'quarry'. Some lovely Butterflies, including several Silver-studded Blues, Small Coppers, Small Heath and so on, as well as a singing Nightingale.