Minsmere and Thorpeness 26/10/09

Great White Egret seen from the overspill carpark, been present sometime. Presumably the same bird seen again later in the vicinity of Bittern hide. Huge birds in flight, unmistakeable and no doubt only a matter of time until a pair breeds here.
The new feeders around the ponds proved a good spot to observe Marsh and Coal Tit. Bearded Tits pinged and for once showed themselves as we walked to the beach. The sea was quiet and suprisingly calm, nothing doing except for load of gulls following a fishing boat too far out to ID. The east scrape held 3 Blackwit, a Turnstone, 1 White Wagtail, 1 Spotted Redshank but were dominated by the return of many Teal and Wigeon. a few skeins of Barnacle geese flew through, in their number was a snow/feral goose; white body, brown wings. Anyone see this bird? A leucistic Moorhen on the scrape has been causing some fuss, some are reporting it as a Little Crake apparently!
Although the sluice bushes were quiet, still felt the day could deliver so we searched the old caravan site at Thorpeness. Shedloads of Robins, LT Tits and Blackbirds. Mother did have a small Warbler with a wing bar, poor views but could well have been a YBW or even a Pallas's? The one that got away.

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Grey Phalarope- a new patch bird

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Notes from the valley

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