Dancing in the Rain

Preamble

A strange sparrow was spotted in the garden by Sheila. Almost a young snow bunting!

House Sparrow

...and this sparrow was photographed by Sheila taking cotton wool for its nest from a dwarf conifer which she had decorated for the sparrows! House Sparrow

June 3rd: Dunwich Heath & Minsmere

I left home like a mouse creeping away in the wee small hours. Destination: Southwold and Dunwich Heath. Research encouraged me to believe this to be a reliable dartford warbler site and the one nearest to York. I paid my car park fee and set off. Tiny birds flew away from me before I could get a fix. I felt hopeful. Another early birder beckoned me over. A male was perched distantly on the heather. It had no idea it was lifer 417!

Dartford Warbler

Dragonflies were already on the wing at 8.30 am. Four-spotted chaser.

Four spot chaser

Someone said some dartford warblers were showing near a stonechat nest. I found the stonechats...

Stonechat Stonechat

...and then movement in a tiny 2-foot high wind battered pine sapling...

Dartford Warbler Dartford Warbler Dartford Warbler Dartford Warbler Dartford Warbler Dartford Warbler

Female below. Dartford Warbler

Male again!

Dartford Warbler Dartford Warbler

I headed for Minsmere. Dragonflies were active on the ponds near the visitor centre. Four spot chaser

Many birds seen including a great view of a low flying bittern. Year tick in the shape of this nice hobby.

Hobby Hobby

I saw an amazing clump of tree lupin - it must have been ten feet across. Tree Lupin

June 4th: Strumpshaw Fen & Lakenheath

Next day north initially to Strumpshaw Fen. River Yar Brimstones near Reception...

Brimstone ... but, apparently, the single swallowtail had disappeared. I set off to walk the reserve. Cutting a long story [after a long walk] short, eventually I found them. About 6 of them. Swallowtail Swallowtail Swallowtail I photographed this hornet [?] too... Hoverfly?

...plus a large red damselfly... Large Red damselfly

...and a female common blue. Common Blue female

Later I drove down to Weeting Heath NWWT to see the stone curlews wobbling in the heat haze and on to Lakenheath RSPB where I saw marsh harriers and hobbies and a kingfisher [albeit distantly].

Hobby Kingfisher

Further down the reserve I was lucky to see a family of 3 common cranes, including a youngster. Here's one of them.

Common Crane

June 5th: Titchwell & Frampton Marsh

June 5th was a wet day in Norfolk/Lincolnshire. No sign of a red-necked phalarope but quite a few little gulls dancing in the rain.

Little Gull Little Gull

This song thrush was sheltering from a downpour. Song Thrush

Frampton Marsh had mislocated the white-rumped sandpiper.

Lapwings were anxiously looking for something to be afraid of...

Lapwing ...and a little egret was dancing in the rain.... Little Egret Little Egret

...whilst a reed bunting sang his heart out on a nearby branch. Reed Bunting

June 6th: Hale, Cheshire and Martin Mere, Lancashire

Barry and I headed west and I saw lifer 418 - a corncrake along with some grey partridges and a corn bunting or two. We then visited Martin Mere and saw a red-necked phalarope. No photos this trip.

I saw these words on a poster in Southwold during my 3 days in Suffolk/Norfolk. Vivien Greene, estranged wife of the novelist Graham Greene, wrote them:

''Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass. It is about learning to dance in the rain.''

I rather like that. Seems like the ideal mantra for a patient birder.

UK life: 418

UK 2015: 232