All's Well That Starts Well!

What a start to June! (seeing birds that I could have finished May with!)
The day began with a dawn start at Hickling. I met AK and at 4.50 am he picked up the Great White Egret at distance, flying north with a Grey Heron. The bird perched for a while then went down in the reed bed. Hobby, Bittern (also booming) and a distant Crane were seen (with a much closer, but brief, Crane encounter later) amongst other birds. Whilst returning via Rush Hills The Egret flew west no more than 20 m away, landing near Swim Coots. A couple of more distant views showed the bird was spending some time on / over the NWT Reserve, so I made my way round and had superb views as it eventually flew over my head and back to Higham Holmes.

A showy but brief Cetti's Warber at Hickling.

Back at the NWT car park news broke of the return of the Pratincole. A long and arduous journey ensued, but the bird didn't show whilst I travelled. On site the wait was interrupted by a call of Montagu's Harrier and a female drifted past. 'There it is,' immediately came and we assumed it was the for the Monties, but there 'it' was, the Black-winged Pratincole! The phrase 'showing well', really is an understatement for this bird as it, literally whizzed above our heads!

You get the picture!

Anyone for Oriental next week? Would be great to get all three!

News of a possible Iberian Chiffchaff was quashed as it was identified as a mix singing Willow Warbler - would have been nice, but not today!

Lovely mixture of other wildlife at Hickling.