Just got back for a manic weekend at Minsmere with Adam, Hayley and the boys. After building their new climbing frame on Saturday (rewarded with nice views of white admiral, brown argus and purple hairstreak), I got a few hours on the reserve on Sunday morning.

Despite the lack of recent rain, the scrapes were looking good. 3 spoonbill and a couple of juv med gulls were present but no sign of any roseate terns that had been around. The 'lucky pool' on the south levels had 10 little gull, 3 spotshank and 5 greenshank including a colour-ringed bird. It was also nice to see several broods of lapwing and redshank around the reserve. Scanning the moulting gadwall paid off as the fudge duck was sleeping with them although it is a pretty grotty individual. The highlight however were the bitterns. At least 4 indivuduals were feeding in various places around the mere with at least one doing a couple of flights around the pool. Back in the garden, we had at least 50 crossbills over in small flocks during the morning.