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Message: <blockquote data-quote="JWN Andrewes" data-source="post: 3381400" data-attributes="member: 7131">4th April; part IAll set for an early start... except it's raining, and after a long drive yesterday I'll take any excuse for a bit of a lie in and a leisurely breakfast. Still drizzling when we got to Minsmere, where we received what I strongly suspect was duff gen from one of the guys in the centre that an Adder was showing just past Bittern hide, despite the crappy weather. Nothing but a Chiffchaff Singin' in the Rain on that particular foray, but back by the centre the Sand Martin nest bank provided a fine diversion en route to North Hide. Here I got brief views of drake Garganey in flight, but it dropped down out of sight and never emerged for anyone else to enjoy. A Jack Snipe was a little more obliging (eventually), but soon enough it was time to move on; I had a feeling the Garganey might be visible from East Hide. I was right, Garganey was indeed on show, albeit distant and sleeping. Also on show a couple of Med Gulls proved very popular with the eldest (one of his favourite birds)and an adult Yellow-legged Gull was the day's second tick. Caspian Gulls proved considerably more elusive, much to his disappointment; I think it was the thing he was most keen to see, oddly enough. Probably because this is the first chance he's had to tick something the same time as his Old Man (Caspian Gull wasn't invented back when I was a full time spotter so I haven't gotten round to nailing one). After way too much time spent examining Gulls we were tipped off that a Firecrest was working the brambles and willow behind the hide so decided this was a good time to de-hide and start heading back for a coffee. Wasn't long before we were tracking self same Firecrest up and down the path to the hide, while a Cetti's Warber yelled its head off from the undergrowth. I'd told the boys we wouldn't bother even looking for Cetti's Warbler, because you hardly ever saw them, but according to one chap watching the Firecrest one had been showing quite well on that branch just over there....</blockquote>

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