Lakenheath RSPB and Weeting Heath

A leisurely morning checking moths before a drive to Lakenheath RSPB reserve on the Norfolk border. Very overcast and consequently terrible light for photographs. Most birds were just too far away for a worthwhile shot, which is a shame as I saw some good birds.
Sedge and reed warblers were both in good voice all over the reserve with several showing well, but even close the light was poor.

reed warbler

sedge warbler

I wandered along the riverbank to the hide overlooking the main reedbed. On the river and lake beyond were great crested grebes, a few common terns, coots, mallards and mute swans. A duck flew past, a garganey and I managed just one shot of it.

garganey

common tern returning to nest with fish

In the far distance I noted 2 common cranes in the field and overhead hobbies were chasing swifts and martins. A few shoveler went by as I came across several species of dragon and damselflies. Plenty of 4 spot chasers that wouldn't pose for a photo whilst these did.

Azure damselfly

female azure damselfly

 Cuckoos were calling all over the reserve, probably at least 5 with a female flying into the poplars where golden oriole are often heard and not seen. However, so far this year, none have arrived at what is usually a good spot for them.
Checking a nettle patch close to the path I encountered this drinker moth caterpillar. This is standard food for the cuckoos.

After a wander around the poplars where willow warblers, chiffchaffs and balckcaps were calling, I had a coffee at the visitors' centre before heading off to Weeting Heath some 4 miles away. Finally, Lakenheath can be very peaceful, but occasionally, certainly not and this morning was one of the noisy sessions as shown here.

from Lakenheath or Mildenhall USAF BASE

Upon arriving at Weeting Heath I headed for the east hide. Plenty of corvids, lapwings and rabbits but no sign of a stone curlew, so round to the west hide, where 4 were showing very distantly. At one point I got a great show of "mantling" from one bird protecting its nest as a stoat made its way across the heath.
This shot was taken but really, too poor for publication, just to show the unpleasant conditions.

stone curlew

I crossed the road for the woodland trail. As I did so, the reported turtle dove flew overhead and was gone before I could focus the camera. I could hear curlews somewhere on the heath as well as more warblers, goldcrest and treecreepers. At the top of Track 49 the forest peters out and there is some heathland. Here, several skylark were in good voice and then 2 woodlark, short tailed and with no white upon the tail, flew past. I hoped they'd land on the fenceposts for a photo but they went straight into the long grass, not to re-emerge. As I walked back down to the carpark 2 shelduck flew south, probably the oddest record I have had at this site.
All in all a worthwhile few hours with the following year listers;
hobby, common crane, turtle dove, stone curlew and woodlark, taking my year list to 157 species. Some way off last year's total at this point but, hopefully, Norfolk next Friday should extend the list considerably.