Twentyone days following the Norfolk coast into Suffolk and back through Cambridgeshire, glorious weather every day never saw a drop of rain temperatures between 18/26 degrees.

Fourteen reserves visited run by RSPB, various County Wildlife Trusts, National Trust, and Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, and plenty of open coast, heath, fens, farmland and woodlands.

156 avian species seen, the following are worth a mention.......

Crane...breeding pairs at two locations with young.

Turtle Dove...three individuals in different locations.

Great Reed Warbler...one showing well in a Cambridgeshire fen.

Cettis Warbler.....not uncommon.

Reed Warbler....many in most reedbeds.

Cuckoo...most reedbeds had several calling birds.

Bearded Tit.....breeding pairs at two locations.

Bittern....several especially at Lakenheath  reserve.

Montagus Harrier...a single at Hickling Broad.

Honey Buzzard.....Single at Dunwich heath.

Little Gull..3/4 at different locations.

Little Tern...one in Cambridgeshire fen.

Dartford Warbler...at least two breeding pair on Dunwich heath.

Whichat....as above.

Black Kite.....single in Suffolk.

Goshawk....two fleeting glimpses in Thetford forest.

Barn Owl...excellent numbers in Suffolk mainly due to breeding box initiatives.

Nightjar...great to see this species doing well on Westleton heath with the help of dedicated volunteers.

Spoonbill...two or three individuals on coastal reserves.

Ruff....two males in full breeding plumage at Cley Marshes.

And the one that got away....Golden Oriel was missed by minutes twice in Cambridgeshire.

Some others of note...

Muntjac Deer....Common.

Chinese water Deer....only one seen.

Sika Deer...several

Water Vole....good to see recovering populations on several protected areas.

Otter....several at different locations especially on managed reserves.

Norfolk Hawker Dragonflies ....first time I have seen this species

Regards Brian.