Flaming June roared in with an Easterly wind which made it feel more like Autumn than the first day of meteorological summer as 12 hardy members set out to explore Minsmere.

The group's perseverance was rewarded with a myriad of sightings most of which were what we all expected to see but in amongst the 100s of Avocet, many of which were sitting on eggs, flocks of Shelduck, some pairs with flotillas of ducklings, there were Barnacle Geese (Branta leucopsis), one of what is known as the three black geese.

The sighting was a first at Minsmere for many of the group.

At this time of the year the great attraction at Minsmere are the Bittern (Botaurus stellaris) with its mottled buff plumage streaked and barred with dark brown and black.

Their famous boom is described as a cross between a lowing cow and a distant foghorn.

The birds are confined to the reedbeds of the reserve and are very secretive although most of the group were fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of a Bittern in flight.

Whilst waiting for the Bittern to make an appearance the smallest of the Raptors, a Hobby (Falco subbuteo), with its slate grey back, white breast and underparts streaked with black, a black moustache and red thighs obligingly decided to sit in an adjacent tree affording the group a closeup of this beautiful bird.