First big beetle of the year!

We visited Minsmere RSPB Reserve, http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/m/minsmere/index.asp, as a family on Saturday 5th January. Again, Eleanor was filming. She managed to capture footage of a very tame Muntjac in the picnic area. It took lettuce from our hands while we were eating. She also filmed a male Stonechat and views from the hides.

Walking through the woods, we were looking under logs and found a Devil's Coach Horse, Ocypus olens. Eleanor filmed this running around the ground.

Tom became an expert at finding Goldcrests amongst the Tit flocks, but we did not see the Firecrest that was supposed to be about. Sophie and Tom borrowed some RSPB rucksacks with binoculars in. They were much better than their own binoculars and both of them were observing the birds well. They have both decided Lapwings are one of their favourite birds.

North Warren RSPB reserve

Visited North Warren http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/n/northwarren/index.asp, near Aldeburgh, Suffolk on New Year's Day. My daughter, Eleanor had her new camcorder to practise for her future career in wildlife filming (!)

Despite the cold, a fair amount was about to be immortalised on film. There were a couple of Barnacle Geese amongst the White-fronted Geese. North Warren is one of my favourite RSPB reserves and has a good variety of habitats. I hope to return in the summer for the insects.

We walked further than we anticipated - into Aldeburgh for a chip lunch, followed by ice cream.