Pacific Swift or Preplanned Trip to Lakenheath?

Nightingale

Myself and Mike-PCC were going to make a trip to Lakenheath Fen yesterday but after looking at the weather forecast we decided to postpone the visit till today .  So, this morning we left very early at 5:00am, stopping off for a break at Paxton Pits where we managed to find our first sought after bird of the day, a Nightingale, a year tick for myself and a lifer for Mike.  As we walked round the Heron Trail at Paxton Pits, we heard the bird before we saw it and got brief glimpses before relocating it on a tree branch almost above our heads.  We watched it for about 10 -15 minutes singing it;s heart out, a beautiful start to the day.  Of course, with such good views I would have managed some superb shots if I had remembered my SLR, so the pic opposite will have to do (digiscoped with phone through my bins).

As time was marching on, well it was 7:00am, we then made our way to Lakenheath Fen arriving an hour later and walked out to the furthest viewpoint.  From that viewpoint we saw quite a few Marsh Harriers and then on our way back to the Visitor Centre after being very patient, we obtained close views of a Bearded Tit as it flew slowly over the path.  Unfortunately, no sign of any Golden Orioles this year for us.

A five minute drive away and we were soon viewing unparalleled views Stone Curlews.

Stone Curlew

Stone Curlew

Stone Curlew and chick

Stone Curlew

After being bitten alive by little midgies we managed to locate a Spotted Flycatcher, another year tick for Mike, who by this time was just being greedy with all the year tics he was massing.

As it was nearing lunch time, we headed back to Lakenheath Fen and sat looking at some Poplars while eating our sandwiches, hoping for a Golden Oriole to fly past.  We of course did not see any Golden Orioles but did see a Bittern as it flew flew past and also a Hobby who was sitting in a dead tree, being very obliging for digiscoping birders.

Hobby

We did contemplate, twitching the Pacific Swift at Trimley but after doing the maths, decided that we just did not have the time and made our way home instead.