It was only a few months ago that I was watching and photographing Purple Swamphens in Spain, and here I was watching one at Minsmere RSPB in Suffolk. On one encounter in Spain we were looking down on it from a bridge, closer than this bird but then again this was a Mega 1st for Britain, if accepted, so the excitement was a tad more urgent.
I set off at 3am and arrived at Minsmere for 5am, I immediately set off for the South Hide and the expanse of water behind it where the bird was staying loyal to. On arrival I was greeted by a few birders/photographer and shown the bird in one of their scopes, many thanks for that, and there it was, connected at least!
It stayed at the rear of the stretch for most of the time, the sun slowly illuminating the reeds as it rose in the sky. Now the Swamphens colour shone.
It continued to slowly move it's way around the waters edge, stopping to feed here and there, moving into a inlet it disappeared for some time before popping it's head up closer in front of us. After a brief session in and out of the reeds it once again moved back along the side it had just worked along.
It slowly moved closer and shone like a good un' when the sun was on it.
Looking through the vegetation I was happy to get a shot of the bird considering the size of the gap the camera was looking through.
A fly by of a Bittern was a welcome addition.
The Swamphen then moved back along the farthest edge again and seemed settled, despite the odd flight cutting off the corners of the reed beds. I left after 4 hours pleased of the views I had gotten, and a couple of shots in the bag too. Great stuff.