On a Roller - Lifer and a Swallowtail

After a great weekend with Rob travelling to Somerset , I thought I would then drive to Norfolk!
After a nervy start, the EUROPEAN ROLLER was spotted high in the trees at Holt, Edgefield in Norfolk.

European Roller

Also a CUCKOO was showing well nearby.

Then a trip to Strumpshaw Fen also produced the goods once the sun came out with two magnificent SWALLOWTAIL  butterflies in the Doctors garden.

Swallowtail

Marsh Harrier at Moor Green

And it looks like its nest building ?

Marsh Harrier in Finchampsted

Twigged up female Marsh Harrier

Austria Trip - lifer!

A work trip to Austria presented a birding opportunity ....

A family of Black Redstarts - right outside my bedroom window!!

I went for a walk into the Donau - Auen National Park and came across a few species...

Feeding time for a black Redstart 

Female Black Redstart

Nuthatch

Middle Spotted Woodpecker

Red Backed Shrike

Rutland Year Tick

As well as a pair of Red-Necked Phalaropes and no less than 4 Osprey at Rutland Water (stopped for a great Italian and a meet up with Jen and Jon on the way back from Lincoln - by the Nature Reserve entrance a pair of TREE SPARROWS were feeding.

Tree sparrows

Chiff Chaff

R-N Phalaropes

Spurn Dip

A 60 mile trip to Sammys Point and Spurn Point before Claire and Andys wedding proved fruitless - the Thrush Nightingale singing away - with a Marsh Warbler adding some of its own notes too. Heard and not seen....