What a strange spring its been. Each day brought a swirl of every weather type possible, a strange concoction of rain wind and cloud, but seldom sun. This unpredictable weather is really having a massively negative effect on our wildlife. Due to the barren April, dry cold weather resulted in vegetation stopping growing, the trees went to leaf late, and for insect populations to emerge later than normal. This resulted in confusion to those higher up the food chain, such as the birds, with their food supply being less regular, and for summer visitors to arrive to autumn temperatures.
And then in May it rained and rained. Days were cold for this time of year more akin to October. Could this be the result of climate change a man made folly pointlessly making what was reliable now less so. Certainly it was felt today at Minsmere. With the dry spell in April, when the birds started nesting there was a plethora of nesting space. But with the inundation in May the usually huge colony of birds that nest here on the Scrape have found their nesting sites flooded by water caused by the constant rain. The birds have reattempted nesting but now there are fewer places to nest. What would have been a cacophony of thousands of birds was now a fraction of that number, in the low hundreds. Very few BLACK HEADED GULL and AVOCET were present, and newly returned COMMON TERN had few places to nest.
It didn't help that there was a driving 50 mile per hour storm buffeting the land. Trees swirled in the wind, white horses galloped over the sea and rickety hides groaned in the wind. As a result a lot of birds were keeping their heads down, especially the smaller birds which had less strength when being blown around the place. However despite this making birding difficult, I still managed to see a few birds, it wasn't too bad in the end. At least the rain kept off.
This time of year is good for WADER migration, as thousands of birds make their way up to the high arctic to spend the summer breeding, before returning in the autumn. Although the water levels on the Scrape were very high, waders like mud to feed on, there were still a few birds about. East Scrape had just the one GREENSHANK, but South Scrape held the most, the best being two SANDERLING, supported by 11 DUNLIN, one stunning summer plumaged TURNSTONE, as well as 56 GODWITS and one COMMON SANDPIPER on the various islands.
Despite the low numbers of black heads, there were still a few other species of TERNS and GULLS about. Newly arrived were around 20 LITTLE TERNS on South Scrape, a bird which used to nest on the beach until all the holiday makers disturbed them, and now they try to nest just behind there on the Scrape. Also about on South Scrape were 18 KITTIWAKES, a bird which nests on the offshore platforms at Sizewell Nuclear power stations just down the coast. Because of the decimation of the gull colony, only a few MED GULLS were about, when usually there would be over a hundred.
The usual resident DUCKS were about, mainly SHOVELLER and GADWALL, whilst a whopping four species of GOOSE nested on the Scrape, all of them from artificial origin. Apart from the three commoner species, they were added to by a pair of BAR HEADED GEESE, which had two goslings. This species is naturally found in India and Nepal, and is famous for flying high over Everest, so are a long way from their natural home. They probably descend from some wildfowl collection, but now they're living and breeding in the wild here in Suffolk.
As few smaller birds were raising their heads above the bushes or reed fronds, it was very quiet in that regard. A BEARDED TIT flew over the reeds at North Marsh, and dashed across North Wall before disappearing into the calm of the green reeds below. A pair of STONECHAT were in the usual place, the dune gorse by the Sluice Bushes, but I couldn't get any dartfords. With the wind battering the woodlands few birds were even attempting to sing let alone pose for my binoculars. As if in defiance to this, every now and again whilst walking around the Scrape a male REED BUNTING could on occasion be seen singing from a bush in the reeds, its rather weak song caught and battered in the wind.
Huge numbers of SWIFTS were about with birds constantly flying in from the sea to swell the numbers feeding on the mass of insects over the reedbeds. Also with them were the three hirundines, mainly SAND MARTINS, with a few SWALLOWS and one or two HOUSE MARTINS. Unfortunately no SAND MARTINS were present at the usual site in the old car park, where usually a colony is created, nesting in little holes in the sandy cliff.
Island Mere was quiet with few birds braving the open water. A BITTERN flew high overhead, causing excitement in the hide, as binoculars trained on its brief passage of flight. This time of year is the best to see them as they make regular flights to feed their young and so have to brave the gale force conditions. The same was with the MARSH HARRIERS, with the smaller grey-winged males carrying food to the larger browner females who would rise up from their nest in the reeds to grab the male's food. Three GREAT CRESTED GREBES were nesting on the edge of the water and there was also a few SWANS about.
So a fairly standard day down at Minsmere, but even one of poorer days at Minsmere is better than most other places. It was just a shame the strange weather of spring has messed things up so much. Whether this is a one-off or is something that could become more regular is hard to tell. But one thing, if we keep pumping carbon dioxide into the air, this is something we have to look forward to, and it will have a largely negative effect on out wildlife.
No comments:
Post a Comment