Minsmere - 18/3/2020

 

 

The sheer number of birds at Minsmere is mind boggling, by how many are present in this diverse nature reserve. This amount is really extenuated by the season of Spring, a time when the birds are gearing up for the breeding season. Not only are there thousands of birds on the Scrape, but even within the woodlands, the areas of scrub there are so many birds singing and establishing territories. The birds are making themselves obvious now, after spending the winter slinking away. Having such a diverse amount of high quality habitats makes Minsmere maybe the best reserve in the country for birds and other wildlife.

 

The view from North Hide: across West Scrape towards Sizewell B

 

As you enter the reserve even before you get to the Scrape, you are hit by this wall of sound from the cacophony of thousands of BLACK HEADED  GULLS, as you approach the hides. The birds are newly arrived and are jostling with each other as they set up territories for the breeding season. Its a true wildlife spectacle, with so many birds trying to fit into such a small area, the Scrape, and any birdwatcher coming to Suffolk has to witness it, any nature lover too.

 LAPWING nest in the short grass in front of North Hide

 

Water levels on the Scrape are very high, with a lot of islands covered by water, especially on South Scrape, and to a lesser extent on East Scrape. This has confused many birds. Arriving every year to nest in the same spot, this year they find there's nothing there as their island nesting place is under water. As a result many GULLS are standing knee deep in water wondering where their nesting spot has gone. MED GULLS were back as well, like the black headeds, but quite strikingly different when you get your eye in, a bird that has increased a lot over the years. They don't number in the thousands, with maybe thirty present instead.

 



 A pair of DARTFORD WARBLERS nest in gorse bushes on the beach

 

Breeding WADERS have returned, with the grassy area in front of North Hide a favourite spot for LAPWING to nest. Pairs of OYSTERCATCHER, plenty of AVOCET, REDSHANKS mainly on West Scrape, and a RINGED PLOVER on the beach had all arrived. With the high water levels migrating WADERS weren't particularly obvious, with just a few GODWIT and one TURNSTONE.

 COOT are very territorial, with the deep water on the Scrape, there are more present than normal

 

With the high water levels being detrimental for GULLS and WADERS, nature still finds a balance, more water has led to larger numbers of DUCK, with a good amount of SHOVELLER and GADWALL present. There are more COOT around, as well as more GEESE and SWANS. The Levels, the area of wet grassland south of the Scrape, were still flooded with a decent amount of water, with 15 PINTAIL present amongst the commoner DUCKS.

 



There are thousands of BLACK HEADED GULL on the Scrape as they prepare for the breeding season

 

At ths time of year, there is the twinkling of birds from every tree or bush as birds proclaim their right to their territory to nest in. There were large numbers of all the usual birds. On the beach there were three pairs of STONECHATS amongst the gorse bushes. And where you find STONECHATS you find DARTFORD WARBLERS, with a pair present in bushes just behind East Hide.

Every bush had a CHIFFCHAFF singing from it as new migrants arrive into our country from Europe, this is known as a "fall", where migrants arrive en masse, deposited by some weather system. Likewise every reedside tree burst with the explosive song of the CETTI'S WARBLER, again a fairly new colonist.

 



Any visit to Minsmere in March, wouldn't be complete without hearing the "booming" of a BITTERN. This secretive reedbed bird, for maybe a month, will announce its territory by this loud sound. Its a sound that carries for miles in the quiet air of a nature reserve. This is a rare thing in this country, and is only found where there are huge reedbeds, the home of bitterns, which is not a common habitat in this country. When I started out birdwatching this bird was found in only three sites in the country, one of them Minsmere, and while not common now, they are found in many more places due to reedbed creation on many new reserves.

There are good numbers of GADWALL on the Scrape

After the excitement of the Scrape, the reedbeds were a bit of a disappointment. Some BEARDED TITS were heard calling from the reed fronds around the Konik Fields, and there were plenty of REED BUNTINGS calling from a suitable perch, the usual birds for Minsmere.
Island Mere held two pairs of GREAT CRESTED GREBE, which indulged in a bit of display, mainly just head shaking, this bird is famous for its elaborate courtship. However there was little else present, MARSH HARRIERS performing food passes, and over the trees in the distance, a flock of THRUSHES several hundred strong flew, reminding us this is still partly winter.

 

MUTE SWAN

 



There was so much birdlife today at Minsmere, it is impossible to see it all in a four hour visit, and also impossible to relate it within a readable blog. Spring is my favourite time of year, as a time of renewal after Winter, but also as a time when there is so much birdlife. Literally anything could turn up as the birds in the world migrate somewhere new for the breeding season and the birds are all singing and making themselves obvious, brightening the soul. Unfortunately at the time of writing there is this virus going about that will restrict our enjoyment of the countryside, just at the wrong time, forcing us to stay inside whilst we need the outdoors oh so much more.