Minsmere - 4/11/2020

Female STONECHAT

With lockdown being enforced upon the country for a second time, the rush was on to get to Minsmere before the reserve was shut down, which it was the next day. I have to say Minsmere is my favourite reserve, and being kept away for Spring and most of Summer felt difficult, as it was for a lot of people kept away from their special place by the first lockdown. I need my birdwatching fix, its a spiritual thing unexplainable in its way, more than just a hobby.

Resting ducks on East Scrape

The reserve was quiet, both for birds and with the still weather there was a hush on the land. There was a quietness from all the bushes and trees, an absence of birds from the land at the moment. It was a lovely sunny day, with the water so still  it was like a mirror, creating reflections of the birds present on the Scrape.

The mild weather in the end proved to be the wrong type for attracting the birds in. In birdwatching, hard weather is needed to push birds in from Europe to the UK, because as difficult as it is to believe, the UK has milder weather than the continent. If the weather is too mild the birds stay in Europe, having to fly less distance from their breeding grounds. If the weather is hard in Europe, the birds flock here. This time of year can feel a bit like a lull, an inbetween time, a time after Autumn migration ends and a time before winter begins.

LAPWINGS on South Scrape

At this time of year the standout birds are the DUCKS, with lots present on the Scrape and other wetland areas. TEAL were present in the largest numbers with decent number of GADWALL, SHOVELLER and WIGEON also present. The males of these species are all very colouful, many bright luminous combinations which really enliven a winter's day.

South of the Scrape the North Levels were flooded but there weren't any ducks present, just a large flock of BARNACLE GEESE. A GREAT WHITE EGRET was seen here, in flight over the flooded grasslands.

Male SHOVELLER, a beautiful mix of colours on its plumage

WADERS are usually only present in small numbers in winter, and today there were only singles of BLACKWIT, SNIPE, TURNSTONE, REDSHANK and CURLEW. The lack of birds of this type is down to high water levels on the Scrape in winter, resulting in there being no mud for them to feed on. If you want to see big numbers of waders, it would be best to view one of the many estuaries on our coast.

The Scrape was given the free reign for KONIK PONIES to graze the area. These are hardy beasts, not caring about wading through the shallow waters of the Scrape. Their grazing provides the best way of maintaining the area for wintering ducks, and eventually next year's waders, keeping the long grass down and creating lots of muddy little habitats with their hooves. Its a lot cheaper as a form of management, and easier than being worked on by man. These animals are very iconic, close to their wild, extinct ancestors as it is as possible to be, and very much  part of the fauna as any bittern or marsh harrier.

KONIK PONIES graze the Scrape

The small birds are always interesting at this time of year, their energy is always delightful compared to the rather static and sleepy waterfowl on the Scrape. In the Stone Curlew Field, the area of acid grassland near North Marsh, there was a flock of 50 GOLDFINCH, which was harried by a SPARROWHAWK. The flock swirled with the hawk, as  the bird attacked, often at times flying after the raptor, so it was difficult to tell who was chasing who. A pair of STONECHAT were in this area, whilst a further three were seen near the Sluice Bushes. There were two DARTFORD WARBLERS, one behind East Hide and one behind the Public Viewpoint, always perched on some bush, present long enough to entice me to get my camera out, but not long enough to stay as soon as I focused on to it. Finally there were a couple of BEARDED TITS in the reeds around the Konik Fields.

WIGEON are most common on South Scrape

For a day out in Minsmere it was fairly quiet, as you can see there was not much to report in this blog. As I finish writing about Minsmere I must end on a sad note. It makes me sad to learn that my most favourite place in the world is soon to be destroyed. With Sizwell C nuclear power station to be built, to the south of Minsmere one of the best nature reserves in Europe will be irreversibly damaged. Unfortunately with the momentum behind it now, it looks very likely to be built. As much as the RSPB gets right, it left it too late to dispute a development that will never be carbon neutral. A development that is not needed, that will cause so much damage is crazy in an enlightened world.