Minsmere

As I was about to start writing this week's update the radio crackled into life and Peter announced that he had refound the White-rumped Sandpiper. This was something of a surprise, as this scarce visitor from across the Atlantic hadn't been seen for more than a week. Where had it been in the meantime? On a local estuary? Out on the South Levels? Or perhaps simply hiding in plain site on the Scrape, overlooked as a Dunlin…

Before I get the spelling police contacting me, the spelling in the title is deliberate, because one of the more unexpected sightings this week was of a Little Auk.

Little Auks are one of the world’s commonest seabirds, breeding in vast colonies on cliffs around the edge of the Arctic ice, but they’re quite scarce birds in the UK.

As the name suggests, they are tiny birds, being barely half the size of that…

As we move into December thoughts usually turn to planning for Christmas. For birdwatchers it's always a little different. Some will be looking to add one or two more birds to their final year list for this year. Others will be thinking about where to visit in the first few days of January in order to start next year's list off a high. Perhaps they'll even be trying to spot 100 species on New Year's Day.…

After all the excitement of last week's Hoopoe, things have settled down into a more normal late autumn pattern this week. Even the weather has followed that pattern, with dull wet days followed by crystal clear blue skies and morning frosts. Those clear bright days, like yesterday and today, have really shown off the reserve and its wildlife to the best effect, and like many photographers, I was busy with my camera yesterday…

Minsmere has been a migration crossroads this week, with arrivals from North, South, East and West. We expect arrivals from the North and East in winter, while visitors from the West are scarce but not too surprising. However, it was the bird from the South that really stole the show in more ways than one.

It is unusual to have birds from southern Europe visiting Minsmere as late in the year as this - they should by now…

There's always a risk when going on holiday that I'll miss something exciting at Minsmere while I'm away. Unusually, while I was Spain for half term (missing the worst of the flooding, thankfully), there weren't any rare birds spotted at Minsmere, though I did miss a murmuration of about 10 000 Starlings. Sadly, these seem to have dispersed just as quickly as they arrived, but we'll keep you posted if they return. I also…

I may sound like a stuck record at times, but as regular readers will know, I love Island Mere Hide. There is something magical about sitting quietly, scanning the reeds in the hope of spotting some of the amazing wildlife found there. Even a quick visit usually produces something interesting, but allow an hour or two and you are almost certain to be rewarded.

That was certainly my experience on Tuesday when walked around…

Guest Blog by Kathleen Robertshaw, Volunteer Guide

There are times when things just come together in a good way, and this was one of those times. As we gathered at Minsmere for the first of the Sunset Stroll guided walks the weather was good. The skies were clear, the breeze was a merest suggestion, and the light was energising.. After a few introductory words from our guides (Peter and Joe) we headed off to the top of…

I was pleased to find several bird's nests at Minsmere this week. 

That may sound like strange statement to make in mid October. Surely most birds nest in the spring. True, unless you're a pigeon, which can nest in any month of the year. Plus, of course, I wouldn't go actively looking for nests during the breeding season, as that risks disturbing birds at a very sensitive time, although I may sometime come across an…

It seems like everyone I know managed to see the Northern Lights last night - except me! Even though I was driving north for an hour, after giving a talk to the RSPB Ipswich Local Group, the only lights I could see in the sky were stars. I know that they were seen here at Minsmere, as one of our volunteers who lives on the reserve managed to photograph them. Maybe next time. Tonight even?

Anyway, I may have missed one…

What a contrast this week. After a horribly wet, windy start to the week, the last couple of days have brought gorgeous blue skies and pleasantly warm sunshine, making a walk around the reserve much more enjoyable.

One benefit of the wet weather has been t speed up the re-wetting of the Scrape following the completion of the delayed Life on the Edge-funded Scrape Enhancement Project. Our contractors had spent a couple of…

Although wader migration is typically well past its peak by mid September, there's always a surprise just around the corner. Last year it was the discovery of Minsmere's first Buff-breasted Sandpiper for about 40 years that set the pulses racing. While not quite on the same level of rarity value, two of the smallest waders in the world sprung a surprise this week.

First up was a Temminck's Stint that was found…

The last couple of days have brought breezier weather, and a taste of autumn - though it's still remarkably mild when the sun is out. Wind can be both good and bad for birdwatchers.

Bad, because many birds skulk down out of the wind, making it harder to spot birds in woodland and reedbeds. Bad, because it can be harder to walk into the teeth o f a gale, or to hold the camera/binoculars/tripod steady.

Good, if you…

In last week's blog I described some of the beautiful passage migrants that had been seen that day, including Red-backed Shrike, Pied and Spotted Flycatchers and Redstart, and celebrated having been able to spot them all in the Chapel Field.

The very next day, and even rarer migrant was spotted in the nearby Sluice Bushes, where it remained until Monday. A Wryneck. Amazingly, a second bird was spotted along the entrance…

I've talked many times in these blogs about the lists that birdwatchers keep, so regular readers will be know that, like many other birdwatchers, I am always keen to see as many different types of birds in a single year as I can. However, as I don't tend to rush around the country to look for rare birds, most of my birdwatching is restricted to Suffolk - and Minsmere in particular. By the this time of year, I have usually…

There is something really special about the early morning and late evening light at Minsmere, which is why you'll often find our volunteer photographers burning the candle at both ends, and this week they've sent me a selection of their favourite images which perfectly sum up why they get up so early, or stay long after I've gone home. So good, in fact, that I feel that I have to feature a few in this week's blog.…

First, an apology for the lack of recent sightings as a result of me taking a much needed couple of weeks off. Of course, as always happens when I go away, I did miss the excitement of one rare bird dropping in (more on that later), but at least I had been spotting a few scarce birds myself in the southwest.

Without doubt, waders have been the highlights of the last few weeks, with more than 20 different species recorded…

My favourite story as a child was The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame. Forty years on, it's still one of my favourites, though it's a few years now since I last read it. The stars, however, feature heavily in some of my recent sightings around Minsmere.

Of course, the lead character in this fabulous book was Ratty. Despite his name, Ratty was not a rat at all. He was a different rodent, one that is most…

"Watch where you step!" A phrase you might hear on Digger Alley, as concerned visitors and volunteers urge you avoid stepping on a burrow, or worse on an unsuspecting insect.

Fortunately, the Beewolves, Green-eyed Flower-bees, Pantaloon Bees and other residents of Digger Alley are a resilient bunch. Being small, it's rare for us to squish them, even with my big feet. They're well used to re-excavating their…

It's certainly been all go at the pond again this week. Admittedly it's better when the sun shines,. but even on a cloudy day there's plenty of wildlife to spot just a short walk from the visitor centre.

Pick of the bunch for many are the Water Voles. Up to four have been seen again this week, with two noticeably smaller ones that we assume are youngsters from earlier in the year. Last autumn we had three…

The pond has certainly been a popular place for visitors to pause at the start of their visit to Minsmere this week - and often to return to later for a second look - with a great variety of wildlife often on view.

The star attractions here are, undoubtedly, Ratty and friends - our resident family of Water Voles. As we've been seeing two distinctly sixes of voles, it appears that we once again have a family at the pond…

Minsmere's pioneering warden, Bert Axell, famous said that were only three seasons in nature: winter, spring and autumn. Despite the gorgeous sunny weather this week, bringing us a welcome feeling that summer is finally here, I tend to agree with Bert when it comes to birding. No sooner had the last northbound migrants passed through in mid June, the first southbound birds were already returning to our shores.

In…

After the changeable weather of the last few weeks, it's been lovely to enjoy a week of mainly sunny days. The wildlife certainly has a more summery feel too, with good numbers of Meadow Brown and Small Heath butterflies dancing across the grasslands, swarms of Common Blue Damselflies zipping around the pond, and larger Four-spotted Chaser and Norfolk Hawker dragonflies patrolling the pond margins. Some visitors have…

Some roses, of course, are red, but the wild roses that are blooming in proliferation in scrubby areas around Minsmere are shades of pink or white, depending on species. Along with the white flowers of Brambles, they are providing many important nectar sources for our butterflies and bees, especially in the North Bushes and around the Bittern Hide area.

Mid June is a superb time to look for flowers, and I don't think…