It's been a wild and wet end to 2015 - though rather less wild here in Suffolk than in many other parts of the UK. We hope not too many of you have been affected by the flooding over Christmas. Ironically, given how much rain we've had, Minsmere's paths are actually relatively dry - though there are a few puddles in places.
Most of our birds have been keeping their heads down today as gales sweep across the reserve. Even our volunteer guides have commented on how hard it was to walk into the wind on the beach, so the chances of spotted birds like bearded tits, stonechats and even bitterns today are much reduced.
The sea was a bit stormy today. Photo by Ian Barthorpe
In such conditions, it's not surprising that there were lots of birds on the move offshore, including a red-breasted merganser, several brent geese, and flocks of our commoner ducks (two goldeneyes moved south yesterday). With waves rolling across East Scrape's exposed water many of the gadwalls, teals, wigeons and shovelers have relocated to the relative shelter of the Levels, where they are harder to spot. No doubt they'll all be back on the Scrape when the wind subsides. There were a couple of pairs of pintails on East Scrape this morning though.
One species that has been happy to shelter on the Scrape is lapwing, with an impressive 450 counted on South Scrape this morning, alongside two redshanks, three dunlins and a couple of ringed plovers. A knot was present yesterday too. The black-tailed godwits have preferred West Scrape today. A golden plover was a bonus on Monday too.
Yesterday's visitors were treated to a nice flock of 14 Bewick's swans on East Scrape. They have been missing of late, presumably feeding in nearby fields, so it was good to see them return. They haven't been reported so far today though.
Geese have been in short supply this winter, even at their favoured winter site at RSPB North Warren, so it was a nice bonus for one of our guides when two white-fronted geese flew south this morning. They're probably now with the small flock at North Warren.
An adult European white-fronted goose at North Warren by Jon Evans
The gull flock continues to attract by Caspian and yellow-legged gulls, but the glaucous gull seems to have moved to the south of the county - at least for the moment. Perhaps easy to pick out are the common gulls among the flock.
Elsewhere, bitterns, otters and kingfishers continue to be reported regularly from Island Mere and Bittern Hide, though not in today's wind. A short-eared owl flew over the reedbed between Wildlife Lookout and South Hide yesterday, and stonechats are usually present in the dunes.
There's always lots of interest in roosting starlings at this time of year, but unfortunately they're not gathering at Minsmere. We're not certain where they are any large murmurations on the Suffolk coast, with the most recent reports being of birds at Hen Reedbed and Dingle Marshes, though we don't know how many or even if they are still there. Small flocks are roosting in Lowestoft, Felixstowe and Woodbridge too. If you find any sizeable roosts, plus let us know by emailling minsmere@rspb.org.uk or posting on the RSPBSuffolk Facebook page.
All that's let for me to say is have a happy, nature filled New Year. We look forward to seeing you again soon.