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 old nest once the leaves start to drop from the trees.
But this birds nest is special. In fact, it's tiny, measuring just less than five millimetres across. So tiny that it couldn't possibly be made by a bird. Yet it is perfectly formed and contains several tiny white eggs. Perhaps those eggs were laid by an insect.
In fact, this particular nest has not be made any animal, and the eggs have not been laid either. It is actually a type of fungus, and the eggs are the spores, as you can see in Davene Everett's photo (above). When it rains, these spores may be bounced out of the nest, allowing the fungus to establish nearby.
There are actually three different types of bird's-nest fungus that have been found at Minsmere. This one, known as Common Bird's-nest Fungus, is easily seen along the pond boardwalk and on the steps up to the cafe terrace. Field Bird's-nest Fungus and Fluted Bird's-nest Fungus both take a bit more finding, but are worth the effort.
Luckily, some of our fungi are much easier to see, such as Fly Agaric - the familiar red-and-white toadstool of fairy tales - and dinner-plate sized Parasol mushrooms. The latter are common in grasslands and woodland edge at Minsmere, with lots present on the lower part of Whin Hill at the moment - photo, below, by Davene Everett.
If you want to learn more about Minsmere's fungi, why not book onto a Fabulous Fungi guided walk with our fungi expert, David. We have a few places left tomorrow, and he's leading another walk during half term on Wednesday 30 October. To reserve your places, please click here.
Speaking of half term, it's the perfect time to bring the family to Minsmere and join in with our spooky themed activities, including Owl Pellet Dissection, Bat Box Making, Spooky Story Time and Spooky Crafts. You can find full details of these events, plus our varied guided walk programme, here.
You'll also be guaranteed to see some beautiful wildlife if you visit us at the moment. The ducks on the Scrape are now looking superb, with large flocks of Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard, Shoveler and Shelduck, joined by several Pintails - photo, below, by Steve Everett. A handful of juvenile Egyptian Geese remain alongside the large flocks of Greylag, Canada and Barnacle Geese, while several big flocks of Dark-bellied Brent Geese have been passing south offshore.
Bearded Tits are showing well in several places around the reedbed, especially along the North Wall and at Island Mere, while Bitterns, Great Egrets and Marsh Harriers should be seen with a bit of patience. A few Hobbies remain, and Water Rails can be heard squealing from deep within the reeds. With a lot of luck you may even spot a Water Rail, or perhaps an Otter.
Water Voles continue to show well at the pond, and the Red Deer rut continues, with stags bellowing on the heath and in the reedbed.
Among smaller birds, highlights this week have included Siskins in the woods, a couple of Bramblings around the car park, Stonechats and Meadow Pipits in the dunes, and a Firecrest in the Sluice Bushes. Our guides also counted about 2000 Starlings at dusk a couple of days ago, so we'll be keeping our eyes open for any big murmurations over the coming weeks.
Female Stonechat by David Naylor