I'm sure many of you are counting down the days this month. Counting down to Christmas (especially if you have children/grandchildren). Counting down the days to the shortest day, after which the nights will finally start to shorten. Counting down the days until you can start counting up again as you start a new list.
Counting is something that many birdwatchers do all the time, either consciously or subconsciously. Perhaps you count the number of different birds that you see in a year, or in your garden. Maybe you help with survey work and count the number of ducks using a wetland each month, or the number of birds breeding in your area.
Hopefully you all take part in the annual RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch at the end of January each year, and submit counts of birds visiting your garden or local park that weekend. Around 700 000 people take part each year, and it couldn't be easier. All you need to do is count your garden birds for one hour. To find out more, and register your interest, please click here.
Goldfinch is one of the species that increased most during almost 45 years of Big Garden Birdwatch
I'm always counting birds, and keep all sorts of lists of those seen: daily, monthly, at Minsmere, in Suffolk, in the UK or even globally. On many of these lists, 2023 has been a record year. Last weekend a Black-throated Diver became the 200th different bird that I've seen in Suffolk this year. That's the first time I've ever hit that target, and that's despite missing a few easier species (Yellow Wagtail, Osprey), and rarely heading out anywhere other than Minsmere or the Beccles and Lowestoft areas. About 180 of those have been seen at Minsmere, while our Site Manager has hit the 200 mark for Minsmere alone this year!
For those who are interested in what birds have been seen in Suffolk, the delivery of the annual report, Suffolk Birds, is always highly anticipated. We've just taken delivery of the latest edition, covering everything avian in Suffolk in 2022. There are features on breeding Spoonbills at RSPB Havergate Island and Common Cranes at RSPB Snape Wetlands, the discovery of an Alpine Accentor at Slaughden, reports of rare birds seen in the county, and a complete list of birds seen in Suffolk last year. This would make a great Christmas present or festive reading for any birders in your family. Why not pop into the shop to buy your copy for just £10.
Our Site Manager was one of the first to pick up a copy of Suffolk Birds 2022
Of course, for those of us that keep lists, there are still a few more weeks left to add a few more species for the year, if we're lucky. Perhaps there's still time for you to visit to spot something new, although it looks like our Long-tailed Duck may have moved off to feed elsewhere. There are, however, several different types of ducks on the Scrape still, including Pochard, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye and Goosander as well as the commoner species. Two Whooper Swans are commuting between the Scrape and Island Mere. Or maybe you'll pick out a Yellow-legged or Caspian Gull from among the hordes of Herring and Great Black-blacked Gulls roosting on the Scrape. With water levels falling (at least until this weekend's rain!), there are even a few waders on the Scrape today: Lapwing, Snipe, Redshank, Turnstone and Black-tailed Godwit.
Snipe
Talking of falling water levels, a reminder that the Sluice Track remains closed to visitors due to the recent flooding and we'll need to wait for several more weeks before South Hide and the Wildlife Lookout are safe for visitors to use. All other paths are now open, though.
In the reedbed, Bitterns and Kingfishers have continued to show well at times, especially at Bittern Hide, and the ringtail Hen Harrier is being seen every day along with up to a dozen Marsh Harriers. Bearded Tits are best seen at Island Mere or along the North Wall, where Cetti's Warblers may also be heard, and there have been several sightings of Otters and Great Egrets this week.
Kingfisher by David Naylor
There was an exciting report of about 30 Waxwings over the North Bushes yesterday, but they didn't stop. That area is also good for Bullfinches, Goldcrests and Treecreepers. Another surprise sighting this morning was a Chiffchaff right in front of East Hide.
Possibly the most colourful bird at Minsmere, and my favourite photo of the week, a Magpie by David Naylor