After the mildest winter on record, it really felt very springlike as I wandered down to Island Mere hide at lunchtime today. With the sun streaming through the open window I could easily have dozed off, but might have woken with a painful sunburn.
On my walk down Whin Hill I could hear a good variety of early birdsong - robins, dunnocks, wrens, chaffinches, great tits and a drumming great spotted woodpecker - signalling the coming of spring.
Once in the hide, it was great to watch marsh harriers indulging in their full switchback sky-dancing display, their high-pitched calls carrying a long distance in the still air.
Marsh harrier by Jon Evans
I had really hoped that one of our regular otters would show itself, but sadly it wasn't to be. They have been showing very well recently, with a family of three cubs and mum seen from the hide on Thursday. This same young family of otters was filmed on a remote camera located in the reedbed as part of the Suffolk Mammal Group's ongoing monitoring of Minsmere's otters.
You can watch this video here and if you are in Island Mere Hide you can check on the latest otter activity by reading the otter logbook. Please add your sightings to this logbook too.
Admittedly I wasn't in the hide for long, which reduced my chances of seeing otters, bitterns and bearded tits, but I was on the lookout for the firecrests that have so far eluded me at the nearby Rhododendron Tunnel. This time luck was on my side. After spotting both goldcrest and coal tit in the alders, as we reached the tunnel a group of birdwatchers had just been watching a firecrest, and within seconds a gorgeous male appeared, flitting among the edge of the rhododendron bushes. A second bird was briefly glimpsed, before at least one of them was relocated within the tunnel itself. It's always a joy to see firecrests, which must be one of the UK's most attractive species (as well as our joint smallest), and they continue to attract a lot of interest from visitors.
Elsewhere on the reserve, three spoonbills have taken up residence on the South Levels - these are presumably the birds that have spent the last few weeks at RSPB North Warren. One or two avocets remain on the Scrape, along with a few ringed plovers, oystercatchers and redshanks, 30+ dunlins and a varying sized flock of black-tailed godwits. The two redhead smews were also both still present yesterday.
Finally, back at Island Mere I took advantage of the sunshine and calm water to take some more photos of reflections. This is probably my favourite one. I think it looks like dragon's claws stretching up out of the water.