Great Expectations

 As much as we may try to go through life with an open mind, our expectations always have an impact on our experiences.

Some people come to Minsmere, as they have found out (quite rightly) that it’s a fantastic place to witness some extraordinary wildlife spectacles. Others may visit simply to have a wander around the footpaths, to enjoy the scenery and to perhaps, as a bonus, see ‘some nice birds’.

Winter woodland by Mark Stannard

Either way, I’m always thrilled when the reserve meets - or better still - exceeds expectations.

Most days when I speak to visitors on their return to reception I hear “I saw it! I saw a- (*insert star species: kingfisher!/adder!/bearded tit!).” before the happy customers disappear smugly for a well-deserved cuppa and congratulatory slice of cake.

It’s all relative though, and everyone will have a different view as to what makes for a valid wildlife spectacle.

Starling murmurations, of course are up there (ahem, literally), perhaps watching a pair of marsh harriers passing food, or glimpsing a mother stoat moving her kits across the path.

For many people even seeing their first avocet is a wildlife spectacle. A species we take for granted in this neck of the woods, but not to forget it is after all so elegant that Chris Packham describes it as ‘the Audrey Hepburn’ of birds.

Pair of Avocets by Jon Evans

But it’s always a magical moment when you’ve been loitering in one place for hours to see something in particular, and your patience finally pays off.

For me it was my first bittern flying right across the windows of Island Mere hide – flying so close to the front of the hide I could have reached out and tickled it (I didn’t).

What made the whole experience so much better though was the anticipation. Not to mention the fact that I was helping a group of young wardens conduct a bittern survey, their expectations were rapidly diminishing and they were getting rather cold.

It went something like this:

Arrive at the hide, quick scan around the mere… call dibs on the best seats… oops that stool’s a bit squeaky… how do we work the windows?

10 minutes later

All in position. Map out. Binoculars at the ready… this is exciting.

30 minutes later

Might put the gloves back on actually. Are there any biscuits left? De-mist binoculars. What a nice mute swan…

1 hour later

Is that a marsh harrier or an awkward-looking duck? Hang on… no, wait……. BITTERN!

The ironic thing of course now is that for the last few days at Minsmere, our most ‘elusive’ species has practically been parading in front of visitors at the very same hide for hours on end.

People visiting for the first time will go away with their expectations through the roof!

“Bitterns? Yeah, they’re well easy to spot.”

Bittern on ice by Christine Hall

I do always try not to have any expectations when going out in nature, so then everything is a bonus. But when there’s so much superb wildlife to see here at Minsmere, you can’t help but raise the bar slightly!