It's that time of year when woodlands around the UK are filled with the wonderful scent of hyacinth, as carpets of Bluebells burst into bloom, covering the woodland floor in a haze of blue.
Minsmere is no exception, and one of the best places to experience this spectacle is just outside the visitor centre as you enter South Belt.
Bluebell is just one of many species of flower blooming across the reserve, with Yellow Flag emerging in the reedbed, pink mats of Common Stork's-bill on the grasslands and clouds of white Hawthorn in the hedgerows.
All these flowers provide a rich nectar source for butterflies, among which the highlights are Orange Tip, Green Hairstreak, Painted Lady, Small Copper and Holly Blue. The first dragonflies and damselflies have emerged too, including Hairy Dragonfly, Four-spotted Chaser, Azure Damselfly and Large Red Damselfly (photo below by Les Cater).
These insects, in turn, provide food for many of Minsmere's birds. The Sand Martins that are nesting around the pond are perhaps the most obvious beneficiaries, but check the skies above the reedbed carefully and you should spot several Hobbies hawking dragonflies and St Mark's Flies, too.
Other insect eating birds include the many warblers and woodland songbirds that are often best heard rather then seen. The reedbeds are full of the songs of Reed, Sedge and Cetti's Warblers, with a couple of Grasshopper Warblers still being reported along the new boardwalk. In the woods, Blackcaps and Garden Warblers provide a tricky identification challenge as their songs are quite similar. If you are able to see them then the ID is much easier. Whitethroats are best found in scrubby areas, including along the dunes, where you might also spot a few Stonechats (like this one with a juicy caterpillar to feed to its chicks, photo by Paul Roast).
Bitterns continue to show well, at times, from both Bittern and Island Mere Hides, though with the vegetation getting taller by the day they are becoming harder to spot. Water Rails and Stoats are still regularly seen at Bittern Hide, while a pair of Little Grebes are already carrying chicks on their backs in the pool to the right of Island Mere Hide.
Out on the Scrape, the run of rare waders has continued. The Kentish Plover was last reported flying out to see on Sunday morning, then yesterday three tiny Temminck's Stints were discovered on the same part of the Scrape, just in front of East Hide. These really are miniscule waders, as can be seen by Paul Roast's photo with a Ringed Plover for comparison.
Paul also managed to get all three stints in the same photo
Other birds to look out for on the Scrape this week include Avocets, Lapwings, Redshanks, Oystercatchers, Black-tailed Godwits, Dunlins, Common, Sandwich and Little Terns, Kittiwakes, Mediterranean and Common Gulls, and various ducks and feral geese.
Offshore, a female Eider was a bonus for some visitors this week, followed a couple of days later by a Long-tailed Duck. The terns are often fishing offshore, and yesterday saw the installation of a new Kittiwake nesting tower about one kilometre offshore. It may be a late for them to nest there this year, but we're looking forward to good views in years to come.
Finally, a heads up for anyone planning a visit in early June. During the week beginning 5 June we have some essential maintenance work planned which will result in temporary changes to some facilities. On Monday 5 and Tuesday 6 June the toilet block will be closed, with portaloos available in the car park. From Wednesday 7 to Friday 9 June the cafe will have no water supply so will only be serving cold drinks and wrapped snacks.