Excitement ran through me and I jumped out of my chair with my binoculars and camera after hearing over the radio that two stone curlews had just been spotted. I was shortly informed that the stone curlews had not returned yet (as February is a little early) but in fact that two curlews had been spotted on the stone curlew field! One of the lessons I have learnt today is that detail is everything!
I started my walk around the reserve a little disheartened but after speaking with some of the guides they enlightened me with the knowledge there had been marsh harriers seen hunting and six song thrushes spotted on the stone curlew field. It was with this that I was a little hopeful that I would see something to blog about on my walk.
When I got to the stone curlew field I could see several song thrushes bobbing about on the grass fairly close to the path. I had just got my camera out to take some photos when the quad bike went past and six of them flew away. I was beginning to think this was not going to be my day!
I persevered and made my way to the East Hide. This was the view from the hide.
The scrape had an eerie feel to it as normally it is a hive of activity with many ducks and waders. I was beginning to think I would not see anything to blog about when I spotted this splendid snipe out of the side of the hide. I spent some time watching the snipe probing around in the mud and I was really struck by the beautiful markings on this tremendous bird.
I returned to the stone curlew field to see if I could see the song thrushes again and get a photo this time and I was lucky enough to see four and this time capture a picture or two. Although the song thrush is a familiar friend to most birders with the decline in numbers in recent years it is always lovely to see them and in larger numbers as well. There may well have been more than this number as song thrushes are amazingly well camouflaged and again are a bird you just can’t help marveling at with their stunning markings.
As I wondered through the woodlands on my way back to the office I was met with this charming sight; a lovely end to my lunchtime stroll.
In my new role as Visitor Experience Officer at Minsmere I am learning things on a daily basis. But today I learnt some really important lessons.
1) Detail is everything
2) A walk around Minsmere is never disappointing!
The markings on a Snipe are beautiful and make them amazingly difficult to see sometimes. OK when they're in the water as your one was today, but your challenge will be to find one in the rough vegetation in front of Island Mere :-)
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