I've talked many times in these blogs about the lists that birdwatchers keep, so regular readers will be know that, like many other birdwatchers, I am always keen to see as many different types of birds in a single year as I can. However, as I don't tend to rush around the country to look for rare birds, most of my birdwatching is restricted to Suffolk - and Minsmere in particular. By the this time of year, I have usually managed to spot most of the common Suffolk birds, plus a few more unusual visitors, but there are always one or two glaring gaps in the list. Birds that I really should have seen, or rare visitors that showed up when I was elsewhere.
Looking at my list over the last few weeks, three birds stood out from the former category: Whinchat, Pied Flycatcher and Spotted Flycatcher. The first two don't breed locally and are rare spring migrants at Minsmere, but are more regularly seen in the autumn. I'm typically more successful at finding them in the autumn, with August probably accounting for most of my recent sightings. I had been in the wrong place at the wrong time several times last month, including missing a Pied Flycatcher being ringed at a recent Ringing Demonstration, so was beginning to give up hope of spotting either this year. Spotted Flycatcher is an increasingly scarce breeding bird that I had failed to find in any of the former breeding sites that I knew of, but as I regularly seen migrant birds passing through in September, I had higher hopes of finding this species.
In contrast, Red-backed Shrike is an increasingly rare bird that no longer even breeds in the UK, and it's not unusual for me to fail to find one on migration. Yet, I had seen two of these fierce predators during the spring, so when a juvenile was found yesterday, I didn't rush out to look for it.
However, this morning, our volunteer guide, Peter, reported that a Whinchat was feeding just a few metres away from the shrike, before he found a Spotted Flycatcher close by a few minutes later. That was my lunchtime walk decided. The only problem was that they were all around the Chapel Field, close to the ruins of the original Leiston Abbey, which is at least a 20 minute walk each way. Incredibly, just before I set off, a Pied Flycatcher was also reported from the same bushes, so clearly I was going to have to take a long walk.
Full of anticipation, I marched down the Sluice Track - newly repaired following the damage caused by last winter's flooding - to the sluice, then headed inland along the Eastbridge footpath until I reached the Chapel Field. Here, I soon joined three other regular Minsmere birdwatchers who immediately pointed out the Spotted Flycatcher, dashing out from a clump of Silver Birch trees to catch unsuspecting insects before returning to the same perch to scan again. One down, two to go. Better still, it was my 200th species of bird seen in the UK this year!
Spotted Flycatcher by Jon Evans
A couple of minutes later, a lovely juvenile Redstart flitted out of the adjacent bushes, flicking its lovely rufous tail. This is another scarce breeding bird that is often easier to see on migration, and is always a welcome sighting. Turning round to scan the bushes behind me, a couple of Reed Buntings caught the eye, before one of the other birdwatchers located the shrike skulking in the top of a Hawthorn bush. I can't remember the last time that I saw three different Red-backed Shrikes in the UK in the same year (if I ever have!)
I didn't have to wait long for number two, either, as the Pied Flycatcher was soon spotted feeding along the edge of the line of bushes. Incredibly, it perched just a few centimetres from the Spotted Flycatcher! Wow, I'd waited all summer to see a flycatcher then see two species sitting next to each other - just like London Buses! Sadly, they were just out of range for a photo though.
Pied Flycatcher by Steve Everett
Unfortunately, the Whinchat didn't appear before I had to return to the office, but perhaps there's still time as the stormy weather over the last few days has clearly created good conditions for migrant birds to stop and refuel on the Suffolk coast, with several other flycatchers, Whinchats and Wheatears spotted along the coast.
Those same winds also encouraged our regular seawatchers to sit in the dunes and stare for hours through their telescopes in the hop of seeing some interesting seabirds. They were amply rewarded, with sightings this week including four species of shearwater, three types of skua, numerous Gannets and several different terns - until I arrived to join them yesterday!
Of course, many of our migrant birds are much easier to spot, especially the many waders that pause to refuel on the Scrape. Among these, some of the scarcer species include Curlew Sandpiper, Sanderling, Green and Common Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover and Golden Plover. Good numbers of Avocets and Black-tailed Godwits remain, and a flock of 300 Lapwings was the biggest that I've seen so far this autumn.
Golden Plover by Les Cater
Among our resident birds, herons remain prominent around the reserve, with Little Egrets and Grey Herons on the Scrape, a couple of Great Egrets in the reedbed and regular Bittern sightings. Great Crested Grebes and Pochards remain at Island Mere, Marsh Harriers and Red Kites are regularly seen, numerous Stonechats are feeding in the dunes, and flocks of Linnets and Goldfinches can seen in the North Bushes.
The North Bushes is a good place to look for migrant warblers and finches, especially early in the morning, and we have now re-opened our temporary North Bushes Trail to allow you more chances to look for them. (Note: this trail will be closed on Thursdays due to the Bird Ringing Demonstrations.) We have, however, had to keep North Hide locked to reduce disturbance to the Hornets that are nesting in the hide.
Finally, the Water Voles continue to entertain at the pond, various dragonflies and butterflies can be seen, and large numbers of Red Deer are already gathering on the heath ready for the rut to start in a few weeks. Why not book a Minsmere Safari 4x4 tour to see the action for yourself - see www.events.rspb.org.uk/minsmere for details of these and other events at Minsmere.
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