Yes folks - after a couple of months away from Minsmere, our starlings have returned! Since the middle of last week we've had about 10000 starlings roosting in the North Marsh reedbed at dusk. The flock, which usually forms at about 5 pm, is best watched from the North Wall, or even from outside the visitor centre, as they carve patterns through the evening sky. I've been away for a few days so haven't had a chance to see them yet.
We've had some amazing sunsets this week, providing a stunning backdrop for the starling spectacular, including this sunset over Island Mere last night - I'm sure the sky looked just as impressive over the North Wall.
It's been quite exciting watching the night sky this week too, with both Venus and Mars visible, close to each other, in the western sky soon after dusk.
Talking of the night sky, we are joining together with two local astronomical societies to organise two nights of star gazing next month, to coincide with the BBC Star gazing Live broadcasts. Our events will be on the evenings of Friday 20 and Saturday 21 March. On Friday 20 March we are also running an event to watch the total solar eclipse, using special sun watching equipment. For full details of both events,and all other guided walks and family activities this spring, click here, and let's hope for some clear skies.
Of course, the starlings, sunsets, stars and planets are not the only recent sightings of note at Minsmere. Our single redhead smew has finally been joined by a second redhead - numbers of this beautiful duck are down at Minsmere this year, possibly reflecting the relatively mild weather on the near continent where most of them winter. The whooper swans look to have left, and Bewick's swan numbers are rapidly declining though, indicating that winter is beginning to relinquish its grip.
The three spoonbills continue to favour the South Levels, where they've now been resident for two weeks. Let's hope they stay into the spring and perhaps try to nest at RSPB Havergate Island, where we've constructed some special platforms for them (note: all trips to Havergate are full until our spoonbill weekend on 1/2 August.)
Further signs of spring are the increasing numbers of waders visiting the Scrape. Some, like the oystercatchers, redshanks and ringed plovers, may stay to nest. Others are simply passing through on their way further north. Black-tailed godwits have reached double figures this week, and other highlights have included grey plover, turnstone and dunlin. We still only have one avocet so far though.
With birdsong increasing by the day, we're almost counting down the days to the arrival of the first chiffchaff - probably within the next fortnight. Woodlarks are already singing well on Westleton Heath, and the first bittern has been grunting intermittently near Island Mere for a couple of weeks already. Over the next few weeks we expect more to start tuning up - and eventually begin booming properly.
Bittern by Jon Evans
Bitterns continue to be seen every day at Bittern Hide and Island Mere, as do otters, marsh harriers, snipe and kingfishers (most days), while bearded tits can be seen well on some days but remain elusive on others and Cetti's warblers are now in full song but rarely seen (as ever).
Although they are not truly wild, the snowdrops are flowering around the car park entrance, and the first daffodils are now out behind the visitor centre. I expect to see the first blackthorn blossom soon too.
The bird's-nest fungus continues to attract a lot of attention for something so tiny. Every time I walk past the pond there seems to be someone on their hands and knees or lying prostrate on the ground trying to get a photo of this fascinating little fungus.
The other regular sighting last week was nestboxes - more than 200 children made themselves a new box to give nature a home in their own gardens. Some were beautifully painted too, like the one below. We're now planning for our Easter family events.