New Year, New List

Happy New Year.

As I've mentioned before in these blogs, I'm one of those birdwatchers who likes to keep lists. In particular, I like to record how many different birds I see in a year. Therefore, in the first few weeks of the year I get just as excited by our commonest birds as some of the more unusual ones - not that I'd ever say that I see any bird without getting excited! Even a Chaffinch or Blue Tit counts the same as a rarity, of course.

Therefore, on my return to work on Tuesday I made sure that I got out for a walk to scan across the Scrape - despite yet more rain - so that I could add our regular ducks to the fledgling year list. Within a couple of minutes I had quickly added birds such as Lapwing, Snipe, Shelduck, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Shoveler, Pintail and Little Egret. Then, with the rain easing in the afternoon I enjoyed great views of a Sparrowhawk circling over the reedbed with 20 Marsh Harriers as I sat in an otherwise empty Bittern Hide. 

A Sparrowhawk in the reedbed by Mark Dawson

Working in the visitor centre over the next two days, I paid a bit more attention to the feeders than is often the case so that I could add Marsh Tit, Coal Tit and Nuthatch, though the Great Spotted Woodpeckers have so far eluded me. On a quick walk on Wednesday I also managed good views of the first really exciting bird of the year as a lovely Firecrest flitted around the Holm Oak at the end of Digger Alley. This beautiful little bird seems to favour that evergreen tree, yet had eluded me this winter until that point. The North Bushes area is also a good place to spot Bullfinches, especially early in the year.

Firecrest by Steve Everett

On today's walk to the sluice and back, I was pleased to add several more of Minsmere's amazing birds to my year list, starting with a couple of species that are often known as LBJs, or Little Brown Jobs, because they can be tricky for beginners to identify. A lovely female Reed Bunting lived up to its name as flitted around the edge of the reedbed, several similarly streaky Meadow Pipits flew up from my feet along the North Wall, and a female Stonechat perched in Bramble bush.

Female Reed Bunting

Offshore, a couple of Red-throated Divers flew love over the sea, and I watched two female Eider land on the sea, only to disappear in the swell. Unfortunately, I couldn't find the tiny Slavonian Grebe that one of our guides, Peter, had seen during the morning - that's a really scarce bird at Minsmere so was a very good early addition to the reserve year list.

A Great Egret and Grey Heron both flew over the reedbed and it was lovely to see a drake Goldeneye as well as several females on the Scrape, plus six Tufted Ducks and six Goosanders. The two Whooper Swans also remain around the Scrape. I failed to see the small flock of Avocets that Peter found, but that's not too much of a worry as there will be lots of these elegant waders on the Scrape during the spring.

The ringtail Hen Harrier continues to be seen regularly around Bittern Hide and Island Mere - though not by me yet this year - as do Otter, Kingfisher, Bearded Tit and Cetti's Warbler, while in the woods you might spot Treecreeper, Goldcrest, Siskin or Green Woodpecker, plus Muntjac, Red Deer or even a Stoat. 

Hen Harrier by David Naylor

Another rare visitor that was spotted by just one or two lucky visitors this week was a Glaucous Gull - a visitor from the edge of the Arctic - that was photographed on the Levels.

Finally, you won't be surprised to hear that the Sluice Track remains closed due to flooding, with no access to South Hide or Wildlife Lookout. Waterproof shoes are recommended to access Island Mere Hide, but all other paths remain open. Also, we don't recommend that any visitors arrive via Eastbridge at the moment, due to flooding.

We'd love to hear what exciting wildlife your spotted so far this year.