Non-Birder's Blog

It has become a standard joke around the office that I am a non-birder after a magazine article referred to me before Christmas as a ‘non-birding member of staff’. Since then I have tried my best to prove myself as a birder but still feel I fall short in a few areas. Visitors and colleagues around me who I consider to be birders have recently been talking about how many they have on their 2017 year list and what birds they are hoping to see this year that they have not already got. I have not got a list, nor ever had one and have not started making one for this year, so it got me to thinking....what is a birder anyway?

Birding magazine gave the following definitions in a glossary included in one of their 1969 editions.

Birder: The acceptable term used to describe the person who seriously pursues the hobby of birding. May be professional or amateur.

Birding: A hobby in which individuals enjoy the challenge of bird study, listing or other general activities involving bird life.

Looking at those definitions made it no clearer really as I tick some of the boxes but not all. I decided to write a blog by a non-birding birder as I have often read a blog by the Unmumsy mum. I consider myself to be a very mumsy mum, trying to make as much as possible homemade, healthy and fun however there gets a point when you can only do so much and it is refreshing to read a blog by someone who puts things in perspective and makes you feel a whole lot better about yourself. My blog the non-birding birder will hopefully do the same and make you laugh a little, feel a whole lot better about your birding so far this year and make you realise that Minsmere can be thoroughly enjoyed whether you are a birder or not!

With lipsalve applied, new hat, scarf and gloves put on (Christmas presents from my family), extra strong mints placed in my coat pocket and binoculars around my neck, I was ready for my lunchtime walk around Minsmere. I walked down to the Visitor Centre to see what had been sighted this morning and pick up a what’s about sheet from yesterday.

Seven goosanders had been seen at Island Mere again this morning which instantly grabbed my attention as I have never seen one of these. I had tried a few times last week to see them at Island Mere but with no joy. “A ‘real birder’ would persevere” I thought. With that in mind I headed towards the North Bushes! I enjoyed watching a goldfinch for a few moments by the pond side before heading to the North Hide.

As I entered North Hide the skies greyed a little. I kept the windows shut as it was a little chilly even though I knew that that is not what a ‘real birder’ would do. From North Hide I saw wigeon grazing away, gadwall, mallard, shoveler, moorhen, magpie and pheasant. I ventured into the North Bushes in the hope of seeing bullfinch which had also been spotted earlier today. No bullfinches for me but I did see a squirrel with its bottom in the air and a muntjac deer which made me smile.

As I walked along the North Wall it began to rain...time for another extra strong mint! Suddenly something spooked the birds on the Scrape and they took off into the sky creating continuous moving shapes.

The bracing walk with the rain in my face along the wall was worth it. When I got to the beach there was the lowest tide I have ever seen at Minsmere. I walked along the sand a little looking up to the tideline to see if I could spot any snow bunting, my favourite sighting of 2016. No such luck.

The low tide really was incredible and exposed some of the world war two dragon’s teeth tank trap defences on the beach that I had not seen before. Even after a year of regularly walking around Minsmere it amazes me by still producing little surprises now and then like these world war 2 tank defences. I took advantage of this rare opportunity and stopped to take a few pictures.

Offshore there were a few black divers flying past but with only binoculars and a lack of knowledge I was unable to classify them. With that I hurried to East Hide to escape the rain. From East Hide I was treated to two avocets feeding in the rain in front of the hide. They were side by side and perfectly in sync with one another as if they were performing some kind of choreographed dance. There was also a lovely group of teal, shoveler, black-tailed godwits, shelduck and many lapwing.

On East Scrape there were also plenty of gulls to enjoy too including black-headed, herring and lesser black-backed gulls. The reception board had reported six common gulls on the scrape too but I failed to spot them. I headed back out into the rain and made a quick stomp back to the office enjoying another mint and walking as quickly as possible to beat the rain and burn as many calories as I could!

Someone demanded my attention as I hurried along the North Wall and there was no mistaking this bird. The flash of blue making it obvious even for a non-birder! He perched briefly (but not long enough for me to retrieve my camera from under my coat) before doing another flyby and then out of sight.

At the North Wall watch point I paused briefly to see if I could see any Fieldfares as there had been reports in this location in previous days. No luck on the Fieldfares but a lovely lot of blackbird, goldfinch, robin and a song thrush.

So am I a birder yet? Still not sure, but one thing I am definitely sure about is that Minsmere’s natural beauty can be enjoyed whether you are a serious birder, a non-birding birder or whether you just enjoy getting some fresh air in one of Suffolk’s most beautiful settings.

Walk Summary

Bird species seen: 20

Walk Highlights: Kingfisher, low tide and Dragon’s teeth.

Extra Strong Mints eaten: 3

Calories Burned: about the same as my 3 mints!

Enjoyment: lots