With the Western swamphen playing now you see me, now you don't and the last sighting of it being over a week ago (although with Minsmere's vast reedbed it is very likely to still be on site, just hidden) it was an unexpected surprise that today I experienced another first for me at Minsmere, and one I had greatly been looking forward to! I began my afternoon walk from the Visitor Centre and spent a few moments just enjoying the numerous butterflies around the buddleia bushes. There had been reports earlier of a white admiral butterfly and a hummingbird hawkmoth. I stayed there a while just enjoying being so close to them and looking at all their delicate structures and vibrant colours. I left the buddleia bushes when I was sufficiently frustrated with myself and my photography skills and headed to Wildlife Lookout.
The West Scrape was relatively quiet apart from a couple of black-tailed godwits right in front on the hide. I carried on to South Hide and had a hopeful look in the pool behind the hide for the Western Swamphen. I did not see it today and it has not been reported for over a week now, but with such a vast reedbed there is every chance that it is still here, so it was worth a hopeful look. There were ten little egrets on the pool instead and I took a moment to observe them and not take this beautiful bird which has had such a successful recovery for granted.
I went into South Hide and had only been sat down for a few moments before a kingfisher flew past. The first I have seen at Minsmere! There was no mistaking this characteristic bird as it speedily flew past the hide and then met up with another kingfisher before circling and then heading off together. I was a little disappointed that it did not rest for me at a close distance to take a photograph but think I am possibly getting a little spoilt having been at Minsmere for six months now and am actually just delighted that I have seen this handsome little bird.
Kingfisher by Jon Evans
I left the hide and got speaking to some visitors about a possible sighting of an American golden plover from East Hide so I continued my way around the Scrape to see if I could get a picture to show my more learned colleagues. As I walked towards the Sluice I spotted a gannet flying over the Scrape, a pair of whinchats and a stonechat. As I passed The Sluice and went over to the dunes I was greeted by another chat, a female wheatear.
When I got to East Hide I looked firstly for the potential American golden plover. The hide was busy with people all trying to get a good look at this bird. I was kindly offered a scope to look through and saw a very beautiful golden plover which was later confirmed as a European one by one of our wardens. East Scrape was as usual busy with waders such as ruff, 100+ black tailed godwits, eight spotted redshank, 23 dunlin, 20 little gulls and one little stint. I had really enjoyed my walk around the Scrape, especially seeing the kingfishers because it had been a while since I had been for a good walk around the reserve. The reason for my absence around the reserve has been all of the exciting family events I have been running during the summer holidays.
Mini beasts of Suffolk have had many lovely homes built for them this week by many families completing the activity on Monday – Minsmere’s Mini-beasts. Everyone really enjoyed searching for mini-beasts in the woodland area and then the challenge of identifying their finds with the help of RSPB volunteers. Most were surprised by the variety of species that you can find in a relatively small area and lots were impressed with how many they could already identify without having to look at a book. I always think you gain a great sense of satisfaction identifying something and then checking the book to find you were right. Since Monday I have been imagining many tiny little legs exploring and taking up residence in the many homes for mini beasts that were made for our visitors gardens. The homes were made by families out of recycled organ pipes from two churches in London and filled with a mixture of materials. One visitor said after finishing his home “if I was a mini-beast, I’d want to live there!”
Our resident volunteer Emily has made a 5* mini-beast hotel at the edge of the woodland area using some of the organ pipes. With the many different layers, materials and hidy holes I am certain it will be the chosen abode for many of Minsmere’s mini-beasts.
The pond on Tuesday was buzzing with activity. Many people visited Minsmere to enjoy the glorious weather and took a dip in the pond...with a net! Wednesday was Natures Survival skills putting camouflage to the test. I was so impressed with the engagement and effort that the children put into completing the camouflage challenge. The task was to be inspired by some of Minsmere’s masters of camouflage and compete against some of the best we have here like the woodcock to stay hidden in the woods. The children had to make their own camouflage and then use it to hide from their grown-ups in a section of the woodland. The parents were then timed to see how quickly they could find their offspring. The winner of Wednesday’s camouflage challenge was Breya Miller-Smith who actually had to be told to come out after ten minutes had passed! I think she is definitely a match for some of Minsmere’s moths!
Breya Miller-Smith hidden by camouflage!
I am looking forward to the week ahead with owl pellet dissections happening in the Discovery centre on Monday 10 am – 4 pm. I found it fascinating seeing all of the tiny bones come out of the relatively small pellets and ended up dissecting one myself. I am intrigued as to what I will find in mine this week, what will you find in yours?