This afternoon I had the pleasure of going for a 4x4 safari with one of our experienced guides and the rest of the Visitor Experience team. The outing had been planned as part of my induction into my new role at Minsmere and also to help familiarise myself with the wider reserve. I was simply amazed by how far the Minsmere reserve stretches (around 1000ha) and overwhelmed by its natural beauty. As we drove over a steep hill and looked down a large expanse covered in heather we remarked about how we could be driving over the top of a hill looking down at a scene in the Scottish highlands.
The bright, clear weather allowed us excellent conditions for observing the wildlife and it didn’t fail to disappoint. In the way of birdlife we saw several red-legged partridges, flocks of field fares, a woodlark and two buzzards. It was lovely seeing the buzzards soaring in the sky nearby to where they nested last year as yesterday was national buzzard day!
Photograph by Jon Evans (rspb-images.com)
On our safari we were privileged to see a clearing in the woodlands with a herd of the largest land mammal in the UK; the red deer. We stopped the car and took a closer look. They were brilliantly camouflaged and what appeared to be tree stumps or parts of the undergrowth were on closer inspection actually the heads of some of the hind deer lying down. We counted the herd to be 80+ in number overall. Just around the corner from this large herd appearing from behind a large patch of flowering gorse we saw a smaller group of about 12 stags. One in particular had a very impressive pair of antlers which he will shortly be shedding in the next few months as his testosterone levels fall.
As well as seeing some fantastic wildlife on our safari it was great to hear about some of the history of the reserve and the reason behind some of the interesting shapes which make up the landscape. The breeding sites of particular species were also pointed out to me as we went around and I found it particularly interesting to see some of the areas of the reserve which have been cultivated in preparation to welcome the stone curlews back and provide them with an ideal breeding ground on their return. We look forward to seeing you soon!