One for joy

In last week's blog I raised the question about whether we set for a waxwing winter. The jury is still out on that, although a few more flocks are starting to appear in parts of northern England, and the current northerly airflow could see more arrive over the next few days. However, I was partly right, as following last week's brief sighting, one lucky visitor was in the right place to photograph one of these enigmatic birds in the North Bushes yesterday. Unfortunately it had gone by the time I, and several colleagues, had arrived. However, this afternoon our luck changed as Robin, our Site Manager, managed to find another (or probably the same) waxwing in the North Bushes. Better still, it hung around just long enough for Nick, Alex and I to get there and enjoy brief views of the waxwing before it departed to the north.

Waxwing by Jon Evans

Waxwings are special birds, much sought after by serious birdwatchers and beginners alike. Part of their appeal is their beauty: starling-sized with a long crest, they are a gorgeous pinkish-brown colour with black wings tipped with yellow, a yellow tail tip and black mask. They get their name from the waxy red tips to the tertial feathers in their wing. They also have a pretty bell-like call. They are especially sought after because in most years they are rare visitors from Scandinavia, but when the berry crop fails in Scandinavia hundreds, or even thousands, will migrate south. In such years, many will arrive in the UK. What's more, their diet is almost entirely berries and fruits in winter, so they are readily drawn to parks, gardens and even urban car parks and shopping centres, making waxwings one of the few scarce birds that even the casual birdwatcher has a chance of finding. Will you be lucky this winter?

The waxwing has certainly not been the only scarce bird seen at Minsmere this week. One of our regular visitors had a particularly successful day yesterday when he watched a ringtail (female or juvenile) hen harrier cruising above the reedbed and a firecrest among a flock of tits and goldcrests near Bittern Hide. Not only that, but he also saw kingfisher, water rail and three otters from Bittern Hide! 

Ringtail hen harrier by Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)

In fact, there were several sightings of the otter family at Bittern Hide yesterday, and they do appear to be becoming a bit more regular. After a couple of years with very few sightings, will they start to put on a show again, like our bitterns often do? December and January always used to be the best time to see otters, so a visit over the next few may prove productive.

Otter by Steve Everett

Unfortunately, if you haven't been to see our starling murmuration yet this year, you may be too late. Very few were seen last night, and from reports we're getting it appears they might have relocated to Dingle Marshes. However, we are still seeing up to 25 marsh harriers coming to roost, mostly in front of Bittern Hide, so a late afternoon visit is certainly still worthwhile.

Elsewhere in the reedbed, great egrets seem have become more elusive, and although not yet showy, bitterns are still being seen every day. There were two whooper swans at Island Mere today, alongside the resident mute swans, as well as three female goldeneyes, about eight tufted ducks, a couple of little grebes, at least one snipe and a singing Cetti's warbler. Bearded tits seem to be best around South Hide and along the North Wall at the moment.

The Scrape is dominated by seven species of ducks and seven species of gulls, the latter including both yellow-legged and Caspian gulls. One or two dunlins and turnstones remain, and avocets are fluctuating between five (yesterday) and none in the frost today. Other birds seen on the Scrape this week include goosander, redshank, two greenshanks (very unusual in winter) and a little gull that flew out to sea on Monday.

There has been much more than just the waxwing in North Bushes, too. Bullfinches have been particular popular, and there are several redwings and song thrushes gorging on the hawthorn berries alongside blackbirds, robins and chaffinches. Many of these will be migrants from the continent.

Song thrush

In all areas of woodland and scrub you may come across mixed flocks, which as well as containing long-tailed, coal, marsh, blue and great tits may also include goldcrests, treecreepers or a wintering chiffchaff or firecrest. Flocks of siskins may be feeding in the tops of alder trees, often joining with goldfinches. Jays are quite visible now that the leaves have fallen, too. Meanwhile nuthatches and great spotted woodpeckers continue to visit the feeders at the visitor centre most days.

Finally, if you are planning a visit tomorrow (Friday 9 December), please note that East Hide will be closed all day for the official opening of the new boardwalk and hide extension, and we'll be closing the cafe earlier than usual, at 2 pm. All other facilities remain open as usual.