After a lot of work we have re-opened Minsmere as of last Monday 8th June 2020, but it will be a little different for a while. If you haven't already seen the video about the changes we have made you can find it here: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=665074787674502
Thinking of visiting us? To enjoy and help us protect this special place please follow our instructions. If at any point we feel the safety of staff, visitors or wildlife has been compromised we will close the site immediately.
-Stay local, many of our reserves are open across the country so check our website for the latest information and what restrictions apply to facilities or trails. You can find all open reserves here https://bit.ly/3dKmr7a
-Come prepared, bring hand sanitiser with you to use after you touch a gate or surface. Wash your hands frequently.
- No dogs, cycling, fires, BBQs or drones are permitted on the reserve. Do not leave dogs in cars.
- Do bring picnics, make use of our benches and take all litter home with you.
- Do not stay overnight
- Do park considerately, leave a car space between cars to allow social distancing. If the car park is full please return another time. Do not park in passing places or across gates.
- Toilets are cleaned several times a day and open only 9am-5pm. Follow the one-way system for entering and leaving the toilet facilities, only one person or household to use the toilets at one time.
- All hides and other buildings are closed. We have open viewpoints around the reserve where people can watch wildlife and social distance. Our paths are wide but where there are narrower areas please give way and allow people to pass safely.
- Enjoy our wildlife but be considerate of it and other visitors - don’t block paths, do be patient and do maintain social distancing.
- Do point out interesting things you see to other visitors, but do not allow others to use your equipment – as tempting as it is to let someone look through your scope you are putting yourself and them at risk.
- The reserve is currently open free of charge. To our members thank you for your support which is vital to run our reserve. If you are not yet a member and enjoy your visit, consider joining on our website https://bit.ly/30mEkF0
- If you have any concerns or questions, please comment below or email us minsmere@rspb.org.uk
Recent sightings 10/6/20
The scrape is busy with breeding birds currently, both Avocet and Black-headed Gull chicks can both be seen already, and the hundreds of Common and Sandwich Terns breeding this year shouldn’t be too far behind. The scrape has also been hosting some non-breeding migrant birds, with 1-6 Little Gulls seen most days in the past week, and a smattering of Black Tern sightings too. Knot, Sanderling, Dunlin, Turnstone and Black-tailed Godwits have all been present in varying numbers.
Elsewhere in the wetlands; Lapwing can be seen with chicks on the Konik field, Marsh Harriers and Bitterns are both carrying out feeding flights over the reedbed, whilst up to 10 Hobbies hawk insects overhead and Cuckoos continue to call in the background.
Up on the heath Nightjars can be heard churring and wing-clapping in the evenings, and Nightingales can still be heard singing around the Sawmills bridleway. Several groups of Common Crossbills have also been sighted in the past week, including calling flocks flying over Whin Hill and Vault/Saunder’s Hill bridleway.
The past week has been great for Mammal sightings too: With a showy Otter feeding in the new cut, Water Vole and Water Shrew along the sluice trail, Stoats with kits, Red Deer with fawns and plenty of Foxes finding food for their cubs.
Green Hairstreaks, Grayling, Common Blue, Small Copper, and Large Skipper butterflies can be seen in the dunes, and both Brown Argus and Silver-Studded Blues are emerging up on the heath.
Norfolk Hawker, Four-spotted Chaser, Broad-Bodied Chaser, Emperor and Hairy Dragonflies are all currently on the wing, with single sightings of both Ruddy and Red-veined Darters in the past couple of weeks. The sluice trail is a great place to look out for Damselflies at the moment, species such as Large Red, Red-eyed, Variable, Azure, Common Blue and Blue-tailed.