There's definitely more of a feel of spring about the wildlife at Minsmere this week. Chiffchaffs are being recorded from various parts of the reserve, Mediterranean gull and avocet numbers are increasing, marsh harriers are displaying and bitterns are booming. Daffodils are dancing in the breeze behind the visitor centre, and catkins are dangling from the alder trees. Adders are seen daily, and the first peacock and brimstone butterflies have already been reported.
The mini influx of black redstarts appears to be over, but they were quickly followed by an influx of one our smallest and prettiest birds - the firecrest. At least two of the stunning little birds have been seen around the Rhododendron Tunnel, two in North Bushes, and one in the woods near Bittern Hide, so you could possibly come across them anywhere.
Firecrest by Les Cater
An even more certain sign of spring was the arrival yesterday of the first Sandwich tern on the Scrape, though it hasn't been reported today. There's been no sightings of sand martin for a day or two either, but we're expecting more to arrive any day, along with the first swallows of the year.
Sandwich tern by Jon Evans
Of course, while spring slowly takes had, winter, as always, is slow to relinquish its grip. The whooper swans family appear to have left, having been last reported on Thursday, and the two smew have not been found today, but seven goosanders were at Island Mere today, with two on East Scrape, and a few pintails are still on the Scrape. A jack snipe was still at North Hide yesterday too.
The siskin flock in the Rhododendron Tunnel has attracted several lesser redpolls and, more unusually, a common (or mealy) redpoll. The latter is a scarce visitor from Scandinavia. In fact it's been a good week for finches at Minsmere as I was fortunate enough to spot a flock of seven common crossbills flying over Whin Hill on Thursday.
Hen harriers have been, sadly, noticeable by their absence at Minsmere this winter, so a ringtail (female or immature) hunting over North Marsh on Thursday was unexpected. The unusually pale buzzard remains too, and three others were seen over the car park this morning.
Other visitors on the Scrape this week have included several knots, dunlins, grey plovers, snipe, turnstones and black-tailed godwits. The Eastbridge glossy ibis made a brief visit to the Scrape this afternoon too.
Finally, the starlings were still gathering for their evening murmurations last night. when they arrived from about 5.30 pm. However, remember that the clocks change tonight, so the action won't kick off until after 6.30 pm from tomorrow!
We also had a red kite over the car park yesterday.
Our herring gulls are red listed birds. Think about that the next time you hear some flaming idiot calling for a cull of them.