In my last blog, written on Saturday, I commented that we had so far not found any yellow-browed warblers, despite the huge national influx. Well, on Sunday, not surprisingly, two yellow-browed warblers turned up. One was seen in the North Bushes, where I had searched the day before, but sadly couldn't be seen on Monday when i returned to Minsmere. The second was seen in bushes about 300 metres south of the sluice, and was reported again on Monday but not since.
A yellow-browed warbler mastering the art of camouflage, as usual. Photo by Jon Evans
I also made another prediction on Saturday that the short-eared owl seen that day may be a precursor to a rough-legged buzzard or hen harrier. Well, that also turned out to be a great prediction as a rough-legged buzzard was also seen on Sunday. It drifted over the Levels, mobbed by one of the resident common buzzards. Another rough-legged buzzard was also spotted over Westleton Heath on Monday, too.
In fact, Westleton Heath has been one of the places to go for the last two days, as a first winter red-backed shrike was found there yesterday. Though very distant, it was a nice bonus for the visitors who were watching the rutting red deer int he same field. Up to 25 stone-curlews have been seen on our deer safaris this week too, and they can sometimes be spotted from the watchpoint on Westleton Heath. The deer safaris are fully booked, but you can see the the deer from this watchpoint. (If you are not familiar with the Westleton Heath area, please report to the Minsmere visitor centre first for directions and we'll issue you with a map - the heath is two miles from the visitor centre but has its own car park.)
Rutting red deer by Jon Evans
The best place to look for migrants at the moment appears to be the start of the North Wall, where we had the summer stone-curlew watchpoint. Although the stonies have moved to the heath, this is a good place to see song thrushes, redwings, fieldfares, robins and blackbirds, and has also hosted a couple of ring ouzels in recent days. Other species seen from here include meadow pipits, snipe, curlews, lapwings and sparrowhawk, plus a few red deer (including an impressive 14-point stag yesterday). The nearby North Bushes still have a few chiffchaffs and blackcaps, as well as bullfinches, goldfinches, goldcrests and long-tailed tits.
Goldcrest by Jon Evans
Our reedbed wildlife is becoming more showy again following the usual post-breeding lull. Bearded tits were posing for photos throughout the reedbed yesterday, but have become more flighty again today with the increase in windspeed. There have been several otters sightings per day at Island Mere this week, as well as a few from the North Wall. Bitterns and water rails may sometimes be seen too.
Island Mere was looking pretty spectacular at lunchtime today, with 33 mute swans, 100 greylag geese and 15 cormorants, as well as a great crested grebe, three little grebes, one teal, four shovelers and two coots. The black swan remains too, and can be quite aggressive towards the mutes. It's quite vocal too, with a call similar to a Bewick's swan - though we don't expect to see the Bewick's until the end of the month.
The increase in windspeed has encouraged more seawatching today, and John Grant was lucky enough to spot a Balearic shearwater, one of Europe's most threatened birds, flying north this morning. A Sabine's gull was reported flying north past nearby Thorpeness too. Two male eiders were also spotted today.
What will you spot on your next visit?