After a last minute change of heart last week, this week it is the turn of the avocet to take the spotlight in our latest look at our 70 species to spot challenge.
Avocets are synonymous with Suffolk, Minsmere and the RSPB, and with good reason. A few weeks after the RSPB signed an agreement to take over management of Minsmere in April 1947, local birdwatchers discovered four pairs of avocets nesting here. This was a hugely significant moment as avocets had been absent as a breeding bird in the UK for 100 years by that point. They bred successfully that year, and returned to breed again at Minsmere again in 1963, after completion of the Scrape, having bred every year since 1947 at nearby RSPB Havergate Island. Avocets have since spread to many other parts of the UK, and are no longer listed as birds of conservation concern. This success is recognised in the selection of avocets as the bird on the RSPB logo.
Avocet by Jon Evans
Avocets are coming back in force onto the Scrape, with at least 40 birds on East Scrape and others elsewhere on the Scrape. It's always a joy to see these elegant black and white waders with their delicate upcurved beak and pale blue-grey legs.
They're not the only black and white birds on the Scrape either, with Mediterranean gulls having now reached counts of 100+, among the black-headed gulls, and several oystercatchers and shelducks. The first Sandwich tern of the year visited last week too.
Mediterranean gulls by Oscar Dewhurst
Other birds on the Scrape this week include two jack snipe at North Hide, several snipe, ringed plovers, redshanks and black-tailed godwits, one or two dunlins, knots and grey plovers, and the usual species of ducks, including a few tufted ducks and pintails.
The two redhead smew were on Island Mere this morning - the first sightings for a couple of days, and a goosander was still there yesterday. Two pochard on Island Mere this afternoon were almost as unusual these days. Another jack snipe was found at Island Mere today too, while booming bitterns and displaying marsh harriers provide additional highlights there.
Nearby, the Rhododendron Tunnel has proved productive, with regular sightings of siskins, lesser redpolls, a single common (or mealy) redpoll, treecreepers, a firecrest, goldcrests and chiffchaffs. Five bramblings were a surprise sighting around the Adder Trail this morning, as they were the first for several weeks, though last March and early April is often a good time to see birds stopping off on route back to the continent. Another firecrest was around the Adder Trail too.
Brambling by Jon Evans
The visitor centre area has produced a few good birds today too, with nuthatch and reed bunting on the feeders and siskins and chiffchaff at the pond. There was also one of several sightings of a brimstone butterfly, adding a welcome touch of yellow to the spring sightings list. A peacock butterfly was seen in the dunes too, while a lone sand martin flew over the North Wall.
Finally, the starlings are still gathering at dusk, but with the change in the clocks, they're not coming in until after 6.30 pm now - well after we've gone home. The best way to check whether they are still here, and keep up to date with other sightings, is to check our Twitter and Facebook pages.