Since the Beast from the East struck in February, a walk around Minsmere has been bereft of one of our most familiar sounds - until now. Where once it was hard to walk more than a few hundred metres without hearing a strident burst of song from our many Cetti's warblers, this spring it was almost impossible to hear one at Minsmere. Then a few weeks ago we began to hear the tentative song of young birds tuning up near island Mere and the Wildlife Lookout. Now, at last, it's possible to hear this distinctive song again in a few parts of the reserve.
My lunchtime walk today, for example, was enlivened by singing Cetti's warblers near the Sluice bushes and at Wildlife Lookout, while one of our volunteers heard one from Bittern Hide - formerly a favoured spot. There were probably as many as five reported singing around the reserve trails this morning.
Unlike most warblers, Cetti's warblers are resident birds in the UK, remaining here throughout the year. They first tentatively colonised the UK from southern Europe in the 1960s, but it wasn't until the last 20 years or so that the population began to increase rapidly, having benefited from our generally milder winters. The long cold snap last winter had a devastating impact on their population at Minsmere - though less so elsewhere in Suffolk - so it's really pleasing to report that a slow recovery looks on the cards.
Cetti's warblers have to be one of the most frustrating songbirds. Their song is so loud and distinctive that it's easy to locate them, but they stubbornly refuse to show themselves, even if only a few metres away. When they do eventually put in an appearance you'll notice a generally reddish-brown colouration, with paler underparts and a pale supercilium (eyebrow). I often think they look quite similar to a wren without the dark streaking, albeit a little larger.
Cetti's warbler by Jim Ashton
Another popular reedbed bird, the bearded tit, has also been easier to see over the last couple of weeks, having been rather elusive during the summer. They, too, were affected by the cold winter, but it looks like they may have had a good breeding season, with family parties popping up throughout the reedbed. The best places to look (and listen) for them are at Island Mere, between Wildlife Lookout and South Hide, around the Konik Field and along the North Wall.
Elsewhere in the reedbed, there are several marsh harriers patrolling for food, regular flight views of bitterns, and the occasional squeal from a water rail. Our wardens cut the reeds at Island Mere yesterday and will be working there again tomorrow, after which it will be easier to look for the reedbed wildlife, including otters, from this hide.
There have also been a few rare visitors spotted int he reedbed this week. The immature drake ferruginous duck continues to feed in its favourite pool behind South Hide, and a great white egret has been spotted on various occasions this week. The most unexpected visitor, though, was a cattle egret that roosted at Island Mere on Monday evening.
Great white egret in North Marsh by Ian Barthorpe
Of course, there are lots of birds to see on the Scrape too. Look carefully among the hundreds of teals, wigeons, gadwalls, mallards and shovelers and you may spot one or two pintails. Many of the ducks are now acquiring their bright plumage again, too. Lapwings, black-tailed godwits and snipe remain the most likely waders to spot, but other species present this week include avocet, sanderling, knot, dunlin, greenshank, green sandpiper, redshank, bar-tailed godwit and curlew.
A walk along the dunes should yield sightings of stonechats and perhaps a meadow pipit or two, but look carefully and you may also spot a Dartford warbler in the gorse north of the sluice. Check offshore too, as our resident seawatchers have reported Arctic skuas, red-breasted mergansers, brent geese and gannets this week.
The continuing sunny weather also means that you should be able to see a few ruddy and common darters, plus perhaps a migrant hawker or willow emerald damselfly, as well as at least half a dozen species of butterflies and a few hornets and bumblebees. There's also more flowers still in bloom than is usual in early October.
Finally, don't forget to call into the red deer viewpoint on Westleton Heath this month as the annual rut is well underway. Please ask at reception for directions.
Red deer by Jon Evans