Many visitors have made their way down to Island Mere Hide over the few weeks in the hope of seeing our bitterns. I'm sure that they've not really believed us in reception when we've said that they WILL see a bittern and that it is likely to be close to the hide, yet sure enough, they've returned to the visitor centre an hour or so later with beaming smiles, eager to show us the photos they've taken. We've almost lost count of the times we've heard phrases such as, "the best views I've ever had," or, "you've got them well trained."
Some have also come back with news of even more exciting sightings. Yes, it seems that the bitterns are not the only ones to have discovered the huge roach that have been unsuccessfully seeking refuge in the ditch just in front of the hide. I'm not talking about the regular grey herons, either. No, the easy pickings in this ditch have also been found by our otters!
A family of three otters (mum and two cubs) are the most frequent visitors, but sometimes only one or two of this group will be spotted, while the large dog otter also puts in the occasional appearance. As is often the case with otters, the views may be fleeting, but, with luck, you could be treated to a prolonged performance, as our volunteer guide, Charles, was yesterday afternoon. Some visitors have even seen the otters and bitterns fishing almost alongside each other!
Otters are always present at Minsmere, and can be seen at any time of day, but if you want to maximise your chances of a sighting then I recommend spending at least a couple of hours in Island Mere Hide between mid November and late February. Early mornings are best, with most sightings before 8.30 am, but dusk is also a good time, and I've often been lucky on a lunchtime walk. Island Mere seems to the prime spot, but otters are also seen regularly at Bittern hide, and slightly less frequently at North Marsh or near the sluice.
Minsmere's otters have been well studied for a few years now, thanks to the Suffolk Mammal Group and Minsmere volunteer, David. David collects samples of the otters' spraints (poo), and these are then analysed to determine the otters' diet. The Mammal Group also have several camera traps set up to record the movements of our otters - you can sometimes see clips of this footage on the screen in reception. These camera traps also record a variety of other wildlife that passes along the banks within the reedbed: bitterns, mute swans, water voles, badgers and even buzzards have all triggered the camera.
If you'd like to learn more about Minsmere's otters, then join David and the Suffolk Mammal Group for our Otter tracks and signs guided walks. You'll help to check the camera traps and collect spraint, then hear a presentation about our otters - though we can't guarantee that you'll see an otter. For further details, and to book you place, see https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/myevent?eid=50863609425
There's much more to see at Island Mere, as well as otters and bitterns, with sightings this week including a drake scaup, female pochard, several marsh harriers, a ringtail hen harrier, up to 80 cormorants and occasional bearded tits - though not in today's wind. At least one great white egret continues to roam around the reedbed, too.
A family party of five Bewick's swans arrived on Island Mere yesterday, with a group of eight whooper swans at Bittern Hide, though neither species has been reported yet today. Other wintry birds that were seen yesterday included woodcocks in North Bushes and the Rhododendron Tunnel, a snow bunting in the dunes, two female goldeneyes on East Scrape and a few redwings around the woods.
You'll see that most sightings so far have referred to yesterday or last week. There's a good reason for that, as the awful light, regular showers and gale-force winds have not been conducive to birdwatching today, yet both the bitterns and otters have still been seen regularly.
If ducks and gulls are more your thing than bitterns, then it's certainly worth a walk around the Coast Trail. The flocks of herring and great black-backed gulls are often joined by one or two yellow-legged and Caspian gulls to test even the best birdwatcher's ID skills. A few pintails, upto four avocets, and a dozen or so black-tailed godwits can also be picked out alongside hundreds of teals, wigeons, gadwalls, mallards and shovelers, as well as 35 shelducks.
In the woods and scrub, look out for goldcrests among the flocks of blue, great ,coal, marsh and long-tailed tits, a treecreeper or two, jays, green and great spotted woodpeckers and bullfinches. The latter are best looked for in North Bushes first thing in the morning.
If that hasn't whet your appetite then how about coming along this weekend for a spot of Christmas Shopping at our Festival Fun weekend, or to sample the delights of the cafe.