There's been lots of comments among birdwatchers this year about reduced numbers of certain species. Swifts, house martins and some of our other summer migrants seem to have arrived late, or not at all in some areas. The reasons are complex, but may be related to poor weather on migration. They do, however, follow on from years of declining populations for many species, as highlighted in the State of Nature report.
Cetti's warblers have almost disappeared from Minsmere due to the Beast from the East, which appears to have also lead to declines in numbers of booming bitterns, bearded tits and woodlarks, though not so severely. Given a good breeding season, these species should hopefully bounce back quickly. Indeed, although monitoring is ongoing, it looks like it could be a good year for nesting bitterns, with several females flying around the reedbed to bring food back to their chicks, so there may be some good news there.
The absence of Cetti's warblers has left the reedbeds strangely quiet this spring. Added to this, there appears to be fewer sedge warblers singing, though reed warblers remain in full voice as they continue to rear broods of hungry chicks. No doubt some of their nests won't contain reed warbler chicks, though, but will instead be filled by a single huge cuckoo chick - especially as cuckoos have bucked the trends and seem to be much more obvious this year - one was singing for most of yesterday afternoon near the sluice.
Another reedbed bird that seems to be more obvious this year is this week's species that i have chosen for you look out for from the 70 species to spot at Minsmere list: the reed bunting. Male reed buntings are very distinctive in spring and summer, with jet black head and throat offset by a white moustachial stripe and white hind collar. The rest of body is rather sparrow-like, with brown and black streaked upperparts and faint black streaks on the grey underparts. However, when they fly, the white outer tail feathers are also distinctive.
Male reed bunting by Jon Evans
As with many songbirds, the females are plainer, and much more sparrow-like, but still have white outer tail feathers (not present in house sparrows). They also have a creamy moustacial stripe and supercilium (eyebrow). Winter plumage males are similar to the females, but with darker heads.
Female reed bunting by Paul Sawer
Reed buntings can be quite easy to find at this time of year, but it helps to learn their relatively indistinct, simple song - more a series of simple notes repeated slowly, rather than jumble of notes associated with sedge or reed warblers. If you hear this song, scan the tops of the reedbed or nearby bushes as the males usually sit prominently when singing. I saw at least three around the Coast Trail yesterday, simply by hearing their song.
There was lots more to see on the Coast Trail yesterday, even without visiting the hides: a gorgeous male stonechat sang from gorse bushes near the sluice; a cuckoo sand incessantly near Lucky Pool (but refused to show itself); a greenshank was on the Konik Field; sand wasps signalled the start of activity along Digger Alley; and hundreds of four-spotted chasers and dozens of Norfolk hawkers dominated an impressive showing of dragons and damsels that also included broad-bodied chaser, black-tailed skimmer, emperor and hairy dragonflies, blue-tailed, common blue and azure damselflies.
Of course, visits to the hides are a must too, with loads to see on the Scrape. It was great to see several chicks with the Mediterranean gulls nesting on East Scrape, while many of the black-headed gull chicks are close to fledging. Kittiwakes continue to gather nesting material on the Scrape, and a beautiful second year little gull commuted between the Scrape, Konik Field and Lucky Pool. The Sandwich terns nesting on East Scrape also have chicks, while a little tern continues to visit South Scrape on a regular basis.
Kittiwakes resting on a rail on East Scrape
Avocets are still nesting, and the black-tailed godwit flock has reached 350 birds. The first southbound spotted redshanks and curlews have been seen on the Scrape this week - a week or so earlier than usual - signalling a very early start to "autumn" wader migration. Conversely, other waders are still passing north on migration, with a stunning summer-plumage grey plover on South Scrape, several knots and a few dunlins and turnstones this week, as week as a few tundrae race ringed plovers. Our resident ringed plovers are nesting on the beach south of the sluice.
Finally, a couple of more unusual sightings over the weekend included a black kite over the car park on Saturday and a glossy ibis at Island Mere on Sunday.