Spring has sprung (if only briefly)

The last few days have seen a very welcome early arrival of spring, with beautiful blue skies, bright sunshine and unseasonally mild temperatures. It looks like the mild weather is set to continue for a few more days at least - we're just hoping that the bitterly cold weather we experienced at the end of February last year doesn't return.

With such mild weather, it will not be a surprise to hear reports of the first booming bittern or basking adder of the year over the weekend. There have already been many reports of singing Cetti's warblers, blackbirds, chaffinches and reed buntings around the reserve, as well as Dartford warblers in the dunes and both Dartford warblers and woodlarks on Westleton Heath. There's also flowering snowdrops at the car park entrance, daffodils behind the visitor centre, and hazel catkins dangling from twigs throughout the woods.

Great spotted woodpeckers are drumming, and I've heard the first whinnying calls of little grebes from the reedbed pools as they begin their courtship. Several pairs of marsh harriers are actively skydancing above the reeds, and buzzards are displaying over the woods.

On the Scrape, there is increased courtship activity, especially among the ducks. Traditionally ducks begin pairing up on Valentine's Day, but they definitely started well before that this year. Lapwings, too, have begun to show some courtship behaviour, while Canada geese are also starting to noisily claim their territories. The first few oystercatchers and ringed plovers are beginning to appear on the Scrape, and black-tailed godwit numbers have increased to 40 today. We've had a couple of avocets on the Scrape all winter, but it won't be long before they, too, return to their breeding islands, along with the black-headed gulls.

Lapwing & teal by Clare Carter

Of course, there are still many winter residents around too. The redhead smew has been seen on the Scrape today, for the first time since Monday, and a couple of whooper swans were seen flying towards the North Levels. The large flocks of wigeon, gadwall, teal, mallard, shoveler and shelduck include a couple of pintails, and a party of 14 tufted ducks are commuting between the Scrape and Island Mere. There are still several goosanders moving between the Scrape, Island Mere and Thorpeness Meare, too, with an impressive count of 18 earlier in the week.

Goosanders by Jon Evans

One or two lesser redpolls have been seen among the siskin flocks, especially feeding in the alders near to the Rhododendron Tunnel, while up to two firecrests have also been reported in the Rhododendron Tunnel/Canopy Hide area this week. Goldcrests, treecreepers, bullfinches and mixed tit flocks are also seen throughout the woods.

At least one water pipit has been seen at both South Hide and Island Mere, and up to six snipe are usually visible at Island Mere. Water rails and bitterns continue to be seen most days, but both remain typically elusive most of the time. Otters have also been seen most days, sometimes several times a day, with varying sightings of a lone dog otter or a female and two well grown cubs. Our trail cameras have also revealed a new, much younger, family of otters in North Marsh, but they usually remain hidden from view.

Otter by Ian Clarke

One of our volunteers had a fantastic surprise this afternoon when he spotted a badger strolling along the edge of North Marsh in broad daylight - not something you see very often. Muntjac, red deer, grey squirrels, rabbits and stoats are more typically seen mammals. We've also had the first reports of a butterfly over the reserve today, but it wasn't identified to species.

Badger by Christine Hall - it's not often we see them during the day

As many people are asking us about our starlings, it seems sensible to update you here. Unfortunately, the news is negative all round. Not only do we not have a murmuration at Minsmere, but we don't know where they are. We've had no reports from any of the regular Suffolk coast sites for more than a week, so if anyone knows where 50 000 starlings have gone, please let us know!

ACT NOW to help protect Minsmere

Between 4 January and 29 March 2019, EDF Energy is consulting on their plans for Sizewell C nuclear power plant to be built next to the southern edge on Minsmere nature reserve. This development has the potential to cause significant harm to Minsmere's precious habitats and wildlife if EDF fails to ensure their plans keep Minsmere safe. The RSPB is asking people who know and love Minsmere to tell EDF it must be protected from harm. To add your voice to our call for EDF to protect this special place with our quick and simple e-action, visit loveminsmere.org