It's a couple of weeks since my last update, and there have been some notable changes in that time - but lots also remains very similar.
Let's start with the status quo: ducks, ducks and more ducks on the Scrape; flocks of tits and finches on the feeders, siskins in the woods, marsh harriers displaying over the reedbed, and snipe feeding close to Bittern Hide.
What about the changes? Well I could also start with ducks, ducks, ducks. While overall numbers of ducks have started to fall, as the first teal and wigeon begin their migration back north, and goosanders have become scarcer, there have been notable increases in numbers of both pintails and shelducks on the Scrape, with counts in excess of 50 of both species. A flock of tufted ducks has returned to Island Mere, as have up to 25 coots. The two whooper swans remain, and were joined by six Bewick's swans on East Scrape on Monday. The latter were probably pausing on their migration from farther west in England, before crossing the North Sea and continuing eastwards.
Bewick's swan (above) and whooper swan (below). Note the "blob of butter" on the Bewick's swan's bill compared to the "wedge of cheese" on the whooper
Perhaps the most obvious difference on the Scrape, though, is the return of the first breeding birds that are starting to display: one or two pairs each of ringed plover, oystercatcher, avocet and Mediterranean gull. Black-tailed godwits are slowly starting to return, too, although they'll be continuing their journey to Iceland later in the spring. A few turnstones, dunlins and curlews are usually present too. The first spoonbill of the year was a brief visitor yesterday, and two common cranes flew over last week.
In the reedbed, we have heard the first weak grunts from a male bittern. I'm sure that once this currently spell of northerly winds passes we'll hear the first proper booming very soon. Sightings remain sporadic though. Little grebes have started whinnying from the reedbed pools and great crested grebes are now displaying on Island Mere.
Great crested grebes by Steve Everett. Although display has started, it may be a few weeks till we see a full weed dance like this.
The most exciting news from the reedbed is the return of a starling murmuration, with about 20k swirling above the reeds as dusk approaches. They seem to be quite mobile, but appear to roosting most evenings somewhere between South Hide and Island Mere. We recommend arriving in time to get a takeaway coffee from the cafe before it closes at 4.30 pm, then wandering down to the Sluice area in time to watch the action kick off around 5.15 pm.
The other exciting news is that our male adders have begun emerging from hibernation with two often showing well in brambles beneath the sand martin bank, where our volunteers are often on hand to help you to spot them. One of these is a "standard" adder with its zigzag pattern, while the other is a beautiful melanistic black adder. Although adders can be seen elsewhere, we ask visitors to look for them below the sand martin bank where you can see them from a safe distance, without disturbing these sensitive snakes. A lot of people are surprised that adders can be seen when the air temperature is below 10 degrees, but our volunteers have been recording ground temperatures of more than 20 degrees! It's best to look for them on sunny mornings whilst they are still warming up.
Adder by Steve Everett
Among the other more unusual sightings this week, we've had one or two sightings of a raven or two, as well as red kites and peregrines; great spotted woodpeckers are drumming in the woods and can regularly be seen on the visitor centre feeders; there was a good passage of gannets and fulmars offshore this morning; and at least two great egrets continue to feed in reedbed pools.
Finally, it's lovely to see the daffodils and common dog violets in flower behind the visitor centre.
Daffodil - just in time for St David's Day next week