Springwatch revisited

After all the wet weather recently, it was great to have a couple of dry days on Monday and Tuesday. We even managed to see the sun again. (Sadly it's wet again today, though the forecast is better for the rest of the week).

The better weather couldn't have better timed either, as I welcomed Shaun Peel from BBC Look East, Etholle George from BBC Radio Suffolk, and cameraman Chris to Minsmere yesterday morning. They were here to film a news story promoting a special programme next week that looks back at Minsmere six months on from Springwatch, and reflects on the success of the series.

The TV piece will be broadcast during the BBC Look East news on Monday, 1 December. Then, early on Tuesday, Etholle will present her breakfast show on BBC Radio Suffolk live from Minsmere, from 6 am to 9 am. Etholle will present from the Discovery Centre, with various live guests and pre-recorded interviews, while Luke Deal will join Minsmere's volunteer guides in a couple of hides to describe some of the wildlife they are seeing. If you don't live in Suffolk, you should be able to listen to the programme via the I-Player later in the week (I'll post a link when I get one)

Etholle George being filmed at Island Mere

I won't spoil the programme by going into details, but we'll be celebrating the success of Springwatch and it's impact on visitor numbers, volunteers, and income - and hence money available for further conservation work. We'll also be looking back at some of the wildlife stars, and bringing some of the stories up to date.

Of course, while we were filming at Island Mere I had the opportunity to spot some wildlife - though coots and ducks were conspicuous by their absence yesterday morning! The great white egret put in a couple of appearances, a bittern flew past and at least six marsh harriers were hunting. We failed to find any otters, but they have been seen again this morning. From Whin Hill I could see the nine Bewick's swans feeding among mute swans in the flooded fields to the south of the reedbed, but I couldn't locate the three whooper swans and two white-fronted geese that were also present. Two goldeneyes flew over the reedbed earlier in the morning too.

One of the big stories of Springwatch was the badger invading the Scrape to feed on gull and avocet eggs. Work started this morning on replacing the aging fence to keep foxes and badgers off the Scrape. Contractors will be carrying out this work for the next ten weeks, working on just one part of the fence at any one time, so disturbance should be kept to a minimum. Please check at reception to find out where they are working each day. 

The Scrape itself is teeming with ducks and lapwings, with a few snipe and the odd dunlin, turnstone and black-tailed godwit present. A water pipit was heard flying over this morning too.

Elsewhere on the reserve, the feeders around the visitor centre are attracting the odd brambling alongside marsh and coal tits and goldfinches. with other bramblings as well as bullfinches, siskins and the odd redpoll in North Bushes. And, of course, the starlings are still roosting int he evenings.

If you are visiting, please bring your wellies as the path is flooded from South Hide to the Sluice.

For latest information on sightings, access and management work, please remember to keep checking our Facebook (RSPBSuffolk) and Twitter (@RSPBMinsmere) pages.