Unlike during the first lockdown, we're pleased to be able to keep the nature trails at Minsmere open this time round, allowing local people to enjoy the reserve as part of their daily outdoor exercise. It's been good to see a few locals out and about enjoying the lovely weather yesterday and today. With government guidance to avoid unnecessary journeys and stay local, we know that a visit to Minsmere is, sadly, not an option for many of you over the coming weeks: we look forward to welcoming you all back soon.
Although the visitor centre and hides are now closed, our wardens and visitor team are still working, helping to ensure that Minsmere is looking its best when we're able to re-open the buildings. We're also finding time for some much-needed walks around the reserve, checking on the condition of our facilities, replacing signage and trimming back vegetation.
My walks over the last two days have, once again, proved how much amazing wildlife can be seen at Minsmere without the need to go into the hides, and with the gorgeous winter sunshine it's such a shame that so few of you are able to enjoy it. Our regular sightings blogs will, hopefully, serve to tempt you back to Minsmere when it's safe to return, but also you to explore your local area in search of similar sightings close to home - I know that I found some unexpected wildlife on my daily walks during the first lockdown.
I've often enjoyed a gentle stroll through the North Bushes on my lunchtime walks, and this week this area of scrub has provided particularly productive. Large flocks of tits have included long-tailed, coal and marsh tits, as well as both treecreeper and goldcrest, foraging for insects, seeds and berries. Bullfinches and thrushes, including both fieldfare and redwing, seek out the hawthorn berries and rosehips, while jays and grey squirrel carry off acorns to store for the winter.
Fieldfares, winter visitors from Scandinavia, are probably my favourite thrush
The North Wall offers superb views across the reedbed, with Cetti's warblers bursting into song close by or bearded tits pinging from an unseen perch, but you never know what you might spot. A kingfisher flashed past me today, and it's not unusual to spot an otter in one of the pools. A female kestrel has been regularly perching in the same small, dead, tree close to the seaward end of the bank, where yesterday she was accompanied by five reed buntings, three stonechats and a Dartford warbler - the latter are regularly seen in the dunes, but I think was the first time I'd found one in the reedbed.
A female kestrel (above) and a pair of stonechats (below), seen from the North Wall
A walk along the dunes is always guaranteed to blow away a few cobwebs - does anything beat the sound of waves crashing onto the shingle to stir the soul? If you are patient you might spot a few great crested grebes or red-throated divers offshore, or perhaps you'll be lucky enough to see a distant skua cruising by - both great and pomarine skuas were seen today, for example.
Although you can't use the hides, you can still enjoy good views of the Scrape from the top of the dunes, or from the Public Viewpoint (providing there is space to socially distance) - the latter remains open as it is an open air viewpoint.
South Scrape, from the Public Viewpoint
The Scrape looks superb at the moment, with huge flocks of ducks and gulls, as well as the odd wader. The most numerous ducks are teal and wigeon, but there are also good numbers of shoveler, gadwall, mallard and shelduck and several elegant pintails that may take a bit more finding. Most of the waders are lapwings, with several curlews coming to roost in the evening, but I also spotted a lone avocet today and saw turnstone, black-tailed godwit and ringed plover earlier in the week, so it's worth checking carefully. It's definitely worth checking the gulls, too, daunting as this may sound. Among the herring and great black-backed gulls there are several black-headed, common and lesser black-backed gulls, while the more avid gull watchers are also able to spot a few yellow-legged and Caspian gulls - the latter two species need an expert eye to pick them, and are best seen as more gulls come to roost in the evening. The star bird on the Scrape today, though, was a monster of a gull: a first winter glaucous gull that has migrated south from the edge of the Arctic ice.
Just a handful of the great black-backed gulls on the Scrape
There are good views of Island Mere from Whin Hill, and it's worth scanning for marsh harriers or bitterns flying overhead, with several mute swans and flocks of coots on the mere. I've even seen otters from Whin Hill in the past, too.
Whilst walking through the woods to Whin Hill, you can enjoy the stunning autumn colours as the beach,, birch and hazel trees change colour. Keep your eyes peeled for some fabulous fungi too - we found three stinkhorns lurking among the leaf litter in the Rhododendron Tunnel yesterday, and believe me, they live up to their name.
There's also a few insects still on the wing - I saw peacock butterfly and several common darters in the Whin Hill area today, for example.
Don't forget, many of these species should be present in parks, woods or riverbanks close to where you live. We'd love to hear what you find close to home during this second lockdown. You can let us know in the comments on here, or on our Facebook and Twitter pages.
Finally folks, please stay safe, and we'll see you all again soon.