You may have seen or heard in the news this week that last year was another record for booming Bitterns across the UK, with an incredible 283 males recorded across the country, including a record 17 males here at Minsmere. After plummeting to a low of just 11 booming males in the UK in 1997, it seems hard to believe that less than 30 years later we could be possible reach 300 booming males in 2025.
With Bitterns featuring so prominently in the news, it's pleasing to report that the early indications suggest that we could be in for another successful season. Bitterns are starting to show well from both Bittern and Island Mere Hides, and early morning visits should be rewarded with hearing them booming. Some lucky visitors even spotted one feeding on the Scrape yesterday.
A male Bittern (distinguished by the blue base to the bill) booming. Photo by David Naylor
The Bittern isn't the only heron that is increasingly rapidly in number. Little Egrets first colonised the UK in 1995 and are now breeding successfully in many counties, while Great Egrets arrived more recently and have already established a firm foothold here. We see both species throughout the year at Minsmere, though neither breed on the reserve (yet). At least two Great Egrets are still hiding within the reedbed, but Little Egrets are much easier to spot almost anywhere around the wetlands. This is another real success story, as Little Egrets were almost driven to global extinction in the late nineteenth century due to hunting to use their extravagant plumes to adorn ladies' hats! It was the campaign to halt this persecution that led to a group of ladies founding the RSPB in 1889.
A Little Egret showing off the breeding plumage that almost led to its extinction. Photo by Les Cater
Common Cranes are slowing recolonising the UK too, and one pair continues to feed in the reedbed or around the Levels, putting in occasional appearances in flight. Another heron-like bird that has been seen occasionally this week is the Spoonbill, but April is a more typical month to see them at Minsmere.
Elsewhere around the reedbed, several pairs of Marsh Harriers are displaying and next-building, a couple of pairs of both Little and Great Crested Grebes are on Island Mere, Cetti's Warblers and Reed Buntings are increasingly vocal and Kingfishers are regularly seen. Water Rails are more likely to be heard than seen, while Bearded Tits are proving quite elusive at the moment. More signs of spring include a couple of Sand Martins that have taken up residence, and the first Little Gulls of the year today.
In fact, gulls are possibly the first real indicator of the changing seasons, as numbers are beginning to increase rapidly on the Scrape - along with a significant increase in volume. The Black-headed Gulls are already establishing territories, gathering nesting material, and noisily chasing away rivals and potential predators.
A Black-headed Gull in typical noisy pose. Photo by David Naylor
Check through the gulls carefully, though, as there are now several Mediterranean Gulls among them. The adults stand out with their neat black heads, bright red bills and clean white wingtips.
A displaying pair of Mediterranean Gulls. Photo by Les Cater
Caspian Gulls are more subtle, needing a combination of features to pick them out among the roosting flocks of Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls. It's much easier if, like I did today, your visit to East Hide coincides with one of our gulls experts! Add in Common and Lesser Black-backed Gulls and the first Kittiwakes of the year, and there's plenty of gulls to test your ID skills.
Of course, not all birdwatchers like the challenge of gull ID, and fewer still will relish waders, but it's worth making the effort. With migration starting to pick up, waders seen this week include Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Snipe, Curlew, Redshank and Turnstone. Last week's Jack Snipe has been a couple of times, as has the Water Pipit. However, when it comes to waders at Minsmere in spring, there's no getting away from the fact that Avocets are the star attraction. And why not? Apart their monochrome elegance and incessant squabbling, they represent another major success stories of UK conservation - and that Minsmere played a leading role in.
Avocet by David Naylor
There have been a few notable smaller birds seen this week too. A lovely male Black Redstart was found near the Sand Martin nest bank this morning. A noisy flock of Redwings along the Woodland Trail yesterday included at least two singing birds - it's unusual to hear this winter visitor singing in the UK. Several Chiffchaffs are now in full song, Great Spotted Woodpeckers are drumming and Goldcrests are singing in the woods.
Adders continue to show well around the Sand Martin bank, and both Common Frog and Common Toad have been seen. Butterflies seen this week include Comma and Brimstone, while bees include Early Colletes, Cliff Mining-bee and Buff-tailed Bumblebee.