It seems a long time since my post. I've seen some great wildlife in that time too - breeding bee-eaters in Nottinghamshire (sadly, they've since failed), ravens, buzzards, peregrine, ospreys, common hawker and black darter dragonflies and carnivorous sundews in the Lake District, and calling quail in Shropshire (heard, but not seen). I also missed a few goodies at Minsmere, including four cattle egrets and a glossy ibis, but at least I didn't miss anything of the rarity status of the purple swamphen that surprised everyone by turning up at Minsmere in late July and early August last year!
I did manage to get out to East Hide earlier in the week, but sadly didn't get a chance to post any updates during the week - until today. So, what's been spotted during the last week?
One of the highlights was a juvenile cuckoo that was seen on a few occasions near Wildlife Lookout, then caught by the Waveney Bird Club's ringers on Thursday. The adults have probably already left, but a few juveniles usually linger to late August, so there's still a chance to see this increasingly scarce summer visitor this year. It's not the only species that's already heading south though - you may have noticed that your local swifts have disappeared this week. Mine certainly have, though there still lots in the North West last week.
Many other birds are moving south too. There's been a noticeable increase in numbers of whitethroats and lesser whitethroats feeding on the blackberries in the North Bushes, and today they were joined by two spotted flycatchers around the pond. This is another rapidly declining summer migrant that is becoming increasingly difficult to spot.
Spotted flycatcher by Jon Evans
Wader passage is still in full swing on the Scrape, where the most numerous species are black-tailed godwits, dunlins and avocets - the latter still have two well grown young on East Scrape too. Spotted redshanks are the next most common wader, with most now in non-breeding or juvenile plumages, though a lovely black summer plumage adult was seen today. Other waders to look for at the moment include wood, common and green sandpipers, greenshanks, ruffs, ringed and little ringed plovers and snipe.
Other birds to look for on the Scrape include little gulls, common and Sandwich terns, pied and yellow wagtails, water rails and various moulting ducks - mallards, gadwalls, shovelers, teals, shelducks and the odd wigeon. Look carefully along the edge of the Scrape and it's also possible to find sedge and reed warblers and bearded tits feeding on the edge of the reedbed.
Reed warbler by Jon Evans
We have now started the annual habitat management work on the Scrape, cutting vegetation to prepare the islands for wintering ducks and next spring's breeding birds, and helping to improve viewing from the hides. We only cut one part of the Scrape at a time, so the birds simply move to different parts - as a result, East Hide is certainly the most productive at the moment.
Of course, habitat management is not the only thing that can cause disturbance. A peregrine was seen hunting over the Scrape on several occasions today, marsh harriers are regular, and several hobbies are feeding over the reedbed. Kingfishers, otters and bitterns are also still putting in regular appearances.
And, of course, our smaller creatures are still proving very popular too. The lavender outside reception is a good place to spot green-eyed flower-bees and "pointy-bum" bees, while a hummingbird hawkmoth has been regular on the Buddleias. Beewolves, pantaloon bees and jewel wasps are all still in the North Bushes, and wasp spiders can be found in the dunes. Also in the dunes are a few red-veined darters - offspring of this spring's immigrants - and various species of grasshopper and cricket.
Great green bush-cricket - look out for these along the North Wall
All in all, there's lots to be spotted at Minsmere this week. What will you see?