I suppose it wouldn't be right as Brits not to be talking a lot about the weather, but just as spring felt like it was beginning to spring, autumn returned with a vengeance as Storm Doris swept across the country on Thursday. We had plenty of warning, and took the precaution of closing the woodland parts of the reserve all day, leaving access open to the visitor centre, North Wall, East Hide and Island Mere - the latter via Whin Hill only. However, as the wind picked up during the day, and reports came in of fallen trees blocking several roads, we took the decision to close the reserve completely by early afternoon, which meant heading out to some of the hides to encourage visitors to make their way home. Not that many visitors had bothered to come, as most heeded the warnings to stay at home, while others knew full well that many of our star birds would stay hidden in such windy conditions.
In the end, we weren't too badly affected by Storm Doris, with just a handful of trees coming down - notably between Wildlife Lookout and South Belt Crossroads and between Bittern Hide and Island Mere - although many branches and twigs came down, and the local roads were littered with debris.
After the storm, we enjoyed some brighter weather on Friday, and again on Sunday, before the next weather system has brought showers and more gales today. Indeed, it looks like being a rather blustery week, so please wrap up warm and take care on the roads if you are planning to visit this week.
There's lots of good reasons to make that visit too, with a variety of winter and spring wildlife on offer. The two smew (male and female) remain, though they seem to have moved to take up residence on what is known as Chapel Pool - this is the small pool on the South Levels that is best viewed from the south-east corner of the Leiston Abbey chapel ruin. A first winter glaucous gull has also been seen on the South Levels this afternoon - possibly the same bird that was present earlier in the winter.
Glaucous gull by Charles Cuthbert
Other notable winter birds include eight goosanders on Island Mere until at least yesterday, one or two pintails among the hordes of ducks on the Scrape, a few redwings in South Belt, and flocks of siskins and lesser redpolls in the woods. The latter included at least one common (or mealy) redpoll for a few days late last week, first along the Woodland Trail and later close to Westleton Heath.
There are also plenty of reminders that spring is just around the corner: a few oystercatchers and ringed plovers have returned to the Scrape, and six avocets were seen flying north yesterday; bitterns are grunting more frequently, with even the odd weak boom heard; great spotted woodpeckers are drumming; Cetti's warblers, marsh tits, reed buntings and skylarks are among the increasing variety of birdsong; and more and more daffodils are flowering each day. However, the wind had reduced the amount of marsh harrier display, and put a temporary hold on singing woodlarks and Dartford warblers on Westleton Heath. The first adders were reported in the sunny weather before the arrival of Storm Doris too, though they may have returned to hibernation this week.
More signs of spring - hazel catkins in the woods
Many of the other highlights don't really fit into a seasonal pattern as they can be seen at any time of year. These include otters on Island Mere, nuthatch, treecreeper and bullfinches in the woods, peregrines hunting over the Scrape and reedbed, and stonechats in the dunes. Red deer, too, can be seen any time of year, though bizarrely they had eluded me so far this year until a lovely group of seven wandered across my path this afternoon, allowing me to take this gorgeous family portrait of mother and two of last year's young.