We regularly talk about how hard our volunteers and wardens work to create the perfect conditions for wildlife, so it's great when this work is rewarded by visitors reporting stunning views of the wildlife. That has certainly been the case at Bittern Hide this week, where a new kingfisher perch was installed last week and these beautiful electric blue and orange birds have obliged immediately.
Kingfisher by Jon Evans
Bittern Hide and Island Mere have continued to provide regular sightings of bitterns, great egrets , bearded tits and even Cetti's warblers (yes, seen as well as heard), while a lone adult whooper swan has also moved between the two. Marsh harriers are perhaps more reliably seen, with counts of 15 or more in late afternoon, while a male hen harrier flew south yesterday and a female or juvenile - known as a ringtail - was seen on Sunday.
Female marsh harrier by Steve Everett
Bittern Hide is proving to a popular spot to watch the impressive starling murmuration from too, though you'll be even closer to the action if you watch from the South Hide area or Konik Field gate. There appear to be about 10 000 starlings roosting here, with the action kicking off from about 3.30 pm. They are attracting up to three peregrines, as well as the marsh harriers, and if you are very lucky then you might even spot a barn owl. Don't forget to get here in time to buy a hot drink form the cafe first - the cafe closes at 3.30 pm now that we are on winter opening hours.
Better still, arrive early enough to enjoy a walk around the Scrape first and marvel at the huge flocks of ducks: teal, wigeon, gadwall, shoveler, mallard, pintail and shelduck. Look carefully and you might see a few waders too: avocet, lapwing, redshank, dunlin, turnstone and black-tailed godwit were all seen today. It's hard to miss the big flocks of herring and great black-backed gulls, but it's worth a closer look at the gulls as there is a good chance of finding a common or lesser black-backed, or even a Caspian or yellow-legged gull, or two. If you're not sure how to identify the latter two species (or any others), then please ask our volunteer guides. Other birdwatchers are usually happy to help, too, if you ask them.
Great black-backed gulls, with a moorhen and black-tailed godwit for company
Some of our more popular woodland birds are showing well at times, too. Bullfinches are best seen in the winter, with the car park entrance and North Bushes Trail being the best areas to see them - look for the white rump as they flew ahead of you along the path. A male great spotted woodpecker is often on the visitor centre feeders, alongside nuthatch and marsh tit, while the visitor centre area is also the best spot to look for treecreepers.
Male bullfinch in the rain
Therefore, even if the weather is poor, it's worth a visit to watch the feeders, do a spot of Christmas shopping, treat yourself to a cheese scone, vegan pasty or sausage roll, and then pop out to watch the starlings. And this weekend we're also hosting another of our popular Makers Markets, with a variety of exhibitors bringing their craft for you to buy. We'd love to see you there.