This week's blog comes with a warning. There's lots of mention of food, so if you're hungry, please look away now and come back later!

Firstly, we have very important news for lovers of Minsmere's famous cheese scones, cakes, pasties and other delicious goodies from the cafe. Our cafe opening hours are changing from 1 May. In response to feedback from our visitors, we're opening half an hour earlier, at…

It's that time of year when some birds very kindly tell you what they're called, without you having to look them up in your field guide. Some of these are, admittedly, easy to hear and recognise from their call than others.

The first of these that you'll probably hear as you walk around is the Chiffchaff, whose repeated disyllabic song can be heard throughout the woods and scrubby parts of the reserve. Better…

After two weeks away from the reserve, it's amazing how much things have changed. The hedgerows are greening as hawthorn leaves burst open, or shining with the bright white blackthorn blossom, while bird songs and calls fill the air.

Blackthorn blossom near Whin Hill

The dominant sound of Minsmere in spring is the cacophony on the Scrape, with the raucous calls of black-headed gulls interspersed with higher pitched…

Have you heard of a cricket teal? It's one of the traditional names used for the only duck that is typically a summer visitor to the UK - hence the "cricket" part of its name. It's also small duck - hence teal. You may know it better as a garganey.

Garganeys are scarce visitors, never common, but occurring in many shallow wetlands across the UK. They are best seen in late March and April, when newly…

As March draws towards an end, adders continue to prove the biggest draw for many of our visitors. In particular, two adders nicknamed Rylan and Goatee, are regularly showing very well just behind an electric fence below the sand martin colony. Their location means that it's easy for lots of visitors to spot them without disturbing them or putting themselves in danger, which is why we encourage visitors to watch these…

It may only be mid March, but there have been some early spring migrants to raise anticipation for the coming season. 

As is usually the case, the first spring migrants were chiffchaffs, which have been singing from the North Bushes, Sluice Bushes and South Belt woods already. It's always hard to know how many of these are actually arriving spring migrants or lingering winter visitors - we know we had at least wintering…

Did you see Sir David Attenborough’s newest documentary celebrating the incredible UK Wildlife?

The RSPB along with WWF are co-producers of the documentary series and some of it was filmed on our beautiful nature reserve.

We are now stocking a new range of Wild Isles products in our shop inspired by nature found within the UK.  The beautiful design has been created by the artist Cherith Harrison.

We also have copies…

It's certainly been an interesting week for weather, though we've escaped the deep snow drifts and freezing weather that have caused chaos through much of the country. That's not to say that it's been mild here. Far from it. The north-easterly wind has been bitter, made all the worse if you were caught out in one of the many snow, sleet or rain showers that have passed through. Then today we have wall to wall sunshine…

Today is World Wildlife Day, which seems like the perfect opportunity to celebrate some of Minsmere's most amazing wildlife, so here's a quick summary of what's been seen this week.

Let's start with adders which are continuing to prove popular with many visitors. There are two males regularly basking under the brambles beneath the sand martin bank, including a gorgeous black adder. They can be tricky to see…

It's a couple of weeks since my last update, and there have been some notable changes in that time - but lots also remains very similar.

Let's start with the status quo: ducks, ducks and more ducks on the Scrape; flocks of tits and finches on the feeders, siskins in the woods, marsh harriers displaying over the reedbed, and snipe feeding close to Bittern Hide.

What about the changes? Well I could also start with…

Calm sunny winter days always ensure a wonderful day will be enjoyed on the reserve, whatever wildlife you happen to see. That's certainly been the case so far this week, as you can see from these photos taken over the last two days, showing the contrast between clear blue skies and golden winter reeds.

North Marsh, looking towards Dunwich Heath

The new East Hide boardwalk

East Scrape

South Scrape from the Public…

Minsmere is an incredibly rich and varied nature reserve, with the widest variety of wildlife found on any RSPB nature reserve in the country. As one of the biggest RSPB reserves in England, with a complex mix of habitats, located on the migration highway of the East coast and with 75 years of continuous careful conservation management, it is perhaps not a surprise that almost 350 different species of birds have been recorded…

It's that time of year when our wardens and volunteers and volunteers are busy with habitat management work in preparation for the coming breeding season. You may spot them around the reserve clearing birch or gorse from the heath, building brash fences around sensitive areas, or adjusting sluices to control water levels.

Sometimes, however, we need to bring in machinery to help with some of the bigger tasks. While…

After a week of windy, and at times very wet, weather, it's been lovely to enjoy a couple of proper winter days: cold, clear and icy with crisp blue skies and very little wind. 

Of course, there is a downside to such lovely weather: you really do need to wear lots of layers and keep moving. In fact, you may wish to wear wellington boots too, as some of the paths are bit wet, with Sluice completely impassable on foot…

Apologies for the delay since my blog. I've been busy for the last couple of weeks ensuring that all our guided walks and safaris are on the website and ready to book. So, if you would like a guided tour of Minsmere, accompanied by our excellent volunteer guides, then please reserve your place now at www.events.rspb.org.uk/minsmere

Many of the old favourites are back, including Birds for Beginners, Winter Wildfowl…

Happy New Year everyone.

A new year always brings new hopes and expectations. For birdwatchers it invariably means time to start yet another list, or two. How many bird species will you see in 2023? Or in Suffolk in 2023? Or even just at Minsmere in 2023? Perhaps even a green birding list (birds seen without using a car). 

Of course, not everyone keeps lists, but most birdwatchers will at least have a few birds that they…

Happy Christmas everyone

A reminder that all facilities, including the hides and nature trails, will be CLOSED from 3.30 pm on Christmas Eve until 9 am on Tuesday 27 December, when everything will be open as usual.

It will be well worth a visit after Christmas, too, as there are lots of birds to look for. As well as hundreds of ducks and gulls on the Scrape, there are one or two Avocets, Dunlins, Turnstones and Redshanks…

Guest blog by Minsmere visitor experience volunteer, Eve

Goodbye to 2022!

As we begin a new year, our thoughts will sometimes turn toward the things we want to improve about ourselves. The idea of a fresh start can be very appealing but can often become a long list of impossible resolutions and the inevitable failure when real life and a lack of motivation in the winter months get in the way of the planned gym visits…

I may be stating the obvious, but it's certainly been cold this week. So cold that most of our wetlands have remained frozen, and the paths remain incredibly slippery in places, especially through the North Bushes and around Whin Hill. Whilst this freezing weather remains, please take care on the reserve and check our social media for the latest updates.

Despite the ice, there have been large flocks of ducks on the…

In last week's blog I raised the question about whether we set for a waxwing winter. The jury is still out on that, although a few more flocks are starting to appear in parts of northern England, and the current northerly airflow could see more arrive over the next few days. However, I was partly right, as following last week's brief sighting, one lucky visitor was in the right place to photograph one of these enigmatic…

Meteorological winter officially starts on Thursday, (1 December), and there are finally signs that winter is winning the battle against autumn in the natural world, too.

For me, winter has never truly arrived until I've seen the first "wild" swan of the year. I could argue that was today, when I watched a lovely adult whooper swan swimming around Island Mere, but it's also possible that this is the bird that, unusually…

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 …

Yes folks, I have some more exciting news. Our starlings are back! 

The day after the fabulous new boardwalk to East Hide opened, we received reports from visitors that they had been watching a murmurartion of starlings from there. This obviously needed checking out, and I Friday evening I was able to confirm that about 10k starlings were indeed displaying over the reedbed before swooping in to roost behind South Hide. 

It's been a long time in the planning, and several weeks under construction, but at long last we're pleased to say that the new boardwalk to East Hide is open. It is accessed via a stunning platform from the North Wall, with a gentle ramp taking you down to the edge of the reedbed.

The path then winds its way between the dunes and reedbed, with a couple of lovely benches positioned on the wider passing places…

A lot has happened in the two weeks since my last blog, so I'll try to summarise them as briefly as I can.

Firstly, I can report that our contractors have finished the reprofiling work on East Scrape, which is slowly refilling with water and looks fantastic. The birds clearly think so too as today there are hundreds of ducks, especially teal, and dozens of gulls, including both common and Caspian gulls loafing around…