Blogs

Hi again

In a season of continued flooding, it’s nice to be able to report some more positive news from the breeding season.

Our wardens and bittern researchers have now managed to find three active bittern nests in North Marsh. These are all likely to be nests of females that have re-layed after losing their first brood, and it gives us renewed hope that our bitterns may not have such a disastrous breeding season.

Also in the reedbed, there are at least 23 young marsh harriers that have now fledged from a record 17 nests. Although some nests have failed, this still represents a good breeding season.

On the Scrape, the Mediterranean gull chicks successfully fledged – only the second successful nesting attempt at Minsmere, and there are several pairs of common terns still nesting. The little terns on the beach still have chicks too.

Even more exciting was the squacco heron found at Minsmere on 13 July. This was the first one seen in Suffolk since one was shot in Aldeburgh in 1912! After 95 years this was a bird all Suffolk birdwatchers wanted to see, and most were successful before the bird left again overnight.

On Monday, we had the first family pond dipping event of the summer which was well attended despite the inclement weather. Even with lots of families enjoying themselves, one of our baby water voles spent most of the day feeding close to the boardwalk. These increasingly rare mammals are often obliging at Minsmere, and always popular with visitors.

One Thursday 2 and Friday 3 August, we have our annual Minsmere family days. This we’re celebrating Minsmere’s 60th birthday with a range of activities looking at Minsmere: past, present and future. We’re expecting lots of families, and are grateful for the fantastic team of volunteers who turn out every year to make this event such a success. Why not bring the family for a great day out?

Bye for now.

Hi again

There’s been a bit of better news in the reedbed this month. It looks our V-female bittern’s chicks fledged after she had been feeding them in front of the Island Mere Hide for a couple of weeks.

We also found a new bittern nest last week, which is probably a second attempt form one of the females who lost her nest earlier in the year. We haven’t given up hope of finding further nests, either.

There has been so much rain over the last two months that water levels in the reedbed and on the Scrape are still much higher than we would like for mid July, but there’s simply nowhere else for the water to go. This is in complete contrast to last year when the drought led to the Scrape drying out.

Despite the high water levels, waders are already stopping off on their way south from their breeding grounds. Several stunning spotted redshanks, resplendent in their breeding finery, have been on the Scrape since mid June. These first birds are probably females who, after laying their eggs in the Arctic tundra, have left their mates to rear the family.

Other waders already passing through Minsmere include green sandpipers, black-tailed godwits and ruffs, while lapwing numbers are starting to increase as birds disperse from their nesting sites elsewhere.

Last week, we welcomed two of Minsmere’s former Site Managers, Geoff Welch and Jeremy Sorensen, to Minsmere to sign prints of a special, limited edition print of Minsmere. Geoff and Jeremy joined current Site Manager, Adam Rowlands, and artist Steve Cale, signing 50 of the 100 prints. The prints are on sale at Minsmere, where you can also buy raffle tickets to win the original painting, which looks superb! Come along to the reserve to find out more.

Bye for now.