Hi again
Early October has seen the arrival of many of the early winter visitors at Minsmere, including good flocks of redwings, and several bramblings and fieldfares. The hedgerows are filling with flocks of tits and goldcrests too. With the odd snow bunting and shore lark on the beach and the first red-throated divers of the winter offshore, there’s a definite wintry feel about the birding.
Fortunately, the weather has, on the whole, been far from wintry, and there are still plenty of signs of autumn. The red deer rut is in full swing, and the guided walks are proving as popular as ever. They are all now fully booked for this year though.
Early mornings on the heath echo to the sound of roaring stags, demonstrating their strength vocally in the hope of avoiding a physical battle. Most visitors have a good chance of seeing a red deer or two at the moment.
Another mammal that is very obvious just now is the grey squirrel. They are busy collecting acorns, beach mast and hazelnuts to bury and store for the winter. They have competition, though, from our jays, which are always easiest to see in October. Jays can be elusive at other times of year, so get out and look for them in your local woods.
Tomorrow is the 20th anniversary of The Great Storm, which devastated many of East Anglia’s woods, including those at Minsmere. Nature has recovered well, with a bit of help from the wardens, and the woods now look superb. The leaves are changing, adding a wonderful splash of colour to the reserve.
I’m going to miss most of the autumn colours though as I’m off to South Africa next week on honeymoon, so it will be a few weeks before I speak to you again.
Take care, and enjoy autumn’s wildlife while I’m gone.