Hi
Sorry it's been so long since my last post. I've been busy setting up and opening a new RSPB Information Centre at Snape Maltings. This is a really exciting opportunity, as Snape Maltings is a major destination for visitors to the Suffolk coast, offering a mix of high quality retail and food outlets, art galleries and a world famous concert hall, home ot the Snape Proms and Aldeburgh Festival. It is located on the beautiful Alde Estuary, and is adjacent to one of newest RSPB nature reserves at Abbey Farm. We'll be creating a superb new reedbed at Abbey Farm, to replace future expected losses to the sea elsewhere on the Suffolk coast. The new Information Centre has already given visitors the chance to watch hunting marsh harriers, kestrels and barn owls, see little egrets, grey herons, curlews and oystercatchers flying up the valley, and listen to chiffchaffs, Cetti's warblers and skylarks singing. If you're in the area, why not come and visit us.
Meanwhile, here at Minsmere, it's been an exciting few weeks. Since mid March the migrants have been arriving, and we've welcomed back the first nightingales, sand martins and sedge warblers among other species. At least ten bitterns are boomng in the reedbeds, and have showed well at times in front of Bittern and Island Mere Hides. Marsh ahrriers and lapwings are nesting and avocets are displaying. Perhaps the most exciting species at the moment though is Mediterranean gull. Numbers have been high on the Scrape this year. About three weeks ago wardens counted a record 24, but that has now been surpassed in style with an incredible 44 birds present this morning!
We also had a record attendance at our children's Easter Egger event last Wednesday, when 71 children and their parents and grandparents took part in activities to make Easter cards, make their own nests and have their faces painted. Everyone had a great time.
It's now dawn chorus time, and for my sins i'll be at Minsmere bright and early on Saturday for the first of our ever popular dawn chorus guided walks - starting at 4.30 am! These walks are fully booked for this year, but there is an extensive programme of guided walks throughout the spring and summer - see the events pages for details. Why not join us for our Spring Celebration on 25/26 April, when our guides will show you many of Minsmere special spring species.
Bye for now.