Blogs

There are some days when I feel so lucky to work at Minsmere. Most people who I meet say things like "you're so lucky to do your job" to which I invariably reply, "it's a shame I spend so much time int he office". Today though, things were different.  For a start, I managed to find time for a stroll at lunchtime. The first surprise was watching a male sparrowhawk chasing a kestrel above the car park - not something you see everyday! Although at first glance the North Bushes trail seemed quiet, there were a few goldcrests around, and a superb view of a treecreeper. Careful checking through the vegetation revealed a late lesser whitehroat feeding, while a calling chiffchaff refused to reveal itself. A few swallows flew overhead, but the highlight was an incoming viistor: a stunnign male brambling. My first of the year.

A few minutes later, I was watching small groups of brent geese heading south offshore, with a red-throated diver on the sea. Winter is clearly approaching, and there was a definite nip in the air.

Soon after returning the office, Adam Rowlands relayed a message over our radios that one of our guides had found a red-flanked bluetail in the Sluice Bushes. This is an extremely rare autumn visitor to the UK. Tiny numbers breed in Finland, with the rest spread across the Siberian taiga forest. They usually head southeast to spend the winter in SE Asia. However, a few drift the opposite way and if conditions are suitable they may arrive in the UK. Until three years ago, there was only record in Suffolk, then one was found at Thorpeness. There has been one in each of the last two years too, but there had never been one at Minsmere. Until now. The wardens all rushed out in hope of finding this much-sought after visitor. The bird was very mobile in thick scrub,and being hassled by robins and wrens, but it did eventually show itself, leaving msot fo the staff very happy.

As usual with lost migrants, this is a young bird, so not as colourful as an adult male. However, it is still a gorgeous lttle bird, with a blue tail, orange-red flanks, and a white chin, plus a white ring around the eye. You might not even find it in your field guide, as they are such rare visitors tot he UK. Many people will probably ask red-flanked what?

It's not just rare birds that I've been watching recently, as last week I took four people on another Minsmere deer safari. We had superb views of our red deer, including an impressive 20-pointer stag. It's amazing how close we can get to these impressive beasts in our vehicles. The deer safaris have been so popula rthat they are now fully booked, but if you want to watch the deer, then please visit our viewpoint on Westleotn Heath. It is open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday this weekend, then daily from Friday 23 October to Sunday 1 November, from 3 pm to dusk. Why not come and visit?

The dry weather continued throughout September, but this week there is a change in the air at last. Yesterday and today we've had some strange wet stuff falling from the sky. I think they call it rain, but I almost can't remember what it's like.

So far, the rain hasn't been much more than drizzle, but I'm sure that we'll finally start to get some proper rain soon, as the autumn weather fronts move through. Several of the local and national media have picked up on the story that Minsmere's Scrape looks like a desert, but this is a bit unfair really. True, East Scrape is dry and sandy rather than being squidgy, oozy mud, but we have got water on both West and South Scrapes.

The lack of soft mud has had an effect on migrant wading bird numbers, with only the odd wader seen most days. This is disapointing for birdwatchers, and frustrating for staff, and seems to have the case at several other coastal sites this year. It should have little impact on population levels though, as many of the waders will have stopped at other sites instead (maybe inland or further south), or chosen to use the local estuaries.

Long term, we are not too concerned about the impact on the Scrape's wildlife. A natural coastal lagoon will periodically dry out, and our management is actually aimed at allowing small areas to dry out each summer. As soon as water returns to the Scrape, invertebrates will start to breed, and within a few weeks there will ample food for the birds using it.

Of course, there's much more to Minsmere than just the Scrape, and the reserve is really heaving with good wildlife spectacles at the moment.  Autumn is always the best season for watching bearded tits, as family parties erupt from the reedbed, especially on calm mornings. These tiny birds switch their diet from insects to seeds at this time of year, so can often be seen feeding on the reed seed heads, or on fallen seeds at the edge of the reedbed. There have been some stunning views on our temporary reedbed trail and from Island Mere Hide. With bitterns, marsh harriers, singing Cetti's warblers, and even a great white egret in the reedbed, Island Mere Hide has been one of THE places to sit recently.

Red deer are another autumn highlight. The annual rut has started, and there have been some stunning views from our viewpoint on Westleton Heath. As well as red deer, visitors have already been treated to close views of rabbits, a red fox, little owls and up to nine stone-curlews. The latter are secretive wading birds that have recently returned to nest at Minsmere. They are too senstive to disturbance to show them to visitors while they are breeding, but having finished breeding they've formed a small flock close to the viewpoint. Why not come to see them for yourself? The viewpoint is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays this month, from 3 pm till dusk. It will also be open throughout half term (23 Oct to 1 Nov). It is signposted from Westleton.

Finally, of course, the autumn colours are simply stunning, and worth a trip to the countryside in their own right this year. Minsmere's heaths and woodlands are a kaleidoscope of colour, with every shade imaginable of yellow, gold, orange and brown, mixed with the remaining green and the odd bit of red. Many bushes are laden with berries, simply waiting to be eaten by hungry thrushes, starlings and woodpigeons. Come along and see them for yourself.