Blogs

You know, I really shouldn't know some of these cultural references. I'm much younger than that! But what a stonking weekend. OK, Saturday was a bit grey and cloudy. But wasn't Sunday a lovely day? Great to see so many people out on the reserve enjoying it. The birds did their part...

Minsmere has had a bit of purple patch in the last week or so, although you had to be quick to catcha glimpse of all our unusual visitors. Typically, I missed them all. The first week of May saw sightings of two rare herons in the reedbed: purple heron and two great white egrets. Typically, they were...

Hi, The week brought with it some glorious hot sunny days which created ideal conditions for our weekly butterfly transect. Species recorded during the survey included, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, and Green-veined White. Wader passage was a prominent fixture during the week with a traditional...

With the wonderful weather we've had over the past few days, things have been busy down here at the reserve. Although the weather may have cooled down the bird action certainly hasn't with this morning bringing with it some brilliant views of a female marsh harrier and a male hen harrier , both...

There is a lot of activity at Elmley Marshes at the moment. The drive down to the car park is fantastic with close views of displaying Lapwing and Redshanks wandering closely along the track. I can confidently say you are very likely to see at least one stunning Yellow Wagtail and if you are sharp eyed...

Hi, The large motorway service station that is RSPB Saltholme has been a hive of activity over the past week as hundreds of migrating birds stopped to have a rest and refuel before continuing their epic journeys to distant lands. Ray Scott took this great video of an Avocet feeding in front...

It's been lovely to have a couple of short strolls around parts of Minsmere this week. The warm sunshine has put a real spring in my step, and it really feels like the seasons have changed at last (especially after a week in up to a foot of snow in Estonia earlier this month!) The bumblebees have...

Hi, It was a fortnight of two halves here at Saltholme. The first was dominated by northern and easterly winds which created unfavourable conditions for bird migration. However on the 13 th April the winds swung round to a southerly direction allowing summer migrants to flood into the UK. The rare...

We thought the Winter was never going to end!...However, we are a ‘glass half full’ type of team at the South Essex Marshes and there has been an upside to all the cold wet weather this winter; it has allowed us for the first time to achieve maximum water levels across much of the Marshes...

For me this photo sums up the beauty of Arne and why it attracts huge numbers of over wintering birds . These Avocets look simply stunning in the winter sunshine .

How appropriate is it that as things seem to be moving along with this fantastic project that such an iconic species as the Avocet, so important to the RSPB should choose Wallasea to nest and bring up her brood. The proud mum who has done so well to bring up her brood. Sorry, but it's got...

Hello All, Below are some photos from Elmley last week. Two immature Spoonbill dropped in very briefly Common Sandpiper Green Sandpiper Ruff Avocet Chick Hobby with unfortunate victim. Kestrel Greylag Family And finally...

A little bigger and it looks like this.

One of our chicks currently seen on marshland

Hello All, Below are some photos from a visit to Elmley on Wednesday. Six Spoonbill's Spotted Redshank Green Sandpiper Turnstone Avocet's & Chick Humbugs And finally a Swallow at the car park

This shows you the underneath of a flying avocet. Note all white with black wing tips.

In front of Wellmarsh Hide

Proof that "Things Are Happening"! Marshlands Hide. Another pair were starting to excavate a nest scrape on one of the island in the lagoon.

taken at Blacktoffs a pair starting to scrape out a nest

Taken @ Blacktoft sands in 2009. Got very lucky this day. I had the hide all to myself & the Avocets were very close.

A few Avocet on the Heath Estuary,taken by the new Fence Hide early December. D200+135-400mm Lens PSE5 used..