If, like me, you watched Countryfile on Sunday night, you'll have seen the fantastic swirling clouds of starlings above the Somerset Levels. There really are fewer better spectacles in the UK.
Sadly, the starlings do not seem to be playing ball here on the Suffolk coast this winter. After the optimism of mid November, when about 8000 starlings moved from RSPB Snape to spend the nights with us here at Minsmere, such spectacles have been sadly hard to find. Our roosting birds deserted us again during the deep freeze before Christmas, probably moving to RSPB Dingle Marshes, where they are always difficult to pin down.
Since Christmas, finding any roosting starlings has been tricky on the Suffolk coast. We have none roosting at either Minsmere or Snape, there don't appear to be any at either RSPB North Warren or nearby Thorpeness, and I've not heard of any flocks at Dingle either. other traditional roosts on the coast are either deserted, or people are keeping quiet about them, so if you want to watch roosting starlings painting patterns in the sky, my best suggestion locally is the centre of Lowestoft. Several thousand are still roosting around the docks/Bascule Bridge area.
Of course, despite the lack of starlings, there's plenty to see at Minsmere. Ducks remain the centre of attention, and a few gull experts continue to pick out the odd Caspian or yellow-legged gulls. Marsh harriers can usually be spotted, and bitterns are often feeding close to Bittern or Island Mere Hides. Even a family of otters has been regular at Bittern Hide. And signs of spring are popping up everywhere already: great spotted woodpeckers drumming; chaffinches and mistle thrushes joining the tits, robins and wrens in song (woodlarks and Dartford warblers should start singing on the heaths soon); willow and alder catkins in flower. I even saw my first snowdrops of the year in Beccles yesterday!
Mistle thrush by Sue Tranter (RSPB Images)
Talking of spring, our events programme for April to June is now planned, including our birdsong walks, bittern walks, etc. Check here for details, and book soon - places are selling rapidly for the dawn choruses!
Ian - sorry to hear! We were staying in the NT Coast Guard cottages over Christmas and on our walk back from the reserve on Christmas Eve was were lucky enough to be able to watch a cloud of starlings flying over the reed beds before eventually roosting in the reeds below the path that goes up to the NT car park. I had a go at taking some pictures in the limited light and they are here: www.flickr.com/.../72157625779841411
Best regards,
Bill
That's interesting, because we've seen no more than a few hundred roosting in North Marsh (the area you describe) since mid December. Perhaps a few more returned over the Christmas period, though they seem to have gone again now.