Just like the proverbial London bus, good birds often come along together. Earlier today, one of our volunteers reported six spoonbills flying over the reedbed towards Island Mere. Seconds later, the radios crackled into life again as Paul spotted an osprey heading in the same direction.
Now, osprey has become a bit of a bogey bird for me in recent years. I missed the recent satellite tagged bird. In fact, I haven't seen one at Minsmere for at least four years. Or anywhere else in the UK, come to that. I always managed to miss them at Rutland Water when I'm visiting the British Birdwatching Fair, and I haven't been to Scotland for several years, so my only recnt osprey was over the Loire Valley, France in June.
Until today! Paul's shout over the radio meant I was able run outside with binoculars and see the distinctive silhouette of an osprey flapping lazily towards Island Mere. Had I stayed in the office, i'd even have been able to spot it through the window. What a great office tick.
Osprey by Chris Gomersall (this one was in Scotland)
Ospreys and spoonbills aren't the only goodies around at the moment. Between the Scrape and the seasonal wader trail the last couple of weeks have provided a great range of waders. Highlights have included little stints, curlew sandpipers, wood sandpipers and little ringed plovers, but these all provide a challenge to locate among the more familiar dunlins, common sandpipers and ringed plovers. The most numerous species have been ruffs, greenshanks and black-tailed godwits. Oh, and there's still a few avocets around, plus a pretty pink flamingo called Fiona!
Also on the Scrape have been up to four garganeys (a challenge to pick out among the hordes of teals), an arctic skua yesterday and the odd common tern. A black tern was over Island Mere yesterday too, while in the dunes there are regular whinchats, wheatears and yellow wagtails, and a few wasp spiders.
So much to see. Just wish I had more time to get out and discover some goodies for myself.