As another year slowly draws to a close, it's time for my final sightings update of the year.
The main news is not much change over the last few weeks. That;s not to say that it's quiet. Far from it. Just that as is usual in mid winter, most of the birds are staying put.
An exception was the two common cranes reported flying over today. Were they two of the seven that have been at RSPB Boyton Marshes since flying over Minsmere in late November? Or perhaps the two that settled here briefly the following day? Or were they two different cranes wandering from the Norfolk population?
A highlight for many people in mid winter is watching the wild swans. There are still a varying number of Bewick's swans around (maximum 24 so far this year), and up to three whooper swans, but they can be elusive if feeding in hidden parts of the reedbed or levels. Geese have put on a good display on the Levels too, with up to 65 white-fronted geese and 10 tundra bean geese seen ddaily for the last three weeks or so. There were a couple of Egyptian geese on Island Mere for a few days too this week. The Scrape is teeming with ducks, but we're yet to see the first smew of the winter.
White-fronted goose by Jon Evans
Raptor highlights recently have been the peregrine(s) that have regularly caused chaos among the wildfowl. I watched one make several attempts at taking a goose from the flock on the Levels yesterday - optimistic, but unsuccessful. There are several marsh harriers still around (mostly females), but no recent sightings of any hen harriers.
While Minsmere is never a top site for winter waders, there has been a good variety of species seen recently. Lapwings dominate, and curlews are regularly feeding on the heath and surrounding fields by day, but recent sightings have included low counts of dunlins, redshanks, turnstones (especially on the sluice outfall), black-tailed godwits and snipe, plus the odd spotted redshank, grey plover or ruff. Gull experts can regularly pick out a Caspian or yellow-leeged gull, especially towards dusk.
Bitterns, bearded tits, water rails, kingfishers and otters are regular around the reedbed, including at Island Mere and Bittern Hides.
Among the smaller birds, our waxwings seem to have left, but small flocks of redwings, fieldfares and siskins continue to be seen, a nuthatch is often around the car park entrance, green woodpeckers and marsh tits are reliably seen, and the North Bushes trail has been good for bullfinches.
All in all, not a bad list of birds to tempt you out for a post Christmas walk. Don't forget, we are closed on 25 and 26 December, but open as usual after that. And we've temporarily re-opened the North Wall to make your visit even more enjoyable.
I won't be around to blog again until the New Year, so have a great Christmas and a bird filled start to 2012.
PS: You can keep in touch with news from Minsmere via Facebook and Twitter over the holiday.