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Have you been watching Springwatch on the BBC? It was heartbreaking to see those dead lapwing and osprey chicks yesterday after Friday's massive storm, but I was so pleased to see the goldcrest nest has survived - and as for those treecreepers ! After April's flooding at Minsmere, we know how...

Ever been on lunch time potter and had it turn into a once in a lfietime experience? I think I've lost count of how often that happens here at Minsmere, and today was definitely one of the more memorable. Having heard my first whitethroat and garden warbler of the year on the way into the office...

Following my last blog about Ernie Dale's amazing account of two bitterns at Island Mere, I decided to stroll down there at lunchtime. I wasn't expecting to see any bitterns as i was only planning to spend five minutes in the hide. No, my real target was to add a few newly arrived migrants...

Migration. Don't you just love it? The unpredictability. The stories of incredible journeys and survival against the odds. Best of all, is the knowledge that the season's are changing and the natural world is still alive and waiting to spring its next surprise upon us. OK, so maybe not everything...

Paul and I met a lovely group of folk today for a guided walk to celebrate the 40th birthday of one of the group. Mostly up from London for the weekend, and staying in nearby Walberswick, they joined us mid morning to discover Minsmere for the first time. Paul took a group of mainly adults for an...

Great walk yesterday morning to celebrate National Farmhouse Breakfast Week. It was cold but clear with a red dawn sky over the sea when we started at 7 am. Gorgeous sunrise as we reached East Hide, and not too cold when sheltered from NE wind. We had some cracking views of wildlife too, before returning...

You know how sometimes when one thing goes wrong, so do several others. Well, yesterday was one of those days. there was definitely an air of midwinter madness about proceedings - and it wasn't just from the people concerned! I should have known it was going to be one of those days from the start...

Thursday's family day was a great success. About 100 children enjoyed taking part in a range of activities, and from the people I spoke to I know that amny of the parents learned something too. That's the plan - it is a family event afterall and there's always something to learn as far as...

There's a cooling south-easterly blowing in off the sea, making it quite pleasant to walk around the Scrape. Will it bring in some early migrants? We're all hoping the wandering white-tailed lapwing, last seen at RSPB Dungeness in Kent will decide to head north and pay us a visit at Minsmere...

Midsummer may be a quiet time for birding, but it's far from a dull time at Minsmere. There's just so much to see. With today's wind, many of the insects were seaking shelter on bramble bushes in woodland rides, simply resting in a sunny spot or feeding on the bramble flowers. Some bushes...

Ok - so perhaps there may be a food theme developing with the titles. Stick with me and I'll explain more. Do you enjoy eating marsh mallows, perhaps toasted over an open fire or on the BBQ? I guess lots of you will having one of the latter this weekend, though probably not the former! If so,...

I was asked a question today that was perhaps only part in jest: "Where's the big screen on the Scrape?" The reply from one of our volunteers was "how many birds watch football?" My reply to that, looking at huge picture of a robin in the reception area was "Robinho for one...

This time last week I was soaking up the rays of French sunshine in the Cevennes, combining leading guided walks with a family holiday. What a great area for watching wildlife. Orchids galore, including two found nowhere else in the world. Loads of butterflies - just don't ask me exactly which blues...

And what a glorious one it was too. It's always a joy to arrive at Minsmere before first light and watch as the reserve rapidly wakens - notwithstanding the lack of sleep that accompanies such an early start. In fact, my wildlife watching began within five minutes of leaving home this morning...

It doesn't matter how much time you spend watching wildlife, there's always a surprise around the corner. And so it was for Adam Rowlands, Minsmere's Senior Site Manager, this very morning. A few weeks ago Adam spent the early hours showing Mike Dilger round Minsmere to record a story...