Trip reports

Bird Walk at Minsmere RSPB Reserve on Sunday 16 November 2008

Sunday, 16 November 2008

Heavy rain around Witham and Colchester gradually gave way to more persistent drizzle on the journey around Ipswich and up as far as Saxmundham but fortunately as we approached Minsmere at about 9.45am it ceased and although it remained overcast until well into the afternoon it was reasonably mild with only light winds.

There were 11 participants and we enjoyed an excellent walk and good birding. A quick visit to the Centre revealed that the best birds were probably in the vicinity of West Hide so a decision was made to walk round the Scrape in an anticlockwise direction. As we approached this hide an area of willow and alder scrub produced a small flock of Siskins and a couple of Goldcrests along with Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits, but not the hoped for Firecrest. From West Hide we saw the usual species of dabbling duck, Mallard, Gadwall, Shoveler, and Teal, and there were good numbers of Wigeon. Among the waders were included many Lapwings, a few Black-tailed Godwits and several Snipe. We looked for and eventually found a Water Pipit but it was not too close and almost immediately wandered out of sight at the back of one of the small islands before everyone got on to it. From the rear windows of the hide we watched two Marsh Harriers briefly and then saw a small group of five Bewick's Swans, which included three juveniles, in flight. They eventually landed on a pool further down the track towards South Hide and we wandered down for a better look. Although much of the pool was obscured by high reeds we did manage to get reasonable glimpses of some of the party through available gaps as they moved around the water.

Progressing towards the sluice area we had good views of several of the Konik ponies which are now used extensively around the reserve to control some of the vegetation and they appear to have again bred well with several younger animals seen. Around the sluice we searched for a Snow Bunting which had been present in the area for many days but without success. However a Stonechat was seen in the gorse bushes near East Hide, which we then entered and saw many more ducks and waders, mostly similar to those seen earlier.

With lunchtime approaching we decided to make our stomachs wait and we walked along the shingle beach northwards to the National Trust car park and then out on to the heathland where after a considerable wait we got the briefest of glimpses of a couple of Dartford Warblers, unfortunately not very satisfactory views.

Hurrying back towards the Centre for lunch, we stopped for a couple of minutes along North Bank, just long enough to spot two Bearded Tits in flight. After a late but satisfying lunch we moved off into North Bushes where a Waxwing had been seen earlier. We were rewarded with excellent views of three of these delightful winter visitors feeding on hawthorn berries but they were rather flighty and did not settle in any one spot for long in spite of an abundance of available food.

Before closing the walk we had one further look for the Firecrest which had again been reported but were still unable to locate it and it may well have moved around into the bushes near the pond in the old car park area as we had just seen the Siskin flock and another Goldcrest in that locality.

All in all however a very successful and enjoyable walk in good company and with the highlight undoubtedly watching the enchanting Waxwings at the start of what appears to be a very good year for this species in the UK.