RSPB Minsmere - 16th April 2017
On Saturday I made my way down to Thetford for the BTO Spring Members Day. We had a walk around the Nunnery reserve and went on a nest recording session. I had a great time and saw my first Stone-Curlew! While in the area I took the opportunity to visit Minsmere the next day, my first visit to the famous reserve! As of yet I'd failed to see a bittern but had high hopes for Minsmere. One of the staff told me they have 10% of the UK's population of bittern at Minsmere.
At the first hide I saw what makes Minsmere so special. Across the scrape was such a high density of birds. Instantly I saw barnacle geese, redshank and avocet. You do have to give yourself time to search through the birds to see everything. I headed off and stumbled upon linnet and wheatear on my way to the next hide. I'd been at Minsmere under an hour and already seen more than I would at my local reserve.
Living in the midlands makes any coastal reserve special, I love being by the sea, I used my recently gained skills from Orca surveying to spot seals feeding around a 1km out to sea. However, the south hide provided the best views to increase my species count, adding notable species such as, sandwich tern, greater black backed gull, common tern and black tailed godwits. Further along a group pointed out a grey plover to me, another first adding to linnet, sandwich tern and wheatear.
Finally I made my way around to the levels in hope of bittern. Approaching the bittern hide I could hear them booming. Such a unique sound! Joining a growing crowd in the hide we were kept entertained by marsh harriers hunting. Then my first bittern flew over, not too far from the hide, I got a good look as it landed! Not long after a second flew along at the back of the reed bed. Sadly I didn't catch the bearded tits or otters, but was very happy with five firsts in one day. I'd recommend Minsmere to anyone! Such as fascinating place with a wide variety of wildlife, I'd love to go back!
