A Trip to Minsmere

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!

Birding - for all.

I recently read an article in BTO News regarding gender equality in birding. This is something that's often hit me in the face like an off course pigeon. Alison Johnston talks about how "subconsciously most of us think that men have greater interest and skill at birdwatching". This is something many of us are guilty of. I'm lucky that I work in an environment where everyday I can, and I'm encouraged to, challenge my subconscious preconceptions of people. However, I'm finding in the birding world I'm often overlooked as a female. From my experience, and commonly known, birding is a middle-class, older, white mans game. A young female, hard hit by the mid-twenties baptism of fire of council tax, national insurance and pensions, results in me and my crap gear being overlooked.

What do I mean by overlooked? When talking in hides if I say I've seen an interesting bird, I'm met with looks of almost sympathy. As if "bless her, she thinks she's seen a goldeneye". Or, more commonly, I'll be out with my partner and they address him. Not me. To put this in perspective, I've volunteered with RSPB for years, I have a first-class biology degree where I specialised in wildlife conservation. I spend most weekends birding. My partner, is supportive and frequently goes with me, but is proud he can identify an oystercatcher. When he says 'oh I have no idea, this is her thing', we're met with shock. One man even ignored this and commented on how I must be bored and want to go shopping. It took a lot of control for me not to push his scope (probably worth more than my car) over.

Obviously, this isn't everyone. Some lovely individuals don't talk down to me, allow me to borrow their scope to look at far away birds and say how we need more young people in the birding world. It's a worry for many that the generations interested in wildlife are ageing. However, if we really want to encourage everybody into birding, regardless of gender, race, age or any characteristic, we need to challenge our subconscious preconceptions. So next time your out birding, challenge yourself, don't make assumptions based on an individuals characteristics. This way, we really can group together to save the wildlife we love so much.

WWT Slimbridge

WWT Slimbridge - 12th March

It's been a long time coming but I finally made it to Slimbridge. A much talked about reserve in the birding world! I'd spent a few days keeping my eye on the sightings twitter to catch up with what was still around. Most of the Benwick's had gone which is a shame. Slimbridge has captive birds and otters too, I'm a big otter fan and seeing the captive ducks and geese up close was great! Most weren't native species but some were, they had some captive avocets, redshank and shelduck. Photographing them felt a little like cheating. All the photos below are of wild birds, the black swan above isn't one of Slimbridge's captive swans, it recently appeared, unringed!

We spent a lot of time around south lake where lots of avocets had already arrived. The black-tailed godwits were also gathering, likely getting ready to move to summer grounds. A few snipe were hiding around the edges and a ruff popped up every so often. We didn't find many notable species on the west of the reserve, although a very noisy rookery provided entertainment. Walking through the middle of the centre we spotted a cetti's very briefly. Pure luck but no chance of a photo! It was my first cetti's but I really wanted to find the cranes and white-fronted geese. We had success in the hides on the east, where lots of white-fronts were gathering. There was also four cranes, one of which was displaying. Looking over the estuary we also spotted a large group of barnacle goose.

Four firsts for me: cetti's, cranes, white-fronted and barnacle geese!

On the way out we spotted the handful of Benwick's still around in a field by the entrance, another first! A fab place for birding and we'll be heading back in the summer!

Trent Lock to Attenborough: Success in the Cold

Searching for Whooper Swans - 28th January

I've always had a soft spot for the elegant swan. When I started birding, flicking through my wetland birds FSC guide, I found out that more than one species visits the UK. Ever since I've wanted to see a Whooper or Benwicks, but never heard of any sightings locally (and rarely ventured out in winter)! Last week I found out they'd been sighted along the River Trent in Nottingham and were on the Attenborough NR sightings board. So after numerous sightings of them in fields along the Trent (Thrumpton for those local) I drove to Trent Lock and walked towards Attenborough determined to see them. After encountering a few friendly Mute Swan (above), I found the Whooper Swans amongst a field of Mutes. Being quite far away I struggled to get decent photos but the best are below. 

The excitement continued as a little further down I found a flock of geese, Candian, Greylag and Bean Goose! Bean Goose is another first for me, but something spooked them so it was a brief encounter. When I walked further down the river I found a single male Goldeneye (a first) then entered the reserve to meet my Dad. I stumbled upon another first, the Pintail. Four firsts in one hour, pretty good going! 

A male and female Mandarin were also showing well by the visitor centre. Taking my mind off the fact I'd just scratched my camera lens. We stayed around in an attempt to see the Starling murmurations (around 6000 Starlings have been coming into roost at Attenborough in the evenings). The light night meant they didn't come in as early as expected, so we missed the bulk as we headed home to warm up. We did however, catch the small 'warm-up act'. I'm planning on heading back to see the murmuration this week.

A very successful day!

Attenborough Nature Reserve - Goosanders

Attenborough Nature Reserve - Sunday 22nd January

January can be a depressing month. I leave for work in the dark and return in the dark. However, some amazing wildlife migrates here for winter and getting a glimpse of these species at the weekends brightens my week. I'd heard that Attenborough was doing well for Goosanders, being guilty of avoiding the outdoors during winter, I'd never actually seen one! As soon as I got to the visitor centre there was a few females close-by meaning I could get a good look and a photo or two! Walking around we also saw males but much further away. One of the reserve's team said they counted around 60 Goosanders, a good year! 

Much of the wildlife was busy finding food. The cold certainly wasn't bothering Wrens and Robins which were out in force. Gadwall and Teal were frequently seen. At one point we got within a few feet of a juvenile Heron who was fishing next to the foot path. Cormorants were also fishing very close to the bridges. Whooper Swans were listed on the sightings, apparently reported to be chilling with some Bean Geese. Sadly, we couldn't locate either! I'll have to try again next weekend! 

Reminiscing Holy Island

Holy Island - Wales

In October I visited Holy Island for my first time. Sitting now in my cold, landlocked apartment, I can't wait to go back in April. I recently booked this second visit to coincide with the nesting seabirds, finally I'll hopefully see the iconic puffin. It's been a while since I've blogged, or even been out for a bird-y walk! It's been a very busy few months but a new job and the end of my studies is on the horizon. 

I'm hoping to get back out tomorrow (likely Attenborough Nature Reserve) so to get me in the mood I'm going through the photos from my Holy Island visit. I thought I'd share my favourites. 

South Stack Cliffs

Penrhos Coastal Park

RSPB Valley Wetlands

South Stack Cliffs

South Stack Cliffs

South Stack Cliffs

South Stack Cliffs

RSPB Conwy

Willington Gravel Pits

Willington Gravel Pits Derbyshire

Willington Gravel Pits are former sand and gravel quarries managed by the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust. They're a quick 15 minute drive away from me and provide the best bird watching in the area. It's become my local patch as try to regularly visit to keep my eye in! Sadly, I don't get much chance at the moment due to work commitments, but I'm looking forward to spending my October weekends at Willington in hope of adding some rare migrant birds to my list. 

I completely fell for Willington recently, unable to make it to Spurn Bird Fest I decided to get out and spend an afternoon birding. At the first viewing platform a Hobby was gliding overhead, swopping down to catch insects, giving me some fantastic views. It then shot towards a tree and knocked another Hobby into flight. After a few minutes 4 Hobbies were hunting, dipping and looping over the wetland, chasing each other when they got too close. What a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon. It was my first time seeing Hobbies, being able to watch them feeding so closely was captivating. Another highlight was a single Black Tern, perching on a post the far side of the site. A rare(ish) bird to add to my list! 

My other sightings from Willington include: 

21/6/16

Teal

Reed Bunting 

28/8/16

Snipe 

Buzzard

Kingfisher 

Shoveler 

Hobby

Black Tern

10/9/16

Long Tailed Tit 

Common Sandpiper

Green Sandpiper

Black-Tailed Godwit

Rumour has it Willington plays host to Marsh Harriers and Great White Egrets too, I hope to see them soon before they migrate!