RSPB Minsmere is on the east coast of Suffolk and butts the North Sea. It covers just shy of 10 square km with a range of signed paths to choose and explore. The link above will allow a more detailed insight for those interested. We spent a full 5 hours wandering around, so it was good exercise for three old men. Here is a panorama of most of it ...
The craziest, and saddest thing, is clear from the photo below (off to the left - south - of the panorama above) ... really hard to overestimate the irony and incongruity of the nuclear power station (Sizewell) looming over such a beautiful place :(.
Irony and incongruity aside there was LOT of diverse birdlife on show! A couple of rare sightings too ... one very rare one, a bittern, caused much excitement. Not worth showing the photo as it is quite blurry even on full zoom, but there were 2 sightings. Here is an image courtesy of the Norfolk Wildlife Trust (being a member I am comfortable lifting their image!) and the setting is very similar to what we saw from a long way off.
One of the early sightings was some very young moorhens and coots ... interestingly, the young look almost identical (and I have to say very ungainly, if not plain ugly) even though being fed by a moorhen (red & yellow beak) and a coot (white beak). These had been very difficult to get a close sighting of at the Dairy, so I was pleased to be able to get close here.
Next treat, after the first sighting of the bittern noted earlier, was another relatively rare sighting ... a male and female stonechat. The male is the more colourful one on the blackberry bush, the female less skittish on the strand of fence wire.
Then we spent some time in a hide and sighted many water birds. Here are some examples. The avocet because it was much closer than I was able to get back at Cley Marsh; a black headed gull featured in several earlier posts but on the nest this time; Canadian geese and their 3 goslings because these ones are really in the wild; a pair of shelducks because I cannot recall seeing them before; and a pair of barnacle geese, one on the nest - they visit from Greenland and are also not that common these days.
I cannot go any further without sharing these neat shots of my guides - Sean on the left and Geoffrey on the right. Their knowledge and willingness to give up a day's work are much appreciated and certainly add to the pleasure of such a place to wander.
Next few are a pied wagtail (featured in earlier posts also); a little egret gulping the catch; a pair of swans where the little egret was fishing and a pond and reed landscape featuring black headed gulls relaxing on their mirror. As you can see ... much to soak in and allow the senses to savour :).
After another walk through some trees and reeds we reached another hide, this time elevated. It was designated as a bittern and bird of prey hide. We were not disappointed on either count. Another bittern was sighted landing among the reed beds but not to be seen once it had alighted this time. Quite a few (five from memory) Hobbies - a small type of kestral - put on a show WAY up on the thermals and scouring the reeds, alas, no hovering to assist me! However, I did manage to capture another relative rareity, the marsh harrier. Not so long ago these were on the verge of extinction, and despite much improved numbers a treat for many and not just me ... so I was VERY pleased to get these two shots ...
And by way of contrast in size, here is a much more common chaffinch having a good old sing song and a little less common, but plentiful dunnock who was very co-operative right beside the path we were tramping. You nearly always hear these little birds before you see them; if you stop, take time to listen (that all too little used sense) and follow the sound, you may be treated to a nice clear views with twigs and leaves and branches to offer context for just how small they are.
Emphasising that last point about how small and secretive some of these tiny birds are, here are two prize examples that are particular favourites of the day ... the size of the birds relative to the reeds they are swinging on makes it clear how dainty and fragile and agile they are. Very pleased to have sighted and captured these. First there are two of the same reed bunting (male); second there are two of the same reed warbler ... I did not realise these final two were so good until I viewed them on my computer screen. Along with the marsh harrier shots, they really made my day.
In case you did not notice, the reed warbler is sitting on the small spike atop the bullrush and not the bullrush itself ... even more fragile and thin than the single reed supporting the reed bunting. Nature showing off her full glory and diversity yet again. Much to admire.
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