Magical Minsmere

An early start to make the most of a gorgeous day, not as radiant as the previous day but the east fared well as the weather rolled in from the west.  The morning was crisp, and clear.

The first stop was Eastbridge where the Glossy Ibis was feeding along the edges of the flooded marsh.  It was then spooked by a passing Marsh Harrier, it's iridescence shimmering against the morning sun as it flew round and then dropped down again.   A group of Curlew were present there as were a few flighty Common Snipe.

I was really looking forward to visiting Minsmere again.  It's such a fabulous reserve with so much to offer all year round.

Heading along the path toward Island Mere hide, common birds were now vocalising salutations for the onset of Spring within the woodland.  There is a while to go but today in the sun, the signs were promising.

This Robin was really confiding.

There were plenty of Siskin and a few Redpoll seen from the path that leads to the Canopy hide.

The view across the reedbed from the Island Mere hide is always a view to behold.  There were good numbers of Marsh Harrier occupying the skies with aerial elegence, and flashes of Bearded Tit, pinging their way across the tops of the reeds before plunging back down into shelter.

The trail routes past the canopy hide back towards the visitor centre pausing for a quick pit-stop before heading along the north wall towards the East hide.  It was pretty quiet here apart for common wildfowl that included three smart drake Pintail.

It was the Dartford Warbler along the beach that grabbed my attention for a while, a pair present with the male in full song, scratching away from the top of the gorse.  I watched them for a while.  Simply stunning birds, and great to see them away from their usual strongholds of the Suffolk heaths.

I sat staring at the see for a bit.  The sun was shining and it felt perfect.

There were Snow Bunting somewhere along the beach, but was lucky enough to have one fly past me calling before turning around a few moments late, dashing back from whence it came.

I made one last walk back to Island Mere, where five Whooper Swan had settled in from of the hide, two adults and three juveniles preening and prodding in the brilliant low light.

The main highlight of the day was seen at low-light.  The Starling murmuration.  A crowd of around 150 people had gathered for this avian show of un-choreographed shimmering brilliance that only nature can inspire.  A swirling mass of a kaleidoscopic purity, the sound of thousands of collective wing-beats coursing through the sky as clouds of birds passed overhead.

And then the mesmerising show that continued for around thirty minutes.  Two acts, climaxing in a dramatic precipitace descent into the reeds where the assembled multitude of birds harried and jostled for position.  The light faded, and the cold set in.

Just another night for nature to restore itself for the coming day.

Other sightings of note around the reserve were Roe Deer, Muntjac Deer, and a Grey Seal offshore.