Minsmere 2025 with the East Grinstead RSPB Local Group

Sunday 11^th May 2025

RSPB Minsmere

East Grinstead RSPB Local Group

(25 members present)

Trip Report

Wow!  What a turnout from our members today. This was the best attendance in my time with the group. Such good support deserved a positive response and we certainly got that today with at least 84 bird species seen.

We enjoyed good weather, with bright sunshine and a gentle breeze as we followed our usual, clockwise route from the Visitor Centre. The group was too big to go around as a single unit.

Our first port of call was the artificial sand cliffs outside the café, where we usually observe the breeding sand martins. Last year, they deserted this site and chose to breed a few miles further north on the cliffs at Dunwich Heath.  Thankfully, that must have been a blip and today they were back.

Courtesy of Patrick Sullivan

• We saw good numbers flying to and from the nesting areas.
• They were by far the most ubiquitous hirundine seen around the reserve.  House martins and swallows were in short supply.
• We didn't see any swifts today.  
• 
  

As we headed out into the reserve, we encountered a couple of interesting passerines:-

• Garden warblers are always quite tricky to see. They sing very loudly from the bushes, but they hide from view very well. Today, we were lucky to see one in the area outside the North Hide.  After hearing it, we waited patiently and behold, it eventually showed.
• Similarly, we heard several nightingales singing.

Our short stay in North Hide provided sightings of some special species.:-

• Pick of the bunch was a spotted redshank, feeding in the shallow water.
• As always, avocets provided a glamorous element.

We then walked along the North Wall towards the sea, looking for birds in the reedbeds on either side of the path.

• As expected, we saw reed warblers, sedge warblers, and reed buntings.

Courtesy of Patrick Sullivan

• John was lucky to see a bearded tit.
• Our attention was grabbed by a lovely bittern as it flew by before disappearing into the reeds.  It was a short and sweet moment, however.  Despite the good view, it was over in a flash - too quick for our photographers.  Thankfully, Patrick and Andrew hung back and successfully photographed it when it retook flight.

Courtesy of Andrew Burns

• As we reached the end of the North Wall and turned west, stonechats, whitethroats and linnets became the focus of attention.

Courtesy of Andrew Burns

• This lizard grabbed Ian's attention!

Courtesy of Ian Hodgson

After lunch in the sheltered area between the sea and the path, our attention switched to water birds on the East and West Scrapes and a good variety were on show.

• This knot, in summer plumage, was undoubtedly the eye catcher as it moved around in the water.

Courtesy of Patrick Sullivan

• Other birds in stunning summer plumage were this lovely grey plover.

Courtesy of Andrew Burns

• These kittiwakes were visiting from nearby Sizewell.

Courtesy of Ian Hodgson

• Three species of tern were present.  Most people saw the common terns and the sandwich terns but only a privileged few got to see the two little terns before they flew away.
• The usual suspects were also present: Mediterranean gulls, black-tailed godwits, ringed and little ringed plovers.
• This common sandpiper was a first sighting in 2025 for most of us.

Courtesy of Martin Jeffree

As we headed back inland, our attention was divided between the scrapes to the east and the reedbeds to the west.  

The scrapes continued to provide good sightings.

• We had our best views of bar-tailed godwits.  John pointed out a small group of birds in flight for a few seconds before disappearing behind one of the islands.  Earlier, Patrick took this shot of one feeding on the scrape.

Courtesy of Patrick Sullivan

• Bob J saw a greenshank.

Off to the west, more and more hobbies were seen high above us as we progressed along the path.

Courtesy of Patrick Sullivan

Not far from the South Belt Crossroads, Sue saw this stunning treecreeper.

Courtesy of Chris Harries

As always, we finished in the Bittern Hide and the Island Mere Hide, hoping for a grand finale.  We were not disappointed.

• Those who stayed in the latter hide were rewarded with a brief and distant flight view of a crane.

Courtesy of Chris Harries

• Alas, a small group of us had already departed for Westleton Common and missed the crane.  We were rewarded, however, by good sightings of two stone curlews on the slopes of the common, making the long trek worthwhile.

Courtesy of Martin Jeffree

With an incredible species count of 94 there was something here for everyone.  Thankfully, the sand martins had returned to their nesting sites.  The star species, including bittern, nightingale, hobby and stone curlew, were still there.  This was a most enjoyable day and well deserving of its status as our flagship trip.  

Here's to Minsmere 20026 - thanks Kevin!

Species List

Species count = 84

2025 species count = 170

New Species:

170  Reed Warbler

169  Common Tern

168  Stone Curlew

167  Hobby

166  Bar-tailed Godwit

165  Common Sandpiper

164  Bittern

163  Sand Martin