A few seconds of an Otter on the ice at RSPB Minsmere @rspbminsmere.bsky.social @bbcspringwatch.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social

It was nice to see a tagged Marsh Harrier @rspbminsmere.bsky.social this weekend. Turns out he was tagged as a nestling in June 2024 up in Norfolk, then headed for Cambridgeshire. He obviously missed the sounds of the sea so headed back to Suffolk 🙂 @rspb.bsky.social @bbcspringwatch.bsky.social

The Koniks on the RSPB Minsmere Scrape @rspbminsmere.bsky.social youtu.be/ba-bM_oI-_Q

More from the Bittern on ice. It's become a bit of a regular thing for this time of year for me to be able to film these enigmatic birds practicing their ice-skating 😊 @rspbminsmere.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social @rspbengland.bsky.social @bbcspringwatch.bsky.social youtu.be/sb8nYIhGgRU

Bitterns are famous for their ice-skating abilities - this one may need some extra practice! @rspbminsmere.bsky.social @bbcspringwatch.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social @rspbengland.bsky.social @jabaddams.bsky.social youtu.be/zcOldU2TNCA

A girl's gotta eat! Marsh Harrier hunting in the snow over the @rspbminsmere.bsky.social reedbed youtu.be/Yyc4v6MrqyQ

A new species for me - a legless Bittern! Never seen one flying before without its legs stuck out the back - can only assume it's a rare sub-species 😀 @rspbminsmere.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social @rspbengland.bsky.social @bbcspringwatch.bsky.social

Home early after a trip to @rspbminsmere.bsky.social today because the weather was a bit grim (pic from Island Mere). Sunny with no snow a few miles south!

Common Snipe poking around in front of Island Mere at RSPB Minsmere @rspbminsmere.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social @bbcspringwatch.bsky.social youtu.be/7omEdSzXs_o

A Kingfisher is always a welcome sight @rspbminsmere.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social @bbcspringwatch.bsky.social youtu.be/0bTHwQGCpkY

Gotta love a Starling murmuration! @rspbminsmere.bsky.social @bbcspringwatch.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social @rspbengland.bsky.social youtu.be/qmEuhbCulz4 Music: bensound.com License code: EZJLTGP0KQDTFPO9 Artist: : Benjamin Tissot

I led a guided walk at the weekend @rspbminsmere.bsky.social that included a family over in the UK from Aus. They were amazed at the beautiful colours showing on some of the ducks outside the hide, they'd never seen anything like it. Sometimes it's necessary to see the commonplace through new eyes

Nice to see a Water Pipit poking around in front of Island Mere hide @rspbminsmere.bsky.social youtu.be/Ko-BWvmalvo

The first Winter Swan I've seen on the Minsmere Scrape this winter - three Bewick's turned up and hung around for a day before disappearing again @rspbminsmere.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social @rspbengland.bsky.social @bbcspringwatch.bsky.social youtu.be/axTVLJRGgMM

Kingfishers are still showing well @rspbminsmere.bsky.social @bbcspringwatch.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social @rspbengland.bsky.social youtu.be/EuqmeFX16cY

Watching a Bittern @rspbminsmere.bsky.social climb the reeds and show off before flying away youtu.be/pW7gZ6w-bto

Grey Squirrel burying a chestnut in the woods at RSPB Minsmere @rspbminsmere.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social

Clear skies and a low sun in your face make for difficult birding - and worse photography - conditions, but you have to keep your eyes peeled for the Bittern popping out to say hello @rspbminsmere.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social

Kingfisher hovering @rspbminsmere.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social

Time to relax with a Kingfisher in the rain at RSPB Minsmere @rspbminsmere.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social youtu.be/tstZmT1OH-M

Black Headed Gulls diving for scraps stirred up by a Cormorant @rspbminsmere.bsky.social

Marsh Harriers @rspbminsmere.bsky.social youtu.be/keHzL4QaNns

Everyone has time for a Robin having a bath @rspbminsmere.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social @rspbengland.bsky.social

It's a good time to look for a Bittern @rspbminsmere.bsky.social youtu.be/Fl5A8BF4pt0

Wotcha doin'? Beardie eyeballing me from the @rspbminsmere.bsky.social reedbed @rspb.bsky.social @rspbengland.bsky.social

Lunch anyone? Great White Egret @rspbminsmere.bsky.social youtu.be/U_Lp63s2tEk

Great White Egret vs Grey Heron - certainly not friends! @rspbminsmere.bsky.social

The afternoon's are obviously getting chilly when you can see the Red Deer bellowing @rspbminsmere.bsky.social

Yesterday I took a truck out @rspbminsmere.bsky.social to make sure the tracks we use for the Red Deer Rut Safaris that start this weekend were all OK. Of course, I took the camera along as well - good job too! youtu.be/uAgAYKSpkJc

Come & see us at Aldeburgh food & drink festival, Sbape Maltings 🙂

Not often you get to see all three types of Egret in the same day @rspbminsmere.bsky.social youtu.be/mENcP77kO4s

Pompilid Spider Hunters are busy @rspbminsmere.bsky.social youtu.be/8WBEQ0iQQrQ

Willow Emerald Damselfly @rspbminsmere.bsky.social youtu.be/xPmiy_dL3d8

Wasps are still collecting wood fibres to expand their nests along #DiggerAlley @rspbminsmere.bsky.social @waspwoman.bsky.social

Ammophila Sandwasp busy along #DiggerAlley @rspbminsmere.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social youtu.be/WQOD2GThMxs

Omyrid Gall Wasp along #DiggerAlley @rspbminsmere.bsky.social youtu.be/T39dMlwO-74

Blowing in the wind, this tiny insect, on a tiny flower is not very obvious for an ID! It's a wasp of some sort I'm sure, possible Ichneumon, anyone get any closer to some sort of species? #DiggerAlley @rspbminsmere.bsky.social youtu.be/vFc3cezE1DA

One of the various flies we collectively call Burrow Watchers - here camped outside a Pantaloon burrow along #DiggerAlley @rspbminsmere.bsky.social Not our regular Miltogramma, but definitely a bit of a spiky lady!

Ornate Bee Fox along #DiggerAlley @rspbminsmere.bsky.social youtu.be/zohsFUb76cQ

Ammophila Sandwasps can march a long way to find their burrows. When you get down to their level you realise theirs is a world of awkward obstacles to be overcome #DiggerAlley @rspbminsmere.bsky.social @waspwoman.bsky.social youtu.be/QXcjGRxY7BI @cintiaoi.bsky.social

Hornets don't always get along! #DiggerAlley @rspbminsmere.bsky.social youtu.be/z6W-1nKuPes

Ornate Bee Fox & Weevil Wolf disagreeing over whose burrow it is! #DiggerAlley @rspbminsmere.bsky.social youtu.be/7Yo7VCU7x24

Before messing around with big logs, the Sandwasp brought back a caterpillar to bury #DiggerAlley @rspbminsmere.bsky.social @waspwoman.bsky.social @cintiaoi.bsky.social youtu.be/o4Dc_0Jm8fQ

Maybe she's tossing the caber, maybe jousting with the lens. Maybe a new Jedi Warrior she is! All I know is that she's an amazingly strong Ammophila Sandwasp along #DiggerAlley @rspbminsmere.bsky.social 😀 @royentsoc.bsky.social @waspwoman.bsky.social @bbcspringwatch.bsky.social youtu.be/K2j34Lpfa-I

Jewel Wasp having fun in the Weevil Wolf burrow along #DiggerAlley @rspbminsmere.bsky.social @royentsoc.bsky.social youtu.be/suuXBh71RX4

Sometimes you just want a peaceful wash, but someone comes along to interrupt you! #DiggerAlley @rspbminsmere.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social @rspbengland.bsky.social @waspwoman.bsky.social

What do you do when it's a bit damp to watch insects on #diggeralley @rspbminsmere.bsky.social ?? Go and watch a Bittern of course! #bittern @rspb.bsky.social @rspbengland.bsky.social

New edition of the Suffolk Magazine has an article on @rspbminsmere.bsky.social #DiggerAlley by yours truly 😃 www.suffolkmagazine.co.uk/app/SUFCOM

A Mischief of Magpies @rspbminsmere.bsky.social Music by Bensound.com/royalty-free-music License code: VJJFQMWUAAXYWILA Artist: : Benjamin Tissot youtu.be/2c6EY3l3c9U

Munchy munchy, Cinnabar Moth caterpillar along #DiggerAlley @rspbminsmere.bsky.social