MINSMERE BIRD RESERVE H . E . AXELL
it was established by the R.S.P.B, in 1948, the reserve has maintained its basic importance to birds in providing a diversity of protected habitats. Management work on a large scale has been done to sustain and develop the different feeding and breeding sites, improving their value at a time when the countryside is being whittled away with increasing rapidity. T o augment the existing variety of freshwater marsh, woodland, heath and shore, an entirely new habitat of forty acres of shallow, brackish water, with many islands, has been constructed in the past decade. Now widely known as " T h e Scrape", this project has added some 1,500 pairs of breeding birds to the population of the reserve. SINCE
In its first season, Minsmere was found to be supporting eightyfive different breeding species. By 1971 this number had risen to ninety-nine. In the meantime, however, as well as these gains in variety and the increases which had occurred in the densities of some species, the reserve has also experienced several losses. Some species have apparently ceased permanently to breed in this area and populations of others are continuing to decline. While some of the local changes, both losses and gains, can be seen as the direct result of man's activity, others have no obvious cause. T h e wide-spread effects of the slowly-changing climate upon plant and animal life, including the distribution of bird populations, may be partly responsible for some losses; at Minsmere, these losses are occurring mostly on the dry heaths. In these areas and in the woodland-edge zones, a more obvious factor contributing to bird changes has been the modern scarcity of rabbits. Since the advent of mvxomatosis in 1953, large areas of scrub and young woodland of oak and pine have developed, to the temporary advantage of some birds but to the detriment of more which are dependent upon heavily grazed and partly bare ground for their feeding and nesting sites. Loss of habitats elsewhere, through reclamation for farming or building or through degradation by pollution or disturbance have caused birds to seek new sites. Some of these will have been attracted to Minsmere by the improved and protected wetland habitats which have been made available in the freshwater and brackish areas. Of obvious benefit has been the diversification of plant life and thus insect and other animal life which has been achieved by the control of large areas of reed and exposure of more mud and shallow water. A healthy ecology is maintained in the marsh; in the woods, all of the resident species recovered successfully from the effects of the prolonged arctic weather of 1962/63 but on the seashore and dunes and near the public roads and paths, many bird species are being adversely affected by the relentlessly
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Suffolk Natural History, Vol. 16, Part 1
increasing pressure of people at leisure. On neighbouring Minsmere Cliff, recently purchased by The National Trust, a fine Sunday twenty years ago might have produced four or five cars; nowadays the number of cars there would be nearly 1,000. 1971 The Breeding Birds While the loss of some breeding species cannot be considered to have been offset by the gain of others, the year 1971 was feit generally to have been the best in the reserve's history so far. Almost one hundred species bred within its 1,500 acres, probably a higher variety than in any area of comparable size in Britain. Helped by good weather, the fledging rate—the ultimate yardstick of success—was high. The freshwater marsh (400 acres) Bittern. Increased to twelve to fourteen breeding pairs, spread over about one-half of the marsh. There is now a more than sufficient number of these highly predatory residents which are known to have destroyed nestlings of the marsh harriers. Heron. One pair nested in the reeds and fledged three young, the first known instance in Suffolk of herons nesting on the ground. One or two pairs had bred on the reserve, in trees, from 1956 to 1962. Duck species. Gadwall, at about forty breeding females, continued to outnumber mallard and teal. Shoveler, thirty females, bred only moderately well but shelduck, thirty pairs, bred unusually well. Three or four female garganey bred. Marsh harrier. Only one pair bred, raising two young. Since the species first bred here in 1955, a total of 107 young has flown from this marsh but the British breeding stock has declined to a point now where extinction in any year may occur. The young migrate to Africa and it is considered that most are shot there or en route. Savi's warbler.
Bred at Minsmere for the first time.
Grasshopper warbler.
Increased to at least forty pairs.
Bearded tit. Increased to some eighty pairs, most having three broods and some having four. In September, 1,000 were present and migration away in autumn occurred on a greater scale than at any time since these movements began here in 1959. The British population of this species is now much higher than has ever been previously recorded.
MINSMERE BIRD REPORT
31
"The Scrape" (40 acres) Ringed plover. Increased to eight pairs breeding on the islands. Until recently, these birds were able to breed successfully on the adjacent public foreshore but now only one or two pairs try to nest there. Avocet. Increased to twenty-five pairs which fledged fifty-five young (fifteen pairs in 1970). After the war-time flooding of the marsh, four pairs were found breeding in a flooded field in 1947 but none bred again until one pair did so in 1963 when the making of " T h e Scrape" was under way. One of the ringed young was shot in Spain in 1970, another was recovered in Holland in 1971 and at least one wintered with about ninety others on the River Tamar. Black-headed gull. T h e colony, which began in 1964, is controlled at between 300 and 400 pairs. Sandwich tern. About 600 pairs bred and averaged just over one Aying young per pair. T h e colony started with 110 pairs in 1965, rising to 700 pairs in 1967 but in the following year predation by rats caused a set-back. Common tern. Increased to 400 pairs which fledged rather less than one young per pair. First bred on " T h e Scrape", one pair, in 1962. Little tern. Increased to twenty pairs, on one island and fledged more than one young per pair. In 1970, eight pairs bred on " T h e Scrape" and the colony is formed of refugees from the public foreshore.
The sea-shore and dunes T h e whole of this public area, to which increasing numbers of people have access from the car park on Minsmere Cliff, is now virtually untenable as a breeding site for birds. A very few pairs of skylarks and meadow pipits still breed in the marram and sand-sedge but on the shingle foreshore only one or two pairs each of ringed plovers and little terns now try to nest.
The woodlands (600 acres) The mainly resident species retained their good numbers but some of the summer visitors continued the decline that has been evident in recent years. Tawny owls, the three woodpecker species, goldcrests, the thrushes, long-tailed tits, the five species of Parus tits, nuthatches, treecreepers and the finches all did well in 1971. One pair of sparrowhawks and three pairs of kestrels continued to breed. Among the summer visitors whose populations continued to do well were turtle dove, garden warbler, blackcap, whitethroat, lesser
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Suffolk Natural History, Vol. 16, Part 7
whitethroat, willow warbler, and chiffchaff. Spotted flycatchers and redstarts were still fewer in 1971 and nightingales showed a further decline to thirty-five pairs from the fifty pairs which were breeding on the reserve ten years ago. The heaths and scrub (400 acres) Changes in bird populations have occurred in these areas more drastically in recent years than elsewhere on the reserve. In 1971 com buntings failed to breed for the first time; tor no apparent reason the species has been declining rapidly throughout the area in the past decade. Other species which did not breed in 1971 having ceased to do so only recently, were stone curlew (last b r e d ' i n 1969), woodlark (1965), and wheatear (1967). I ree pipit decreased to ten pairs, red-backed shrike to four pairs (from fourteen pairs in 1961), and whinchat to three pairs (from fifteen pairs in 1959). In contrast to this trend in diminution ot heathland species, nightjars maintained their good numbers, with some twenty pairs breeding in 1971. Yellowhammers continued to be abundant and lesser redpolls, which first bred here in 1962 and quickly increased, kept up their good numbers. Passage Migrants Bewick's swans are among the species which winter regularly at Minsmere and between forty and eighty were present up to late February, 1971. T h e y were accompamed by two barnacle geese. T h e usual adult male and female hen harrier, great grey shrike, and two or three water pipits also wintered on the reserve A peregrine stayed for a week in February. T h e shorelarks and snow buntings which now feed on the new'sah marsh plants on " T h e Scrape" were in their usual small numbers but twites increased in the autumn of 1971, over 200 being present m late October. A spotted crake, a species which has bred here on two occasions, was heard during May. One or two firecrests were present tor a week in April. A few crossbills, which have bred on the reserve, and a hawfinch which may have bred occasionally in the past, were seen in May. T h e construction in recent years of large new areas of mud and shallow water has brought an increasing number and vanety oi waders to the reserve. At the peak time in late July and early August as many as twenty-nme different wader species have recently been visible at one time from the East Scrape hide. In 1971 fewer, an average of twenty-five wader species daily, were present in summer but these included four from North America a semi-palmated sandpiper, a white-rumped sandpiper, a pectoral sandpiper, and a Wilson's phalarope. One each of the only other
33
MINSMERE BIRD REPORT
two of the world's phalarope species, the grey and the red-necked, also occurred. Nine wader species from North America have been observed at Minsmere so far. As usual in late spring, at least one spoonbill was present. Skuas are of erratic occurrence along the Minsmere shore; in only two summers, 1961 and 1963, have all four species been recorded. Arctic skuas are most commonly seen and were of daily occurrence in August, 1971, with up to fifteen on some days. In the same month, a Sabine's gull was seen along the shore on 5th and a slender-billed gull roosted with the black-headed gulls on " T h e Scrape" on 15th. A dozen or so little gulls, mostly birds in their second year, have recently spent the season from April to October at Minsmere but the number present in 1971 was fewer than usual. Between 1948 and 1971, a total of 270 wild bird species has been recorded on the reserve. The number observed in 1971 was 212, about average in recent years. Permit visitors increased to well over 5,000. Check-list of the birds of M i n s m e r e , 1948-71 (270 species) B = breeds (B) = has b r e d A p p r o x i m a t e Classification of m i g r a n t s : SP = mainly on spring passage l'M AP = m a i n l y on a u t u m n passage c sv = s u m m e r visitor RS w v = w i n t e r visitor R VR Black-throated diver wv, PM, R G r e a t n o r t h e r n diver wv, PM, VR R e d - t h r o a t e d diver wv, PM, RS G r e a t crested grebe B, SV, PM, RS R e d - n e c k e d grebe PM, R Slavonian g r e b e w v , SP, R Black-necked grebe SP, AP, VR Little g r e b e B, Res, RS, SP F u l m a r SP, AP, RS M a n x shearwater SP, AP, R Sooty shearwater AP, VR L e a c h ' s petrel 1 on 18.10.65 G a n n e t PM, RS C o r m o r a n t wv, PM, RS Shag SP, AP, w v , R G r e y h e r o n B, Res, RS P u r p l e h e r o n SP, R Little egret SP, VR Little b i t t e r n 1 on 7.5.70 Bittern B, Res, RS W h i t e Stork SP, VR Spoonbill SP, RS Mallard B, Res, w v , c T e a l B, Res, w v , c G a r g a n e y B, SV, RS Gadwall B, SV, WV, C
Res = resident all year passage m i g r a n t common regulär small n u m b e r s rare, 11-50 occurrences very rare, 1-10 occurrences
Wigeon w v , PM, c Pintail w v , PM, RS Shoveler B, PM, c Red-crested p o c h a r d 1 in 1957 Scaup w v , PM, RS T u f t e d duck PM, RS Pochard (B), PM, RS G o l d e n e y e SP, AP, RS Long-tailed duck AP, R Velvet scoter AP, wv, R C o m m o n scoter AP, WV, RS Eider AP, w v , RS R e d - b r e a s t e d merganser w v , SP, RS
G o o s a n d e r wv, RS Smew wv, R Shelduck B, Res, c Egyptian goose 1 on 30.6.61 Greylag goose w v , SP, RS W h i t e - f r o n t e d goose w v , SP, RS Bean goose w v , R Pink-footed goose w v , SP, R Brent goose AP, SP Barnacle goose w v , R C a n a d a goose B, Res, c M u t e swan B, Res, RS
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Suffolk Natural History, Vol. 16, Part 1
W h o o p e r swan wv, R Bewick's swan wv, RS Buzzard SP, AP, wv, R Rough-legged buzzard SP, wv, R Sparrowhawk B, Res, RS Goshawk 1 on 4.5.69 Red K i t e AP, VR Honey buzzard 1 on 16.9.68 M a r s h harrier B, Res, RS Hen harrier wv, RS M o n t a g u ' s harrier (B), sv, R Osprey SP, R H o b b y sp, AP, R Peregrine SP, AP, R Merlin w v , R Kestrel B, Res, RS, AP Red-legged partridge B, Res, c Partridge B, Res, c Bobwhite B, Res, RS Pheasant B, Res, c Crane SP, VR Water rail B, Res, wv, c Spotted crake (B), SP, AP, R Corncrake AP, VR M o o r h e n B, Res, c, wv Coot B, Res, c, wv Oystercatcher B, RS, SP, AP L a p w i n g B, Res, PM, c Ringed plover B, sv, PM, c Little ringed plover (B), PM, R Kentish plover SP, AP, R Grey plover PM, RS Golden plover PM, RS Dotterel 3 on 4.9.65 T u r n s t o n e PM, RS Stilt sandpiper 1 in Ju!y, 1969 Snipe B, AP, wv, c Jack snipe wv, RS Woodcock B, wv, RS Upland sandpiper 1 on 24.9.64 Curlew SP, AP, RS W h i m b r e l SP, AP, RS Black-tailed godwit SP, AP, RS Bar-tailed godwit SP, AP, RS Green sandpiper SP, AP, RS Wood sandpiper SP, AP, RS C o m m o n sandpiper SP, AP, RS Redshank B, sv, c Spotted redshank SP, AP, WV, RS Lesser yellowlegs 1 on 26.8.50 Greenshank SP, AP, RS K n o t PM, RS Purple sandpiper PM, R Little stint AP, RS T e m m i n c k ' s Stint SP, AP, R Baird's sandpiper 1 in autumn, 1969 W h i t e - r u m p e d sandpiper AP, VR Pectoral sandpiper AP, VR D u n l i n PM, wv, c
Curlew sandpiper SP, AP, RS Semipalmated sandpiper 1 in a u t u m n , 1971 Sanderling PM, WV, RS Buff-breasted sandpiper 1 on 1.9.61 Broad-billed sandpiper AP, VR Ruff SP, AP, wv, RS Avocet B, sv, RS Black-winged stilt SP, VR Grey phalarope AP, VR Red-necked phalarope AP, VR Wilson's phalarope 1 in June, 1971 Stone curlew (B), SV, now R Great skua SP, AP, R Pomarine skua AP, VR Arctic skua SP, AP, RS Long-tailed skua AP, VR Great black-backed gull SP, AP, wv, c Lesser black-backed gull SP, AP, c Herring gull B, PM, c C o m m o n gull PM, w v , . c Glaucous gull wv, R Iceland gull wv, R Slender-billed gull 1 on 15.8.71 Mediterranean gull SP, wv, R Little gull PM, WV, RS Black-headed gull B, Res, WV, C Sabine's gull AP, VR Kittiwake PM, WV, RS Black tern SP, AP, RS White-winged black tern AP, VR Caspian tern AP, R C o m m o n tern B, sv, c Arctic tern SP, AP, R Roseate tern SP, AP, R Sooty tern 1 on 11.6.66 Little tern B, sv, RS Sandwich tern B, sv, c Razorbill AP, wv, R Little auk AP, wv, VR Guillemot SP, AP, wv, RS Puffin PM, wv, R Stock dove B, Res, c Woodpigeon B, Res, c T u r t l e dove B, sv, c Collared dove RS Cuckoo B, sv, RS Barn owl (B), now R Little owl B, RS T a w n y owl B, Res, c Long-eared owl VR Short-eared owl RS Nightjar B, SV, RS Swift sv, c Alpine swift SP, VR Kingfisher B, Res, RS
MINSMERE BIRD REFORT
Bee-eater 1 on 8.6.64 Roller AP, VR Hoopoe SP, R Green woodpecker B, Res, RS Great spotted woodpecker B, Res, RS Lesser spotted woodpecker B, Res, RS Wryneck (B), SP, AP, R Short-toed lark 2 in 1969 Woodlark (B), SP, AP, now R Skylark B, Res, c, AP Shore lark wv, R Swallow B, sv, c House martin sv, AP, C Sand martin B, sv, c Golden oriole SP, R Carrion crow B, Res, RS Hooded crow wv, RS Rook AP, SP, RS Jackdaw B, Res, SP, AP, RS Magpie B, Res, RS Nutcracker 7 in autumn, 1968 Jay B , Res, RS Great tit B, Res, c Blue tit B, Res, c Coal tit B, Res, RS Marsh tit B, Res, RS Willow tit B, Res, RS Long-tailed tit B, Res, RS Nuthatch B, Res, RS Treecreeper B, Res, c Wren B, Res, AP, c Bearded tit B, Res, PM, C Mistle thrush B, Res, RS Fieldfare AP, WV , RS Song thrush B, Res, AP, RS Redwing AP, WV, RS Ring ouzel SP, AP, RS Blackbird B, Res, wv Wheatear (B), SP, AP, RS Stonechat B, AP, RS Whinchat B, sv, AP, RS Redstart B, SV, AP, RS Black redstart SP, AP, RS Nightingale B, sv, RS Bluethroat SP, AP, R Robin B, SP, AP, RS Cetti's warbler 1 in 1971 Grasshopper warbler B, sv, RS Savi's warbler B, sv, R Great reed warbler SP, VR Reed warbler B, SV, C Sedge warbler B, SV, C Melodious warbler 1 in August, 1970 Icterine warbler AP, VR
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Blackcap B, SV, AP, SP, RS Barred warbler SP, AP, VR Garden warbler B, sv, SP, AP, RS Whitethroat B, sv, SP, AP, RS Lesser whitethroat B, sv, RS Willow warbler B, sv, SP, AP, C Chiffchaff B, sv, SP, AP, C Wood warbler (B), SP, R Bonelli's warbler 1 on 6.5.70 Yellow-browed warbler AP, VR Pallas's warbler 1 on 4.11.66 Radde's warbler 2 in October, 1966 Goldcrest B, Res, SP, AP, RS Firecrest SP, AP, RS Spotted flycatcher B, sv, RS Picd flycatcher AP, RS Red-breasted flycatcher AP, VR Dunnock B, Res, AP, c Richard's pipit AP, VR Tawny pipit AP, VR Meadow pipit B, Res, AP, c Tree pipit B, sv, SP, AP, RS Water pipit wv, R Rock pipit wv, RS Pied wagtail B, Res, AP, RS White wagtail SP, R Grey wagtail SP, AP, R Citrine wagtail AP, VR Yellow wagtail B, sv, SP, AP, RS Blue-headed wagtail SP, R Waxwing AP, wv, RS Great grey shrike wv, RS Woodchat shrike 1 on 8.6.63 Red-backed shrike B, sv, RS Starling B, Res, SP, AP, C Hawfinch (B?), R Greenfinch B, Res, AP, c Goldfinch B, Res, SP, AP, c Siskin SP, AP, wv, RS Linnet B, Res, SP, AP, C Twite AP, wv, RS Redpoll B, Res, wv, AP, c Bullfinch B, Res, c Crossbill (B), AP, R Chaflfinch B, Res, SP, AP, C Brambling AP, WV, RS Corn bunting B, Res, SP, R Yellowhammer B, Res, AP, c Ortolan bunting SP, AP, VR Rustic bunting 1 on 24.10.62 Reed bunting B, Res, AP, c Lapland bunting AP, wv, R Snow bunting AP, wv, RS House sparrow B, Res, c Tree sparrow B, Res, AP, c
H. E. Axell, M.B.E., Minsmere Nature Reserve, Westleton, Saxmundham, Suffolk.