My Top Five UK Nature Reserves

Greetings once again dear fellows and welcome to another instalment of 'The Musings of a Bored Birder'. Forget that the governments update was as clear as concrete, here's another blog for you to ponder.

What is everyone missing from when life was normal before? It could be family, it could be the pub or it could be that sweet anticipation of a long haul holiday to somewhere hot. I'm sure for many birders out there, it's nature reserves that we so dearly miss. At the most active time of the year, many of these sites are bubbling with life without beady binoculars browsing over them and although it's great for wildlife, it isn't great for those wanting to see it. Whether there's a reserve you had big plans to visit this year or just a local patch you love to pop round, these are now mostly off limits. In light of this, I thought I'd look back to the good old days when we could go outside for more than one walk a day and reminisce about my favourite nature reserves. To break it down, here are my top five:

5. SWT Framlingham Mere

Far from the glitz and glamour of other sites (if you'd define a hide and a visitor centre as glamorous), this Suffolk Wildlife Trust reserve is one particularly close to my heart. Being overlooked by the imperious Framlingham Castle, the mere and the surrounding marshes were where I spent most of my more enjoyable afternoons enjoying nature. It helped that it was a stones throw from my school, so for about five years, it was a patch I knew well. Water voles, kingfishers and water rails were just some of the species I was lucky enough to witness there and whilst it was a tiny reserve in comparison to others, it was and still is rich with life. The mere flourishes with flag irises in the summer and fills with fog in the winter, so there's always something picturesque about the place. Despite lengthy rumours, I never saw the infamous otter that supposedly lived in and around the mere, not that I'm mad at all. In a town most famous for Ed Sheeran, this little slice of green is simply serene.

4. WWT Slimbridge

One of the most iconic venues for wildlife conservation in the UK and if not in the world. I'm not being hyperbolic here am I? Maybe, but the point still stands that Slimbridge is a colossus in comparison to all other nature reserves. This site is slap bang on the Severn estuary, comprising of thousands of acres just teaming with bird-life. The aviaries and captive collections may not be everyone's cup of tea but with so much history to the place, it's a must-visit for any budding birder. If you wanted to drag the less-than-ornithologically-inclined family round, there's plenty of pretty ducks and flamingos to keep them preoccupied.It's a reserve I've unfortunately only visited twice but somewhere that I will always want to go back to. Winter is when this place is in it's prime, with thousands of wildfowl all pitching up here for some arctic respite. It's a hotspot for Bewick's swans, white-fronted geese and even the common cranes that were reintroduced on the Somerset Levels. This being just one of many projects spawned from this incredible nature hub. It's continuous conservation initiatives, expansive estuaries and significant swans make Peter Scott's palace a real gem.

3. RSPB Rainham Marshes

The greatest RSPB reserve halfway in Greater London and that is a fact. For a Norfolk boy marooned in Essex for the foreseeable future, this wetland wonderland is like a throwback to my childhood exploring The Broads. The major difference being that this is very much a wild space on an urban backdrop. To many, this marsh might seem modest, but in the context of it's proximity and historical links, it's something special. A former rifle range, this is a nature reserve overlooked by the Eurostar, a landfill site and the Dartford crossing. Squished between two of the busy ports on the Thames, it still manages to draw migrants from across Europe, with internationally important breeding populations of lapwing and redshank. It's also within a 20 minute train ride from one of the largest metropolitan areas on the planet, so there's no excuse to pop by. I might be ever so slightly biased seeing as this is the nature reserve that I have volunteered at since 2016 but we'll gloss over that. I saw my first ever crane, heard by first ever quail and countless water pipits here, so it's not to be sniffed at. For a wetland overshadowed by pylons, high speed trains and cargo ships, it's not a bad little Essex oasis. 

2. Pensthorpe

Okay I like wetlands, you get it by now. The crown in the jewel of the Wensum valley, this is a nature reserve to truly catch the eye. Much like Slimbridge, there's more to the wild birds that flock here (of which there are plenty). If you don't believe me then I'm sure the Springwatch hosts can vouch for me on this one. It's lakes and scrapes play host to countless species such as avocets, lapwings and bitterns. Add to this their extensive ornamental wildfowl collections, aviaries and captive-bred cranes and you have yourself an attraction for all crowds. I can't tell you how excited 8 year old me was to walk into an aviary teaming with turtle doves and bearded tits, seeing these incredibly rare birds up close. Some may argue birds such as this in captivity is controversial but if it sparks an interest, then there's generations of future conservationists waiting to be inspired. With ongoing conservation projects for corncrakes and red squirrels, as well as habitat restoration initiatives, it is a nature reserve that is unique in so many ways.

1. RSPB Minsmere

It had to be. Whilst Slimbridge has swans and Rainham has redshanks, there's not much that Minsmere doesn't have. If you're being picky, there's no mountains, volcanoes or dragons. Aside from that, it's pretty awesome. Where can I even start this pantheon of nature reserves? The reemergence of avocets here inspired the RSPB logo, it's helped save bitterns from extinction, it was the home for Springwatch for three years and it was also the site that I based my dissertation on. Nothing like analysing shoreline management plans to assess the impacts on abundances of coastal and wetland birds. It's more fun than it sounds. Minsmere has woodland, heath, marsh and a coastal environment, all packed into one sensational site in Suffolk. There isn't a single visit to Minsmere where I have left disappointed, from seeing my first adders and hen harriers to scoping a stone curlew from the other side of a field, making it look like an insignificant brown blog. It was exciting, trust me. Minsmere is so amazing attractive to birds that it lured an albatross, a species that isn't even supposed to be in the northern hemisphere, let alone East Anglia! It's expansive, picturesque and quite simply the best.

So that's my list but what are your favourite nature reserves? Have you visited any of the above reserves and if so, what did you think of them?

Stay alert and peace out!

Ranking Britain's Birds of Prey

Good day/night to you. Thought you'd read my blog instead of doing yoga or baking sourdough again? You made the right choice.

Every birder has a list of favourites that they always love to see and can feel very passionately about the species that they hold close to their hearts. It's not always rarities or difficult birds to spot, it can sometimes be due to fond memories or general appreciation of their appearance. Birders favourite lists can vary from person to person but there's never any heated debate on the subject. At least, I can't remember anyone getting into a bar brawl about whether a brent goose is better than a barnacle goose. There's a first for everything though.

In any case, it is all based on opinion for which everyone is entitled to. With that being said, I'm going crack open a can of controversy and outline my opinions on some of my favourite birds. For today, I'll be ranking possibly the most beloved group of birds that grace our shores: the birds of prey. These are the lions and tigers of our skies and generally always a treat to lay eyes on any of them. They predatory nature adds that level of drama to the average birdwatch and there's never a dull moment when they're around. However, there are particular species that deserve the ranking as being 'more exciting' than others. Call it fact or call it opinion, here is my ranking:

I'll be going through this list in ascending order but first, to explain the rows. The basement tier, or 'Yay?' as I have labelled it is relatively self explanatory. These are birds of prey that raise and eyebrow but nothing more. 'They'll do' is reserved for maybe a double eyebrow raise and an excited jitter but the fun wares off fairly quickly. 'Stonkers' really get you off your seat and should be commended highly for the excitement that they bring. 'Trouser-rubbers' do exactly what it says on the tin and get even the most seasoned birder to jump for joy. The 'MEGA' tier is reserved for only the most elite birds of prey but disclaimer: sighting these birds may result in shortness of breath and high blood pressure.

First up on the bottom tier, we have the noble buzzard. A pretty standard bird of prey nowadays and a staple of any motorway journey. Those broad wings and white underparts are impressive but when next to a kite or an osprey, these birds look fairly feeble. Now that they're found pretty much on a widespread basis across the country, a sighting is only vaguely notable. Next up is the kestrel, the master of hovering. A dainty yet common bird of prey and one of the most easily recognisable of the lot. Their steady head when manoeuvring the hover is marvellously meticulous and they're definitely photogenic. A lovely bird by all means but nothing to write home about. The last selection is arguably the most controversial, so apologies marsh harrier fans! The fact is, once you've seen one, you've seen them all. If you're not well acquainted with wetlands then one of these giants gliding overhead can be eye-catching, however most marshy environments tend to have these guys hanging around as top predators. Granted, they've struggled for numbers over the last century but now that they've recovered, they just lack that certain something.

Onto the next tier up and the 'they'll do' of the raptor world. These next three are a solid C+ in my books. Sparrowhawks might be fairly regular and certainly easier to find than a kestrel, but who hasn't been enchanted by one of these hawks dissecting a pigeon on the patio? I'm sure Chris Packham would kill me for not putting these guys higher and although they are awesome, there's better birds out there. Red kites, much like buzzards, are gradually growing in numbers and if you'd have collated this list 30 years ago, they'd be a lot higher. With their hazel glow and that forked tail, the sight of a kite is always a thrilling one. For this list anyway, they're a victim of their own success and as they're popping up all over the place these days, their novelty has worn off. Last up is the hobby, the bird that inspired that football game your dad always goes on about. Don't get me wrong, the first hobby of the year is noteworthy and the fact that they catch dragonflies on the wing is captivating, but this is a tough list to crack. You never really hear long excited stories from birders who have just seen a hobby, and that's why they'll do. 

As we get to the stonkers, this list definitely does not get any easier. The merlin can kick us off and these pocket rockets are sure to bring a smile to your face. Whether they're marauding over the moorlands or whizzing over wetlands, a super-fast falcon the size of a blackbird is pretty epic. They're miniature balls of death with a name like magic but perhaps being so diminutive takes away some brownie points. Another stonker has to be the peregrine falcon and despite not being an ultra-rarity, you can't ignore the simple fact that they're the fastest animal on planet earth. Stooping at over 200 miles per hour, these birds are like literal lightning. In recent years, these falcons have traded cliff edges for cathedrals and have thus allowed us plenty of fantastic urban views of these birds up and down the country. A stonker for sure but perhaps nothing more. Last but not least for this tier, we have the honey buzzard. This is probably an incredibly harsh ranking, given that they're usually a twitchers delight but for me, they're just not quite worthy of a top ranking. Although incredibly rarely seen, would I sit there buzzing at the thought of seeing of these buzzards? They're without a doubt a stonker but maybe lack that star power to take them any further. 

Get the sewing machine at the ready because here come those trouser-rubbers. Argue all you like but ospreys needed to be up here. They're an essential sign of spring, they're on their way back from national extinction and they're absolutely huge. There is not a nature reserve or any context in the country whereby an osprey sighting can be downplayed. I always remember going to Florida and seeing them almost as common as pigeons, it was truly mesmerising. As far as iconic birds of prey go, you can't look beyond the hen harrier. They've been the focus of the nature media for a number of years, not least due to the fact that they might go extinct in England as a breeding bird. These incredible sky dancers, with the males dressed in silver and the females in mottled brown, are universally admired and quite rightly too. But as if the hen harrier could be outdone, enter the Montagu's harrier. Those who are fortunate enough to have seen one of these gracious raptors are certainly in an elite club in which I could only dream of joining. These birds are so rare that they're nests are individually protected. Now you know that a bird is special when they have their own bodyguards. A treat to see for twitchers and birders alike.

And now, the moment you've all been waiting for... The MEGA stars of the birds of prey world. Where to even start with these guys? Why not with the goshawk and no, you are wrong, ospreys and red kites are not better. These sparrowhawks on steroids are like leopards with wings and they are the living epitome of a death stare. They're bulky and brutish but also masters of camouflage. You wouldn't ever see one of these eating a pigeon on your patio but it may take your cat instead. They're mysterious but marvellous and well befitting their mega title. Another recipient has to be the white tailed sea eagle and let's be honest, can anything compete with the flying barn doors? These titans have declined massively so any sighting whatsoever in the UK is mind-boggling. With successful conservation efforts in the outer Hebrides, and most recently on the Isle of Wight, there's hope that many more birders in the future will be fortunate enough to witness these wonderful eagles. The other gold medal has to go to our other native eagle, the golden eagle, of course. A specialist to Scotland nowadays but no less exciting. These guys are beyond trouser rubbing that you'd be wearing into your kneecaps. A two metre wingspan, a massive bill and talons as long as fingers, these guys mean business. You can't really argue that a kestrel is more deserving than an eagle so atop the list it must go.

I hope you enjoyed this read and I hope I didn't ruffle any feathers. Did I get any of these placements wrong? If so, let me know by aggressively fighting your corner. Also if you liked the format of this blog, do let me know if there's any other british bird rankings you'd like me to do.

Peace ooooouuuut.