The Reed Marsh

The various breeds of birds that flock to the RSPB reserves in Minsmere.

A map on which the location of Minsmere is marked. There are general views of the marsh and of a derelict pumping windmill. Characteristic flowers are shown in close-up, including reedmace and yellow flag. A swan and family of cygnets are shown in the reeds. The 'tree' hide is shown and then several shots of the marsh harrier flying. Many of these are in front of the pumping mill. At one stage the harrier lands on a post, but there are no close up shots. Various waders feature, including the green plover or lapwing, the ringed plover and the Redshank. The film of the redshank is particularly impressive. A pair is filmed at quite close quarters. The male performs his courtship dance and then the two mate. At Scolt Head Island a redshank is seen nesting. At Minsmere a dunlin is filmed and then an injured Ruff. This bird has a damaged leg; it is holding it out to one side and hopping around on the other. There are some close-up shots of many of the birds who live in the reeds. A reed bunting's nest is filmed with the eggs inside. The adult bird is shown among the reeds and then feeding chicks. The film of the sedge warbler's nest is impressive. First the eggs are shown, then the chicks. The hen bird is seen feeding the chicks. The sequence showing the reed warblers also shows the nest, eggs and chicks being fed. The final sequence features the bittern. The sequence does not begin until after the eggs are hatched, as the film explains that building the hide would have disturbed the parent bird. The chicks are shown at various stages of growth, becoming progressively uglier. The female feeds the young, is seen brooding and regurgitating food for the young. At a later age the chicks are seen moving about the nest.

Intertitles

The 'marsh', originally fenland, then drained for grazing, was reflooded in World War 2. It reverted to shallow lagoons surrounded by broad belts of reeds (phagmites communis).The water is fresh - Phagmites will not tolerate salt water. Among the reeds are small colonies of reedmace (typha). And yellow flag (iris pseudacoras). The 'tree' hide. The Marsh Harrier flies over the marsh as seen from the 'tree' hide. The lagoons attract waders. Green plover or lapwing. Ringed plover. Redshank. A glance at the Redshank nesting on sand-dunes at Scolt Head Island, Norfolk. Dunlin. Ruff - an injured bird not breeding. On the landward edge of the reeds are found:- Reed bunting. Sedge warbler. The nest if among reeds, is almost invariably supported by the base of the reed clump & not suspended from stems. The exceptional case where the Sedge Warbler builds a suspended nest like that of the Reed Warbler but less tidy. As the reeds near the open water of the lagoons the reed warbler builds its nest. The Bittern did not nest in this country from 1886 to 1911 but now breeds in several counties, thanks to bird protection. Going down to the fastness of the Bittern. It might have disturbed the bird too much if a hide had been erected before the hatch. So the sequence opens after the hatch. Incubation takes about 26 days. Feeding the young (by the female only).Brooding the young. The youngsters begin to scramble round the nest. Note use of the wing bones in scrambling about.

Other Places

Scolt Head Island; Norfolk