Birdwatching Guide
Berney Marshes and Breydon Water
Experience the wide open spaces of grazing marshes and mudflats at Berney Marshes and Breydon Water. There is a short nature trail and viewing screen overlooking the marshes. Access all year. Footpaths from Great Yarmouth and Gorleston give views over the tidal waters and mud flats of this local Nature Reserve. Details of boat trips are available from the warden.
Opening Times : Open at all times
Location: Access from Asda car park near Great Yarmouth railway station (walk from Berney Marshes 8 miles / 13km round trip)
Train: Great Yarmouth for Breydon Water; Berney Arms halt for Berney Marshes
Bus: Norwich to Great Yarmouth
Telephone: 01493 842195
Nature Trail: 0.5 miles / 0.8 km .
Broadland Conservation Centre. Ranworth
Norfolk Naturalists Trust. Open Apr thru Oct. Sun - Thur, 10.30am - 5.30pm, Sat 2 - 5.30pm. A floating gallery for bird watching moored on Ranworth Inner Broad, displays of conservation and the history of the Broads approached by a 1/4 mile nature trail through woodland.
Bure Marshes
Nature Conservancy Council, Open early May-mid Sept, except weekends. Extensive fen, broads and fen woodland, nature trail can only be reached by boat, just upstream from Salhouse Broad.
Cockshoot Broad
A revitalised broad, once almost completely silted up but now restored by the Broads Authority to the condition it was in a century ago. The Broad lies on land owned by the Norfolk Naturalists Trust and visitors are able to explore the area on foot, via specially built walkways and view from an observation hide. Arrive by car and park beside the river at Woodbastwick or by boat, mooring at the staithe at the end of Cockshoot Dyke.
Carlton Marshes Nature Reserve
Suffolk Wildlife Trust, Typical broadland habitats of grazing marshes, reed beds, dykes and minibroads. Marsh flowers, insects and birds. Easy access for handicapped to the centre, car parks and circulate walks. Reserve open all year, visitors centre most weekdays and weekends Easter to October 10.00am to 5.00 pm.
Tel: 01502 564250
Dingle Marshes - Suffolk
Experience the wide open spaces of grazing marshes and mudflats at Berney Marshes and Breydon Water. There is a short nature trail and viewing screen overlooking the marshes. Access all year. Footpaths from Great Yarmouth and Gorleston give views over the tidal waters and mud flats of this local Nature Reserve. Details of boat trips are available from the warden.
RESTRICTED ACCESS
Tel: 01728 648701 (Minsmere Office)
Tourist Infomation: 01493 842195
Nature Trail: Information boards along the public rights-of-way on the reserve
Birdwatching Hides: One
.
Fowlmere, Cambridgeshire
Fowlmere's reedbeds and pools are fed by natural chalk springs, and a chalk stream runs through the reserve. Special birds include kingfishers and water rails, breeding sedge warblers, reed warblers and grasshopper warblers, and a roost of corn buntings in the winter
Opening Times : Open at all times
Location: 7 miles / 11km south of Cambridge between Fowlmere and Melbourn
Train: Shepreth (2 miles / 3 km)
Telephone: 01763 208978
Nature Trail: 1.5 miles / 2.5 km. Partly wheelchair / pushchair accessible
Birdwatching Hides: Four (one wheelchair accessible)
Frampton Marsh, Lincolnshire
You will see birds here whenever you come, but high tides from autumn to spring are the best for roosting wading birds, the bigger the tide the better the spectacle. In winter, there are brent geese, birds of prey, short eared owls, twites, corn buntings and rock pipits. In summer, large numbers of redshanks breed at an exceptionally high density. Other breeding species include oystercatchers, skylarks and reed buntings, and marsh harriers can be seen hunting over the reserve.
Opening Times : Open at all times
Location: 4 miles / 6 km south east of Boston. Signs from Frampton Village off the A16.
Train: Shepreth (2 miles / 3 km)
Telephone: 01205 724678
Nature Trail: 2 miles / 3 km linear
Freiston Shore, Lincolnshire
At Freiston Shore, you can get close views of roosting wading birds at high tide, and tree sparrows, corn buntings, yellow hammers and skylarks are common. Om winter, brent geese, eiders, red breasted merganisers and occasionally divers swim offshore, while birds of prey hunt over the marshes. Summer is good for nesting wading birds, including avocets ad ringed plovers. We have breached the sea wall in one area to re-create saltmarsh.
Opening Times : Open at all times. Please contact the reserve office for details of disabled access
Location: 4 miles / 6 km east of Boston. Signposted from the A52 at Hattoft End.
Telephone: 01205 724678
Tourist Information: 01205 356656
Nature Trail: 0.5 miles / 0.8 km circular
Birdwatching Hide: One
Havergate Island
This small island in the River Ore is importatant for breeding avocets, gulls and common terns, and for wintering wildfowl and wading birds. Access is by boat only - please phone the Minsmere visitor centre on 01728 648281 to book your place
Opening Times :
April to August: first and third weekends of the month and every Thursday.
Sept to March: first Saturday of the month.
There are limited places in the boat - prior booking is essential. Bookings are taken through our visitors centre at our Minsmere nature reserve - tel 01728 648281 9am - 5pm (1 Feb - 31st Oct), 9am - 4pm (1st Nov - 31st January), closed Tuesdays
Location: Boat trips leave from Orford Quay.
Tourist Information: 01728 453637.
Nature Trail: 1.5 miles / 2.5 km
Birdwatching Hides: Six
Hardley Flood
Footpath on northern bank of Chet from Loddon & Chedgrave, going on to 'Hardley Cross' the traditional boundary between Norwich & Gt. Yarmouth. A small but attractive wetland reserve, extremely rich in waterfowl in spring & autumn. Very Dutch like low lying water meadows, trees and shrubs also provide a wide range of song birds as well as riverside species.
Hickling Broad
Open May & Sept Tues, Wed & Thurs. June, July & Aug Mon-Fri depart from Pleasure Boat Inn. Advance booking essential.
Large broad open reed and sedge beds, oak woodland. Passage waders in large numbers in spring and autumn. Bittern, heron and bearded tit in summer. Boats may pass along the public channels.
Warden's office - Stubb Road Hickling, open 9am - 3pm for permits on weekdays (except Tues) Watertrail 2.5 hour trip.
Horsey Mere
National Trust, Restricted access by boat. Winter wildfowl with occasional swans, extensive reed beds and proximity to sea give it a special attraction to birds of passage.
How Hill Centre, gardens and museum.
Wildlife Water Trail - Discover the wildlife in the How Hill Nature Reserve by an electrically powered boat the "Electric Eel". Trips leave How Hill Staithe every hour on the hour, during June-September. Opening times are as for the Toad Hole Cottage. The boat takes only 8 people, booking is advised.
Tel: 01692 62763
Lakenheath Fen, Suffolk
At Lakenheath, the RSPB is converting arable farmland into a large reedbed. Work is still in progress. A short visitor routr and new car park are planned for 2003. You can view the reserve from the riversid public footpath. Golden orioles breed in a poplar plantation on the reserve, and you can watch these stunning birds from the riverside footpath. Please ring our regional office for the latest information on 01603 661662
RESTRICTED ACCESS
Opening Times : Car parks and footpaths open at all times
Tel: 01603 661662
Minsmere, Suffolk
Set on the beautiful Suffolk coast, Minsmere offers both families and keen birdwatchers a great day out. Nature trails take you thriugh a variety of habitats to excellant birdwatching hides. In spring,, you can watch avocets and marsh harriers or hear booming bitterns. On the beach, a special area is cordoned off to protect nesting little terns. In autumn and winter, many wading birds and wildfowl visit the reserve. There is a visitor centre where you can find out more about the reserve, browse the shop or enjoy a meal in our licensed tearoom. There are also events throughout the year, including special events for children and people new to birdwatching.
RESTRICTED ACCESS
Opening Times : Car parks and footpaths open at all times
Tel: 01603 661662
North Warren, Suffolk
This delightful reserve on the Suffolk coast contains grazing marshes, reedbeds, heathland and woodland. Thousands of wildfowl use the marshes in winter, while spring brings breeding marsh harriers, woodlarks, nightingales and sometimes bitterns. Look out for the many species of butterflies and dragonflies.
Opening Times : Open at all times.
Location: Just north of Aldeburgh, on the Thorpeness road
Train: Saxmundham
Bus: Regular service to Aldeburgh from Woodbridge
Telephone: 01728 688481
Tourist Information: 01728 453637
Nature Trails: Three (1.8 miles, 4 miles, 5.5 miles)
Ouse Washes, Cambridgeshire
The Ouse Washes form the largest area of regularly flooded grazing marsh in Britain. The reserve attracts thousands of ducks and swans in winter, and redshanks, lapwings and snipe breed here in spring. Walking behind the banks avoids putting the wildfowl to flight. Theres is wildfowling from adjacent fields from 1st September to 31st January, especially on Saturdays. Sunday is a non-shooting day.
Opening Times : Birdwatching hides always open. Visitor centre: 9am - 5pm daily (closed 25 & 26 dec)
Location: Signposted from Manea village (2.5 miles / 4 km) which is 6 miles / 9.5km east of Chatteris on the A142 / A141 between Ely and March
Train: Manea stop (3miles / 5km), limited service
Telephone: 01354 680212
Tourist Information: 01353 662062
Nature Trails: Ten (six RSPB and four wildlife trusts) - one wheelchair accessible
Rye House Marsh
This may be a small nature reserve, but it is full of interest for all the family. The reserve is by the River Lea and includes areas of reedbed, open water, meadow and wood.
In the summer, a colony of common terns nests on specially made rafts, while kingfishers breed in artificial sandbanks. During the winter, ducks such as shovelers, gadwalls and tufted ducks can be seen on the open water.
Tel: 01992 460031
Snettisham, Norfolk
Snettishams nature reserve is the place to witness to of the UK's great wildlife spectacles. On big tides, as water covers the vast mudflats of The Wash, tens of thousands of wader birds are pushed off their feeding grounds and onto the roost banks and islands in front of the RSPB hides. In the middle of winter, a dawn or dusk visit may reward you with the sight if thousands of pink footed geese commuting between their safe roost site on The Wash and farmland where they feed on the aftermath of sugar beet harvests. Large nunbers of common terns and black headed gulls nest on the reserve in summer, and there is a spectacular display of shingle flowers. To help you plan your visit the RSPB produces birdwatchers tide tables. These include details of the best phases of the moon for seeing winter wild goose flights
Opening Times : Open at all times; the car park may be locked at night.
Location: Signposted from he A149 between King's lynn and Hunstanton.
Train: Kings Lynn (13miles / 21km)
Bus: Nearest stop 2miles / 3km), regular service from Kings Lynn
Telephone: 01485 532610
Nature Trail: about 3.5 miles/5.5 km
Birdwatching Hides: Four.
Stour Estuary, Essex
At the Stour Estuary nature reserve you can enjoy strolling through a coppiced wood and watching wading birds, ducks and geese on an estruary. In spring, nightingales and other birds fill the woods with their songs, and there is a glorious display of flowers. The best times of year to visit are autumn and winter.
Opening Times : Open at all times
Location: 1 miles/1.6km east of Wrabness on the B1352 Manningtree to Harwich road.
Train: Wrabness (0.5miles/0.8km)
Bus: Buses from Colchester to Harwich via Wrabness pass the reserve car park Mon-Sat
Telephone: 01255 886043.
Nature Trail: Shortest 1 mile, Longest 5 Miles
Birdwatching Hides: Three.
Sculthorpe Moor Nature Reserve
Now open to the public, Sculthorpe Moor is the first Hawk & Owl Trust Nature Reserve, and the newest in Norfolk. Situated in the Upper Wensum Valley, The Reserve is a 'Site of Special Scientific Interest', consisting of Reedbed, Valley Fen, Alder Carr and Woodland with a rich bio-diversity of Flora and Fauna.
Strumpshaw Fen
Open all year 9am - 9pm or sunset when earlier. Strumpshaw Fen is in th heart of the Norfolk Broads. A number of nature trails lead you through the varied habitats, including reedbeds and woodland. In the summer, there is a special trail in the flower-filled meadow. When walking near the reedbeds you may hear a bearded tit or see a swallowtail butterfly in the summer. Small broad, reed beds, mixed woodland, typical breeding and wintering birds, observation hide and displays. For further details tel:
Tel: 01603 715191
Surlingham Church Marsh
(RSPB) On the other side of the River Yare to Strumpshaw Fen, this is another Broadland reserve. A nature trail takes you around the edge of the reserve and from it you can see the birds of reed and sedge fen, ditches and open water.
Tel: 01508 538661
Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk
This wetland nature reserve is situated on the beautiful north norfolk coast. A walk from the visitor centre down to the sandy beach takes you past reedbeds and shallow lagoons that we manage for birds. In summer, you can watch marsh harriers hunting over the reeds. Winter sees the arrival of ducks, geese and many other migrant birds. The well stocked gift shop has lots of optical equipment, RSPB gifts, books and souvenirs. The three hides and the paths are suitable for people in wheelchairs. there is a servery selling hot and cold drinks and snacks.
Opening Times :
Reserve: open at all times
Visitor Centre: daily 10 am to 5 pm (4pm Nov-Mar), closed 25 & 26 Dec.
Location: 5 Miles / 8km east of Hunstanton on the A149
Train: Kings Lynn (21 miles / 38 km)
Bus: From Hunstanton and Sheringham (bus stop at reserve entrance)
Telephone: 01485 210779
Tourist Information: 01485 532610
Nature trail: To the Fen hide and Meadow Trail: 270 yds / 250 mtrs. there is a firm path to the beach with two gentle slopes. This is wheelchair and pushchair accessible.
Birdwatching Hides: Three
.
Winterton Dunes
Nature Conservancy Council, Access all year, large sand dune area with coastal plants and birds.
Wolves Wood, Suffolk
This reserve is one of the few remnants of the ancient woodland that used to cover East Anglia. the RSPB manages it using the traditional methos of coppicing, which means that the wood has a wide variety of birds, plants and mammals. In spring, its is a good place to hear the beautiful song of the nightingale.
Opening Times : Open at all times
Location: 2 miles / 3km east of Hadleigh on the A1071 to Ipswich
Bus: Nearest formal stop Hadleigh. Hourly services from Ipswich. Buses via lady lane pass the reserve entrance and will stop if driver considers it safe.
Telephone: 01255 886043
Tourist Information: 01473 258070
Nature Trail: 1 mile / 1.6 km .
Little terns at Great Yarmouth, Norfolk
T he Uk;s largest colony of little terns breeds on the North Denes beach at Great Yarmouth. To protect these vulnerable birds the RSPB runs a warderning scheme. Visitors can watch these terns between mid-May and the end of July. Call 01603 715191 for details.
Berney Marshes and Breydon Water
Experience the wide open spaces of grazing marshes and mudflats at Berney Marshes and Breydon Water. There is a short nature trail and viewing screen overlooking the marshes. Access all year. Footpaths from Great Yarmouth and Gorleston give views over the tidal waters and mud flats of this local Nature Reserve. Details of boat trips are available from the warden.
Opening Times : Open at all times
Location: Access from Asda car park near Great Yarmouth railway station (walk from Berney Marshes 8 miles / 13km round trip)
Train: Great Yarmouth for Breydon Water; Berney Arms halt for Berney Marshes
Bus: Norwich to Great Yarmouth
Telephone: 01493 842195
Nature Trail: 0.5 miles / 0.8 km .
Broadland Conservation Centre. Ranworth
Norfolk Naturalists Trust. Open Apr thru Oct. Sun - Thur, 10.30am - 5.30pm, Sat 2 - 5.30pm. A floating gallery for bird watching moored on Ranworth Inner Broad, displays of conservation and the history of the Broads approached by a 1/4 mile nature trail through woodland.
Bure Marshes
Nature Conservancy Council, Open early May-mid Sept, except weekends. Extensive fen, broads and fen woodland, nature trail can only be reached by boat, just upstream from Salhouse Broad.
Cockshoot Broad
A revitalised broad, once almost completely silted up but now restored by the Broads Authority to the condition it was in a century ago. The Broad lies on land owned by the Norfolk Naturalists Trust and visitors are able to explore the area on foot, via specially built walkways and view from an observation hide. Arrive by car and park beside the river at Woodbastwick or by boat, mooring at the staithe at the end of Cockshoot Dyke.
Carlton Marshes Nature Reserve
Suffolk Wildlife Trust, Typical broadland habitats of grazing marshes, reed beds, dykes and minibroads. Marsh flowers, insects and birds. Easy access for handicapped to the centre, car parks and circulate walks. Reserve open all year, visitors centre most weekdays and weekends Easter to October 10.00am to 5.00 pm.
Tel: 01502 564250
Dingle Marshes - Suffolk
Experience the wide open spaces of grazing marshes and mudflats at Berney Marshes and Breydon Water. There is a short nature trail and viewing screen overlooking the marshes. Access all year. Footpaths from Great Yarmouth and Gorleston give views over the tidal waters and mud flats of this local Nature Reserve. Details of boat trips are available from the warden.
RESTRICTED ACCESS
Tel: 01728 648701 (Minsmere Office)
Tourist Infomation: 01493 842195
Nature Trail: Information boards along the public rights-of-way on the reserve
Birdwatching Hides: One
.
Fowlmere, Cambridgeshire
Fowlmere's reedbeds and pools are fed by natural chalk springs, and a chalk stream runs through the reserve. Special birds include kingfishers and water rails, breeding sedge warblers, reed warblers and grasshopper warblers, and a roost of corn buntings in the winter
Opening Times : Open at all times
Location: 7 miles / 11km south of Cambridge between Fowlmere and Melbourn
Train: Shepreth (2 miles / 3 km)
Telephone: 01763 208978
Nature Trail: 1.5 miles / 2.5 km. Partly wheelchair / pushchair accessible
Birdwatching Hides: Four (one wheelchair accessible)
Frampton Marsh, Lincolnshire
You will see birds here whenever you come, but high tides from autumn to spring are the best for roosting wading birds, the bigger the tide the better the spectacle. In winter, there are brent geese, birds of prey, short eared owls, twites, corn buntings and rock pipits. In summer, large numbers of redshanks breed at an exceptionally high density. Other breeding species include oystercatchers, skylarks and reed buntings, and marsh harriers can be seen hunting over the reserve.
Opening Times : Open at all times
Location: 4 miles / 6 km south east of Boston. Signs from Frampton Village off the A16.
Train: Shepreth (2 miles / 3 km)
Telephone: 01205 724678
Nature Trail: 2 miles / 3 km linear
Freiston Shore, Lincolnshire
At Freiston Shore, you can get close views of roosting wading birds at high tide, and tree sparrows, corn buntings, yellow hammers and skylarks are common. Om winter, brent geese, eiders, red breasted merganisers and occasionally divers swim offshore, while birds of prey hunt over the marshes. Summer is good for nesting wading birds, including avocets ad ringed plovers. We have breached the sea wall in one area to re-create saltmarsh.
Opening Times : Open at all times. Please contact the reserve office for details of disabled access
Location: 4 miles / 6 km east of Boston. Signposted from the A52 at Hattoft End.
Telephone: 01205 724678
Tourist Information: 01205 356656
Nature Trail: 0.5 miles / 0.8 km circular
Birdwatching Hide: One
Havergate Island
This small island in the River Ore is importatant for breeding avocets, gulls and common terns, and for wintering wildfowl and wading birds. Access is by boat only - please phone the Minsmere visitor centre on 01728 648281 to book your place
Opening Times :
April to August: first and third weekends of the month and every Thursday.
Sept to March: first Saturday of the month.
There are limited places in the boat - prior booking is essential. Bookings are taken through our visitors centre at our Minsmere nature reserve - tel 01728 648281 9am - 5pm (1 Feb - 31st Oct), 9am - 4pm (1st Nov - 31st January), closed Tuesdays
Location: Boat trips leave from Orford Quay.
Tourist Information: 01728 453637.
Nature Trail: 1.5 miles / 2.5 km
Birdwatching Hides: Six
Hardley Flood
Footpath on northern bank of Chet from Loddon & Chedgrave, going on to 'Hardley Cross' the traditional boundary between Norwich & Gt. Yarmouth. A small but attractive wetland reserve, extremely rich in waterfowl in spring & autumn. Very Dutch like low lying water meadows, trees and shrubs also provide a wide range of song birds as well as riverside species.
Hickling Broad
Open May & Sept Tues, Wed & Thurs. June, July & Aug Mon-Fri depart from Pleasure Boat Inn. Advance booking essential.
Large broad open reed and sedge beds, oak woodland. Passage waders in large numbers in spring and autumn. Bittern, heron and bearded tit in summer. Boats may pass along the public channels.
Warden's office - Stubb Road Hickling, open 9am - 3pm for permits on weekdays (except Tues) Watertrail 2.5 hour trip.
Horsey Mere
National Trust, Restricted access by boat. Winter wildfowl with occasional swans, extensive reed beds and proximity to sea give it a special attraction to birds of passage.
How Hill Centre, gardens and museum.
Wildlife Water Trail - Discover the wildlife in the How Hill Nature Reserve by an electrically powered boat the "Electric Eel". Trips leave How Hill Staithe every hour on the hour, during June-September. Opening times are as for the Toad Hole Cottage. The boat takes only 8 people, booking is advised.
Tel: 01692 62763
Lakenheath Fen, Suffolk
At Lakenheath, the RSPB is converting arable farmland into a large reedbed. Work is still in progress. A short visitor routr and new car park are planned for 2003. You can view the reserve from the riversid public footpath. Golden orioles breed in a poplar plantation on the reserve, and you can watch these stunning birds from the riverside footpath. Please ring our regional office for the latest information on 01603 661662
RESTRICTED ACCESS
Opening Times : Car parks and footpaths open at all times
Tel: 01603 661662
Minsmere, Suffolk
Set on the beautiful Suffolk coast, Minsmere offers both families and keen birdwatchers a great day out. Nature trails take you thriugh a variety of habitats to excellant birdwatching hides. In spring,, you can watch avocets and marsh harriers or hear booming bitterns. On the beach, a special area is cordoned off to protect nesting little terns. In autumn and winter, many wading birds and wildfowl visit the reserve. There is a visitor centre where you can find out more about the reserve, browse the shop or enjoy a meal in our licensed tearoom. There are also events throughout the year, including special events for children and people new to birdwatching.
RESTRICTED ACCESS
Opening Times : Car parks and footpaths open at all times
Tel: 01603 661662
North Warren, Suffolk
This delightful reserve on the Suffolk coast contains grazing marshes, reedbeds, heathland and woodland. Thousands of wildfowl use the marshes in winter, while spring brings breeding marsh harriers, woodlarks, nightingales and sometimes bitterns. Look out for the many species of butterflies and dragonflies.
Opening Times : Open at all times.
Location: Just north of Aldeburgh, on the Thorpeness road
Train: Saxmundham
Bus: Regular service to Aldeburgh from Woodbridge
Telephone: 01728 688481
Tourist Information: 01728 453637
Nature Trails: Three (1.8 miles, 4 miles, 5.5 miles)
Ouse Washes, Cambridgeshire
The Ouse Washes form the largest area of regularly flooded grazing marsh in Britain. The reserve attracts thousands of ducks and swans in winter, and redshanks, lapwings and snipe breed here in spring. Walking behind the banks avoids putting the wildfowl to flight. Theres is wildfowling from adjacent fields from 1st September to 31st January, especially on Saturdays. Sunday is a non-shooting day.
Opening Times : Birdwatching hides always open. Visitor centre: 9am - 5pm daily (closed 25 & 26 dec)
Location: Signposted from Manea village (2.5 miles / 4 km) which is 6 miles / 9.5km east of Chatteris on the A142 / A141 between Ely and March
Train: Manea stop (3miles / 5km), limited service
Telephone: 01354 680212
Tourist Information: 01353 662062
Nature Trails: Ten (six RSPB and four wildlife trusts) - one wheelchair accessible
Rye House Marsh
This may be a small nature reserve, but it is full of interest for all the family. The reserve is by the River Lea and includes areas of reedbed, open water, meadow and wood.
In the summer, a colony of common terns nests on specially made rafts, while kingfishers breed in artificial sandbanks. During the winter, ducks such as shovelers, gadwalls and tufted ducks can be seen on the open water.
Tel: 01992 460031
Snettisham, Norfolk
Snettishams nature reserve is the place to witness to of the UK's great wildlife spectacles. On big tides, as water covers the vast mudflats of The Wash, tens of thousands of wader birds are pushed off their feeding grounds and onto the roost banks and islands in front of the RSPB hides. In the middle of winter, a dawn or dusk visit may reward you with the sight if thousands of pink footed geese commuting between their safe roost site on The Wash and farmland where they feed on the aftermath of sugar beet harvests. Large nunbers of common terns and black headed gulls nest on the reserve in summer, and there is a spectacular display of shingle flowers. To help you plan your visit the RSPB produces birdwatchers tide tables. These include details of the best phases of the moon for seeing winter wild goose flights
Opening Times : Open at all times; the car park may be locked at night.
Location: Signposted from he A149 between King's lynn and Hunstanton.
Train: Kings Lynn (13miles / 21km)
Bus: Nearest stop 2miles / 3km), regular service from Kings Lynn
Telephone: 01485 532610
Nature Trail: about 3.5 miles/5.5 km
Birdwatching Hides: Four.
Stour Estuary, Essex
At the Stour Estuary nature reserve you can enjoy strolling through a coppiced wood and watching wading birds, ducks and geese on an estruary. In spring, nightingales and other birds fill the woods with their songs, and there is a glorious display of flowers. The best times of year to visit are autumn and winter.
Opening Times : Open at all times
Location: 1 miles/1.6km east of Wrabness on the B1352 Manningtree to Harwich road.
Train: Wrabness (0.5miles/0.8km)
Bus: Buses from Colchester to Harwich via Wrabness pass the reserve car park Mon-Sat
Telephone: 01255 886043.
Nature Trail: Shortest 1 mile, Longest 5 Miles
Birdwatching Hides: Three.
Sculthorpe Moor Nature Reserve
Now open to the public, Sculthorpe Moor is the first Hawk & Owl Trust Nature Reserve, and the newest in Norfolk. Situated in the Upper Wensum Valley, The Reserve is a 'Site of Special Scientific Interest', consisting of Reedbed, Valley Fen, Alder Carr and Woodland with a rich bio-diversity of Flora and Fauna.
Strumpshaw Fen
Open all year 9am - 9pm or sunset when earlier. Strumpshaw Fen is in th heart of the Norfolk Broads. A number of nature trails lead you through the varied habitats, including reedbeds and woodland. In the summer, there is a special trail in the flower-filled meadow. When walking near the reedbeds you may hear a bearded tit or see a swallowtail butterfly in the summer. Small broad, reed beds, mixed woodland, typical breeding and wintering birds, observation hide and displays. For further details tel:
Tel: 01603 715191
Surlingham Church Marsh
(RSPB) On the other side of the River Yare to Strumpshaw Fen, this is another Broadland reserve. A nature trail takes you around the edge of the reserve and from it you can see the birds of reed and sedge fen, ditches and open water.
Tel: 01508 538661
Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk
This wetland nature reserve is situated on the beautiful north norfolk coast. A walk from the visitor centre down to the sandy beach takes you past reedbeds and shallow lagoons that we manage for birds. In summer, you can watch marsh harriers hunting over the reeds. Winter sees the arrival of ducks, geese and many other migrant birds. The well stocked gift shop has lots of optical equipment, RSPB gifts, books and souvenirs. The three hides and the paths are suitable for people in wheelchairs. there is a servery selling hot and cold drinks and snacks.
Opening Times :
Reserve: open at all times
Visitor Centre: daily 10 am to 5 pm (4pm Nov-Mar), closed 25 & 26 Dec.
Location: 5 Miles / 8km east of Hunstanton on the A149
Train: Kings Lynn (21 miles / 38 km)
Bus: From Hunstanton and Sheringham (bus stop at reserve entrance)
Telephone: 01485 210779
Tourist Information: 01485 532610
Nature trail: To the Fen hide and Meadow Trail: 270 yds / 250 mtrs. there is a firm path to the beach with two gentle slopes. This is wheelchair and pushchair accessible.
Birdwatching Hides: Three
.
Winterton Dunes
Nature Conservancy Council, Access all year, large sand dune area with coastal plants and birds.
Wolves Wood, Suffolk
This reserve is one of the few remnants of the ancient woodland that used to cover East Anglia. the RSPB manages it using the traditional methos of coppicing, which means that the wood has a wide variety of birds, plants and mammals. In spring, its is a good place to hear the beautiful song of the nightingale.
Opening Times : Open at all times
Location: 2 miles / 3km east of Hadleigh on the A1071 to Ipswich
Bus: Nearest formal stop Hadleigh. Hourly services from Ipswich. Buses via lady lane pass the reserve entrance and will stop if driver considers it safe.
Telephone: 01255 886043
Tourist Information: 01473 258070
Nature Trail: 1 mile / 1.6 km .
Little terns at Great Yarmouth, Norfolk
T he Uk;s largest colony of little terns breeds on the North Denes beach at Great Yarmouth. To protect these vulnerable birds the RSPB runs a warderning scheme. Visitors can watch these terns between mid-May and the end of July. Call 01603 715191 for details.
NorfolkBroads.com
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