Minsmere RSPB Reserve (Day Trip)

Tour Code: GBR259

World-renowned for its rich variety of birds and other wildlife amongst its varied habitats, a day walk at Minsmere is not to be missed. The beach, scrape, reedbed and woodland host numerous shorebirds, wildfowl, herons and passerines.

1 days from
£50
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Highlights

Summary

Summary

A day with one of our expert local guides amongst the varied habitat and birdlife of Minsmere RSPB reserve on the Suffolk coast. Taking in the beach, ‘Scrape’ (shore pools), reedbed and woodland over the course of the day will give an insight into why this is such a fantastic place to explore for wildlife.

Well known as a location for BBC’s Springwatch, we will spend the morning undertaking a clockwise circuit of the beach and Scrape. Setting out from the reserve centre, we will check out the bushes then follow the North Wall to the sea, where Marsh Harrier and Bearded Reedling are often in the reedbed. The beach and bushes hold Linnet, Dartford Warbler and Stonechat, as well as seasonal migrants like Common Whitethroat, whilst out to sea Gannet, Kittiwake and Scoter can often been seen. The Scrape in spring and summer is often cacophonous with the calls of Black-headed Gull, Sandwich Tern and Avocet; many wildfowl nest and even more overwinter and interesting shorebirds can be present throughout the year.

The reedbed holds a good population of Marsh Harrier and Bittern, whilst in spring, summer and autumn Hobby is a regular visitor feasting on dragonflies, as well as the hirundines and Swifts that gather to feed. In season, Reed and Sedge Warbler are very common and attract Cuckoos that come to parasitise their nests. In summer, it is possible to see a good variety of dragonflies, including Norfolk, Hairy and Migrant Hawkers, Blue Emperor, Broad-bodied Chaser, Black-tailed Skimmer, plus Variable and Azure Damselflies.

In the afternoon, we will take a walk through the woodland, with a chance to see various residents such as Marsh Tit and Treecreeper plus Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker, whilst in spring, summer and autumn migrant species include Nightingale, Garden Warbler, Blackcap and Common Redstart. Summer butterflies include White Admiral, Speckled Wood and many more – depending on the weather.

We will keep the itinerary fairly flexible to ensure the best use of the weather and recent sightings; the walk will be over easy ground (rarely muddy). Covering up to six miles over the course of the day, we take our time to explore the reserve thoroughly, enjoying all the species we find. It is important to note that although the car park and entry to RSPB members is free, there is an entrance fee of £8.00 to non members. There is a shop and excellent tea room at the reserve centre as well as toilet facilities. 

We operate this Day Trip throughout the year, so please click on our 'detailed information' below to discover the seasonal highlights.

  • World-famous RSPB reserve on the Suffolk coast
  • A relaxed walk taking in the rich variety of habitat
  • Marsh Harrier, Bittern, Bearded Tit and Dartford Warbler
  • Seasonal migrants such as Nightingale and Cuckoo
  • Warblers include Reed, Sedge, Garden and Willow
  • Spring and summer bring Stone Curlew and Redstart

Seasonal highlights

Spring

For Minsmere the first signs of spring are the gathering of Avocets on the Scrape, a male Garganey with its white flash above the eye, Sand Martins about the breeding cliff and numerous Chiffchaffs singing. As the season progresses, Blackcap, Common Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler are joined by Nightingale (which stop singing by late May and then become more elusive), Reed Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat. Shorebirds include Whimbrel, Bar-tailed Godwit, Spotted Redshank Common Sandpiper and Knot; the breeding gulls are accompanied by Sandwich, Common and Little Terns. Cuckoos roam the reedbed, calling as they go, as Hobbies chase about feeding on dragonflies. Swifts arrive at the beginning of May and then the reserve settles into its summer routine. Butterfly and dragonfly numbers begin to pick up.

 

Summer

Remarkably, autumn begins in July for shorebirds and on the Scrape we could well pick up the first returning Spotted Redshanks or Green and Wood Sandpipers. Bitterns become increasingly active as they feed their young and are most often picked up in flight – if they are a target this is the time to visit. Marsh Harriers quarter the reeds, which are also home to plentiful adult and young Bearded Tits, plus Sedge and Reed Warblers. Savi’s Warbler is also a possibility – Minsmere is one of the more regular locations for this very rare breeder. Avocet, Lapwing and Redshank breed on the islands on the Scrape, alongside Common, Sandwich and Little Tern. Stonechats and Dartford Warblers will have bred and can be seen easily in bushes along the beach. Hobbies switch from feeding on dragonflies and now chase Swifts, Swallows and martins for their young. Dragonflies include Four-spotted Chaser, Norfolk, Southern and Brown Hawkers plus numerous damselflies. 

 

Autumn

As autumn draws in, the Suffolk coast is a haven for passage migrants as they head south and Minsmere is a great location to search them out. Wheatears and Whinchats dot the bushes along the beach or in the north fields, whilst swallows, finches, buntings and pipits move south in the early morning. The more common of the autumn migrant waders are Ruff, Curlew, Bar and Black-tailed Godwits, Little Stint and Common Sandpiper but there is always the chance of something more exciting such as Wood or Curlew Sandpiper. The sluice bushes can be busy with ‘fresh in’ migrants like Firecrest, Lesser Whitethroat and into late September and October sometimes Yellow-browed or Pallas’s Warbler.

 

Winter

In winter, excellent numbers of Shoveler, Teal and Wigeon gather on the Scrape and Minsmere levels south of the sluice. Black-tailed Godwits, Curlew and good numbers of Lapwing gather amongst the gulls that can include Caspian and Yellow-legged. Marsh Harrier can be seen alongside Hen Harrier and the local Peregrine may be accompanied by a Merlin or Short-eared Owl. Bearded Tits are still about, ‘pinging’ their way above the reeds and both Stonechat and Dartford Warbler overwinter in the coastal bushes. On the sea the local flock of Common Scoter reaches its largest and may hold Velvet Scoter. On a crisp winter’s day there are few better places to be.

 

DETAILED INFORMATION
Day Trip Location

Day Trip Location

Reviews
Dates & Prices

Dates & Prices

2025

Departures Availability Cost
Fri 26th Sep – Fri 26th Sep SPACES £50
Book Tour Show Details
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£50
Tour Leader:
Please note that, whilst we assign leaders to particular tours well in advance, we reserve the right to make changes if necessary
David Walsh
David Walsh

Tour Leader: David Walsh

David has been a keen birdwatcher since his primary school days and still has his notebooks from the early 1970s to prove it! He ran bird clubs at his schools and is very proud of the fact that several of the boys who he inspired as 11-year-olds are now working in full-time conservation; he continues to encourage young birdwatchers whenever possible. David retired from full-time teaching in 2015 but continues to do part-time maths tutoring. In his spare time he enjoys singing in various local choirs.

In 2008 he used a sabbatical to spend three months in Southeast Asia, which included a successful quest to find the endangered White-eared Night Heron in Vietnam. At home in Suffolk, he puts his love of bird songs and calls to good use, running surveys to monitor breeding birds in the spring and searching out migrant passerines in the autumn. He also co-ordinates the submission of Suffolk’s records to the national Rare Breeding Birds Panel, knowing the birding sites in the county very well indeed having lived in Suffolk since 1992.

David has guided over 90 overseas tours since his first to La Brenne in 1986. In the last 10 years he has focused on Europe, North Africa, Asia and South America and has enjoyed developing his interest in butterflies and dragonflies as well as birds. David’s boundless energy and enthusiasm, coupled with a determination to ensure that everyone in the group sees the birds, has understandably made him popular with clients! He is delighted to be joining the Naturetrek team in 2023.

Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?

For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.

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