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Description
RSPB Surlingham Church Marshes is a small reserve which offers birders a short 2km circular walk, with a mixture of habitats that supports a wide variety of species throguhout the year, and boasts some of the more highly sought after birds in the Yare Valley! This peaceful reserve has something to offer throughout the year, and is well worth a couple of hours of your time if you are in the area.
In all seasons, the reedbed at the centre of the reserve is home to iconic species of the area including ruskosuohaukka and viiksitimali, while the wet woodland is worth searching for viitatiainen, puukiipijä and punatulkku. If you're lucky, you may catch a glimpse of a kuningaskalastaja whizzing up and down the river. You will hear silkkikerttunen on most visits too.
In winter, paths around the reserve are susceptible to flooding and may also become muddy and slippery. Sturdy, waterproof footwear is highly recommended. However, it is also a great time to visit the reserve as large flocks of kottarainen will put on a fantasitc display at dusk as group together before they drop into the reedbed to roost. Colder weather will bring opprotunities to see elusive kaulushaikara. It is worth scanning Postwick Marshes with a scope at this time of year, as lyhytnokkahanhi and the rarer tundrahanhi can sometimes be found. The marshes are also frequented by hunting muuttohaukka and tornipöllö. There are better reserves in the area to search for wildfowl, but haapana and tavi are both often found along the riverbank and in the wet woodland. For the keen eyed spotters, the marshes accomodate taivaanvuohi, jänkäkurppa and lehtokurppa.
Spring is a great time to visit Surlingham, as the sound of warbler song returns to the reedbed. You will be able to hear rytikerttunen, ruokokerttunen and possibly even pensassirkkalintu. The resident silkkiuikku will be displaying on the river. The wet woodland and scrub areas of the reserve will hold mustapääkerttu, pensaskerttu and potentially käki. Scanning over to Postwick Marshes, waders including töyhtöhyyppä and meriharakka may be seen, while rantasipi can be spotted on the riverbank.
Summer is a great time to see and hear families of viiksitimali roaming the reedbed, while looking up in the sky may reveal hawking nuolihaukka, tervapääsky and flocks of haarapääsky, räystäspääsky and törmäpääsky. Postwick Marshes sometimes holds keltavästäräkki.
Autumn can be quiet at Surlingham, however, there is always a chance of finding returning punakylkirastas and räkättirastas. It is always worth locating flocks of pyrstötiainen in the wet woodland, as there is chance of finding something rarer with them. Herons including the locally scarce jalohaikara may be seen from the hide. The marshland areas may hold families of mustapäätasku. Visitors to the reserve are encouraged to share their sightings on the board in the hide.
Details
Access
Park at Surlingham Church (postcode: NR14 7DF), and take the Wherryman's Way footpath past the cottage, which leads down a slight slope towards the river. This will put you on the circular path around the reserve.