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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 Eja Močvarica and Brkata Sjenica, while the wet woodland is worth searching for Crnoglava sjenica, Kratkokljuni puzavac and Zimovka. If you're lucky, you may catch a glimpse of a Vodomar whizzing up and down the river. You will hear Svilorepa 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 Čvorak 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 Bukavac. It is worth scanning Postwick Marshes with a scope at this time of year, as Crvenonoga guska and the rarer Lisasta Guska can sometimes be found. The marshes are also frequented by hunting Sivi Sokol and Kukuvija. There are better reserves in the area to search for wildfowl, but Zviždara and Kržulja are both often found along the riverbank and in the wet woodland. For the keen eyed spotters, the marshes accomodate Šljuka Kokošica, Mala Šljuka and Šumska šljuka.
Spring is a great time to visit Surlingham, as the sound of warbler song returns to the reedbed. You will be able to hear Trstenjak cvrkutić, Trstenjak Rogožar and possibly even Pjegavi Cvrčić. The resident Ćubasti Gnjurac will be displaying on the river. The wet woodland and scrub areas of the reserve will hold Crnokapa Grmuša, Grmuša Pjenica and potentially Kukavica. Scanning over to Postwick Marshes, waders including Vivak and Oštrigar may be seen, while Mala Prutka can be spotted on the riverbank.
Summer is a great time to see and hear families of Brkata Sjenica roaming the reedbed, while looking up in the sky may reveal hawking Sokol Lastavičar, Čiopa and flocks of Lastavica, Piljak and Bregunica. Postwick Marshes sometimes holds Žuta Pastirica.
Autumn can be quiet at Surlingham, however, there is always a chance of finding returning Mali Drozd and Drozd Bravenjak. It is always worth locating flocks of Dugorepa Sjenica in the wet woodland, as there is chance of finding something rarer with them. Herons including the locally scarce Velika Bijela Čaplja may be seen from the hide. The marshland areas may hold families of Crnoglavi Batić. 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.