RSPB Minsmere

Minsmere has been managed by the RSPB since 1947. Its long history as a nature reserve, wide variety of habitats and excellent visitor facilites, make this the UK's best nature reserve (as voted by readers of Birdwatch magazine in 2019).

More than 5800 different species of wildlife have been recorded at Minsmere, including about 350 species of birds. Of these, more than 200 species of birds are recorded every year, and it is possibly to see 100 species on most days.

Minsmere's reedbed is the third largest freshwater reedbed in England and is home to important poputions of Бугай водяний, Сутора вусата, або синиця вусата, Лунь очеретяний, Пастушок, Очеретянка середземноморська, Очеретянка ставкова and Очеретянка лучна, as well as otters, water voles and rare dragonflies and moths. In most years, at least one singing Кобилочка солов’їна is present.

Scarce herons are regular in the reedbed, including Косар білий, Чепура велика, Чапля єгипетська, Чапля руда and Коровайка бура. The UK's first ever Султанка was a popular visitor in 2016.

The famous Minsmere Scrape was the first such habitat in the world. This is a series of shallow lagoons, studded with islands, that was created in the 1960s to attract nesting terns and Чоботар синьоногий and migrant waders.

In spring, this is a superb area to look for breeding birds, including up to 3000 pairs of Мартин звичайний. These, in turn, attract nesting Мартин середземноморський, Крячок річковий, Крячок рябодзьобий and Крячок малий. Чоботар синьоногий first recolonised the UK at Minsmere in 1947, and up to 100 pairs nest every year.

Spring and autumn migration can attract up to 25 species of waders per day, including good numbers of Грицик великий, Коловодник чорний, Коловодник великий, Коловодник лісовий, Набережник палеарктичний and Брижач. Побережник малий, Побережник червоногрудий, Коловодник болотяний and Побережник арктичний are regular, while in recent years, rarities have included Коловодник ставковий, Побережник білогрудий, Побережник канадський, Ходулoчник, Плавунець круглодзьобий and Плавунець плоскодзьобий.

Other passage and migrant seabirds that are regularly enountered onthe Scrape include Крячок полярний, Крячок рожевий, Мартин малий, Мартин жовтоногий and Мартин скельний.

The beach and dunes are home to a wide variety of scarce plants, as well as nesting Трав'янка чорноголова and Кропив’янка прованська. Offshore, large numbers of Гагара червоношия, Пірникоза велика and Синьга may be present in winter, as well as smaller numbers of other seaducks. Поморник середній and Поморник великий are also regular offshore in autumn.

The deciduous woodland and scrub is important for breeding Соловейко західний and warblers, including Кропив’янка садова, Кропив’янка чорноголова, Кропив’янка сіра, Кропив’янка прудка and Вівчарик весняний, as well as Горихвістка звичайна, Зозуля звичайна and Горлиця звичайна. Many of these species are rapidly declining in the UK and across Europe.

Rarities, such as Вивільга звичайна, Крутиголовка звичайна, Сорокопуд терновий and Вівчарик жовтобровий, are annual visitors.

A large Ластівка берегова colony breeds next to the visitor centre and regularly attracts hunting Підсоколик великий.

The adjacent heath is one of the easiest places in the UK to see a number of scarce habitat-specialist insects, flowers and birds. The latter include Лежень, Дрімлюга звичайний, Жайворонок лісовий, Кропив’янка прованська and Трав'янка чорноголова.

The RSPB provides easy access paths, several birdwatching hides and a large visitor centre, with cafe, shop and toilets, and volunteer guides are usually present to help visitors to enjoy their visit.

Details

Access

Minsmere is signposted from the A12 at Yoxford and Blythburgh, and from the village of Westleton, which is 3 km away. There is a large car park, with coach parking (pre-booked coaches only) and a covered cycle rack.

There are three nature trails of between 1.5-3 km in length, and eight birdwatching hides. A map is provided in the visitor centre. Most of the nature trails and hides are accessible by wheelchair, and a mobility scooter is available to hire. The adjacent heathland is best reached by car or bicycle - ask at the visitor centre for directions.

Extra info

The reserve is open daily, dawn to dusk, except 25 and 26 December. Entry is free to RSPB members; a charge applies to non-members. The visitor centre is open 9 am to 5 pm (or 4 pm November to January).