All of the events below are at RSPB Minsmere nature reserve, Westleton, Suffolk, IP17 3BY unless otherwise stated.
Costs: Adults £7, RSPB members £5, children half price, unless otherwise stated
Places limited. Unless stated, booking is essential. Call 01728 648281 or email [email protected]
Discovering Minsmere
March: Wed 9, Thurs 17, Fri 25
Start 9.30 am. (2.5 – 3 hours)
Join us to learn about the reserve’s birds and other wildlife, as well as the habitats we have here and how we manage them. Our guides will show you Minsmere’s varied wildlife, give tips on good fieldcraft, and help you to get the most from your visit to one of Britain’s premier birdwatching spots. Suitable for all abilities.
Weekend wildlife walk
March: Sat 12, Sun 20, Sun 27
Start at 9.30 am (2.5 – 3 hours)
Join us for a seasonal weekend walk to look for migrants, wintering ducks and a host of other wildlife highlights that may be present at the time.
Events at RSPB Snape
(www.rspb.org.uk/snape)
Snape Discovery Walk
March: Sat 5, Sat 12, Sat 19, Sat 26
10 am (2 hours)
Join an RSPB guide to discover some of the wildlife on a circular walk along the Alde Estuary and across the heathland of RSPB Snape Warren. Adults £5, RSPB members £3, children £2.50, RSPB Wildlife Explorers £1.50. No need to book. Meet at RSPB Wildlife Information Centre, Snape Maltings
Winter wader wonder wander
March: Sun 6
10 am (2 hours)
March: Sun 27
1 pm (2 hours)
Discover the spectacle of hundreds of waders and waterfowl at low tide on the Alde Estuary. Meet at the Iken picnic site car park (about one mile from Snape Maltings, signposted from Orford road). Costs : Adults £5, RSPB members £3, children half price. Booking essential, via Minsmere visitor centre on 01728 648281
Atmospheric art on the Alde
March: Fri 25
Start at 10 am (3 or 6 hours)
Come and be creative from the comfort and warmth of the RSPB Wildlife Information Centre at Snape Maltings. Explore how to sketch and paint birds, wildlife and the landscape of the Alde Estuary with local artist Richard Nichols. Costs: half day: £18, full day: £36, full day plus lunch: £45. Booking essential – contact Richard Nichols – 01728 663722 or email [email protected].
Special events at Minsmere
(www.rspb.org.uk/minsmere)
Art and photo exhibitions
All year
Visit the Minsmere tearoom gallery throughout the year to see a range of superb exhibitions of art or photography depicting some of Suffolk’s most spectacular wildlife. Contact us for details of each exhibition, or go to www.rspb.org.uk/events.
Events March 2011, by date
Events at Snape Maltings (all other events at RSPB Minsmere)
Wed 9 – Discovering Minsmere: 9.30 am
Sat 12 – Weekend wildlife walk: 9.30 am
Thurs 17 – Discovering Minsmere: 9.30 am
Sun 20 – Weekend wildlife walk: 9.30 am
Fri 25 – Discovering Minsmere: 9.30 am
Sun 27 – Weekend wildlife walk: 9.30 am
Weekend wildlife walk
April: Sat 2, Sun 10, Sat 16, Sun 24
Start at 9.30 am (2.5 – 3 hours)
Join us for a seasonal weekend walk to look for breeding birds, flowers, insects, migrants, wintering ducks and a host of other wildlife highlights that may be present at the time.
Birdwatching for beginners
Apr: Wed 13, Tues 26
Start 9.30 am. (2.5 – 3 hours)
Many people have started birdwatching at Minsmere. Join us on this beginners’ walk where you will learn how to use binoculars properly and which field guides are best for you. You can then use this information to enjoy watching birds as we show you some of Minsmere’s wildlife.
Dawn chorus and breakfast
April: Sun 24, Sat 30
Start at 4 am (2.5 hours, plus breakfast)
Dawn chorus can be an unforgettable Minsmere experience, with everything from bitterns to nightingales, Cetti’s warblers to avocets, joining in the chorus as the sun rises. A hearty breakfast in the tearoom rounds off a perfect start to the day. These are our most popular walks, so please book early. Costs are adults £20, RSPB members £15, children £13, or RSPB Wildlife Explorers £11
Nightingales and warblers
Apr: Mon 18, Sat 23, Wed 27, Sat 30
Start at 7 am (2-2.5 hours)
This is a later start than our dawn chorus walks, but still timed to experience all the variety of spring birdsong at Minsmere, from the bittern’s strange booming call to the nightingale’s glorious notes. The tearoom will be open early after these walks so you can warm up with a hot drink and light breakfast.
Spring birds
April: Fri 8, Mon 11, Fri 22, Thurs 28
Start at 9.30 am (2-2.5 hours)
Birds, birds, and more birds! That’s what we offer you on this walk. Minsmere in the spring is possibly the best place in the country to see and hear the widest variety of birds, and we will aim to show you as many as possible.
Special events for families
(www.rspb.org.uk/events)
Marsh harrier Mondays
April: Mon 11 and Mon 18
Sessions start at 10 am 11 am and 12 pm (allow one hour)
Make an Easter card and learn cool facts about marsh harriers…did you know that they are rarer than golden eagles? Cost £3 per child including entry to reserve, all materials and the Easter bunny quiz trail. Answer all quiz questions correctly to receive a chocolate treat. Normal entry fee for adults, and children must be accompanied. Booking recommended.
Bearded tit Tuesdays
April: Tues 12 and Tue 19
Sessions start at 10 am 11 am and 12 pm (allow one hour)
Make an Easter card and find out about the bearded tit, which has a black moustache and not a beard! Cost £3 per child including entry to reserve, all materials and the Easter bunny quiz trail. Answer all quiz questions correctly to receive a chocolate treat. Normal entry fee for adults, and children must be accompanied. Booking recommended.
Wetland Wednesdays
April: Wed 13 and Wed 20
Sessions start at 10 am 11 am and 12 pm (allow one hour)
Make an Easter card and find out who is the butterbump? Cost £3 per child including entry to reserve, all materials and the Easter bunny quiz trail. Answer all quiz questions correctly to receive a chocolate treat. Normal entry fee for adults, and children must be accompanied. Booking recommended.
Easter bunny quiz trail
April: Mon 11 to Mon 25
9 am – 4 pm
Our fun Easter quiz trail around the reserve will be running from Monday 11 to Monday 25 April 2011, answer all the questions correctly and get a chocolate treat at the end. Cost £1.50 per child, including chocolate treat. Normal entry fee for adults, and children must be accompanied.
Events at RSPB Snape
(www.rspb.org.uk/snape)
Snape Discovery Walk
April: Sat 2, Thurs 7, Sat 9, Thurs 14, Sat 16, Thurs 21, Sat 23, Thurs 28, Sat 30
10 am (2 hours)
Join an RSPB guide to discover some of the wildlife on a circular walk along the Alde Estuary and across the heathland of RSPB Snape Warren. Adults £5, RSPB members £3, children £2.50, RSPB Wildlife Explorers £1.50. No need to book. Meet at RSPB Wildlife Information Centre, Snape Maltings
Birdsong at Snape
April: Sat 23, Sat 30
7 am (2 hours)
Experience Snape birdsong at its best on this early morning stroll around Snape Warren. Join us afterwards for a bacon roll (or vegetarian equivalent), tea or coffee in The Granary Tearoom, Snape Maltings. Meet at RSPB Wildlife Information Centre, Snape Maltings. Costs: Adults £15, RSPB members £13, children £10, RSPB Wildlife Explorers £8 (including breakfast). Booking essential, via Minsmere visitor centre on 01728 648281
Special events at Minsmere
(www.rspb.org.uk/minsmere)
Binocular and telescope demonstration
April: Tue 5
10am to 4pm
Expert advice on choosing the right binoculars, telescopes and accessories. Run in conjunction with Viking Optical of Halesworth, there will be a wide range of optics available to test and buy, so whether you’re choosing you first binoculars or looking to upgrade, we’ll have the right optics for you. (Note, October date may be on Westleton Heath.)
Art and photo exhibitions
All year
Visit the Minsmere tearoom gallery throughout the year to see a range of superb exhibitions of art or photography depicting some of Suffolk’s most spectacular wildlife. Contact us for details of each exhibition, or go to www.rspb.org.uk/events.
Events April 2011, by date
Events at Snape Maltings (all other events at RSPB Minsmere)
Sat 2 – Weekend wildlife walk: 9.30 am
Tue 5 – Binocular and telescope demonstration: 10 am – 4 pm
Fri 8 – Spring birds: 9.30 am
Sun 10 – Weekend wildlife walk: 9.30 am
Mon 11 – Spring birds: 9.30 am
Wed 13 – Birdwatching for beginners: 9.30 am
Sat 16 – Weekend wildlife walk: 9.30 am
Mon 18 – Nightingales and warblers: 7 am
Fri 22 – Spring birds: 9.30 am
Sat 23 – Nightingales and warblers: 7 am
Sun 24 – Dawn chorus and breakfast: 4 am
Sun 24 – Weekend wildlife walk: 9.30 am
Tue 26 – Birdwatching for beginners: 9.30 am
Wed 27 – Nightingales and warblers: 7 am
Thurs 28 – Spring birds: 9.30 am
Sat 30 – Dawn chorus and breakfast: 4 am
Sat 30 – Nightingales and warblers: 7 am
Weekend wildlife walk
May: Sun 1, Sat 14, Sun 29
Start at 9.30 am (2.5 – 3 hours)
Join us for a seasonal weekend walk to look for breeding birds, flowers, insects, migrants, wintering ducks and a host of other wildlife highlights that may be present at the time.
Birdwatching for beginners
May: Wed 4, Fri 20
Start 9.30 am. (2.5 – 3 hours)
Many people have started birdwatching at Minsmere. Join us on this beginners’ walk where you will learn how to use binoculars properly and which field guides are best for you. You can then use this information to enjoy watching birds as we show you some of Minsmere’s wildlife.
Dawn chorus and breakfast
May: Sat 7, Sun 8, Sun 15, Sat 21
Start at 4 am (2.5 hours, plus breakfast)
Dawn chorus can be an unforgettable Minsmere experience, with everything from bitterns to nightingales, Cetti’s warblers to avocets, joining in the chorus as the sun rises. A hearty breakfast in the tearoom rounds off a perfect start to the day. These are our most popular walks, so please book early. Costs are adults £20, RSPB members £15, children £13, or RSPB Wildlife Explorers £11
Nightingales and warblers
May: Mon 2, Thurs 5, Mon 9, Thurs 12
Start at 7 am (2-2.5 hours)
This is a later start than our dawn chorus walks, but still timed to experience all the variety of spring birdsong at Minsmere, from the bittern’s strange booming call to the nightingale’s glorious notes. The tearoom will be open early after these walks so you can warm up with a hot drink and light breakfast.
Spring birds
May: Fri 6, Wed 11, Mon 16, Thurs 26
Start at 9.30 am (2-2.5 hours)
Birds, birds, and more birds! That’s what we offer you on this walk. Minsmere in the spring is possibly the best place in the country to see and hear the widest variety of birds, and we will aim to show you as many as possible.
Bitterns and harriers
May: Tue 10, Wed 18, Sat 21, Tue 24
Start at 7 am (2 – 2.5 hours)
Discover what makes Minsmere’s reedbeds so special. You will look for the secretive bittern, displaying marsh harriers, colourful bearded tits and some of the other creatures found here. The tearoom will be open early after these walks so you can warm up with a hot drink and light breakfast.
Evening wildlife at Minsmere
May: Thurs 19
Start at 4.30 pm (3 hours)
Visit Minsmere on a spring evening as many species become more active. The evening light can be fantastic, so join our guides and watch the activity of Minsmere’s breeding birds and other wildlife.
Heathland wildlife
May: Sat 7, Sun 22
Start at 9.30 am (3-4 hours)
Minsmere’s heaths are some of the less well-known parts of the reserve but have everything from adders and silver-studded blue butterflies to tiger beetles and Dartford warblers, red deer and many interesting plants. These walks will look for the characteristic species found off the beaten track.
Fabulous flowers
May: Tue 17, Sat 28
Start 10 am (2.5-3 hours)
(2.5 – 3 hours)
As well as its wonderful birds, Minsmere has many interesting plants. These walks will look at some of the fascinating species on the dunes and fen areas around the Scrape. The plant life varies through the year, so why not join us on several of these walks.
Events at RSPB Snape
(www.rspb.org.uk/snape)
Snape Discovery Walk
May: Thurs 5, Sat 7, Thurs 12, Sat 14, Thurs 19, Sat 21, Thurs 26, Sat 28
10 am (2 hours)
Join an RSPB guide to discover some of the wildlife on a circular walk along the Alde Estuary and across the heathland of RSPB Snape Warren. Adults £5, RSPB members £3, children £2.50, RSPB Wildlife Explorers £1.50. No need to book. Meet at RSPB Wildlife Information Centre, Snape Maltings
Birdsong at Snape
May: Sun 8, Sat 14, Sun 22
7 am (2 hours)
Experience Snape birdsong at its best on this early morning stroll around Snape Warren. Join us afterwards for a bacon roll (or vegetarian equivalent), tea or coffee in The Granary Tearoom, Snape Maltings. Meet at RSPB Wildlife Information Centre, Snape Maltings. Costs: Adults £15, RSPB members £13, children £10, RSPB Wildlife Explorers £8 (including breakfast). Booking essential, via Minsmere visitor centre on 01728 648281
Special events at Minsmere
(www.rspb.org.uk/minsmere)
Places limited. Booking essential. See details for costs.
Spring Celebration
May: Sat 7, Sun 8
10 am to 4 pm
Minsmere in spring is a real delight. Watch and listen as birds establish breeding territories and start to nest. Many will already have young, and we’ll show you the highlights with our experienced guides and wardens at key points around the reserve. We’ll also show you early insects and flowers, and look for Minsmere’s popular livestock. This is a great opportunity to discover what makes Minsmere so special. Normal reserve entry fees apply. There may be a charge for some activities.
Bird ringing demonstration
May: Sat 7, Sun 8
10 am to 4 pm
Get up close and personal with some of our commoner birds and discover how and why we catch birds to put tiny rings on their legs. Specially trained ringers from the Waveney Bird Club (www.waveneybirdclub.com) will explain what information we learn about birds’ lifestyles through ringing. Free event, but normal reserve entry fees apply.
Binocular and telescope demonstration
May: Sat 7, Sun 8
10am to 4pm
Expert advice on choosing the right binoculars, telescopes and accessories. Run in conjunction with Viking Optical of Halesworth, there will be a wide range of optics available to test and buy, so whether you’re choosing you first binoculars or looking to upgrade, we’ll have the right optics for you. (Note, October date may be on Westleton Heath.)
Art and photo exhibitions
All year
Visit the Minsmere tearoom gallery throughout the year to see a range of superb exhibitions of art or photography depicting some of Suffolk’s most spectacular wildlife. Contact us for details of each exhibition, or go to www.rspb.org.uk/events.
Events May 2011, by date
Events at Snape Maltings (all other events at RSPB Minsmere)
Sun 1 – Weekend wildlife walk: 9.30 am
Mon 2 – Nightingales and warblers: 7 am
Wed 4 – Birdwatching for beginners: 9.30 am
Thurs 5 – Nightingales and warblers: 7 am
Fri 6 – Spring birds: 9.30 am
Sat 7 – Dawn chorus and breakfast: 4 am
Sat 7 – Heathland wildlife: 9.30 am
Sat 7 – Spring Celebration: 10 am – 4 pm
Sat 7 – Binocular and telescope demonstration: 10 am – 4 pm
Sat 7 – Bird ringing demo: 10 am – 4 pm
Sun 8 – Dawn chorus and breakfast: 4 am
Sun 8 – Spring Celebration: 10 am – 4 pm
Sun 8 – Binocular and telescope demonstration: 10 am – 4 pm
Sun 8 – Bird ringing demo: 10 am – 4 pm
Mon 9 – Nightingales and warblers: 7 am
Tue 10 – Bitterns and harriers: 7 am
Wed 11 – Spring birds: 9.30 am
Thurs 12 – Nightingales and warblers: 7 am
Sat 14 – Weekend wildlife walk: 9.30 am
Sun 15 – Dawn chorus and breakfast: 4 am
Mon 16 – Spring birds: 9.30 am
Tue 17 – Fabulous flowers: 10 am
Wed 18 – Bitterns and harriers: 7 am
Thurs 19 – Evening Wildlife at Minsmere: 4.30 pm
Fri 20 – Birdwatching for beginners: 9.30 am
Sat 21 – Dawn chorus and breakfast: 4 am
Sat 21 – Bitterns and harriers: 7 am
Sun 22 – Heathland wildlife: 9.30 am
Tue 24 – Bitterns and harriers: 7 am
Thurs 26 – Spring birds: 9.30 am
Sat 28 – Fabulous flowers: 10 am
Sun 29 – Weekend wildlife walk: 9.30 am
