RSPB events on the Suffolk coast
September – December 2009
[email protected]

All of the events below are at RSPB Minsmere nature reserve, Westleton, unless otherwise stated

Guided walks

Costs : Adults £7, RSPB members £5, children half price, unless otherwise stated Places limited. Unless stated, booking is essential. Call 01728 648281

Discovering Minsmere September: Wed 2, Thu 10, Fri 18, Thu 24 & Tue 29 October: Mon 5, Fri 16 & Wed 21 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 September: Sat 5, Sun 13, Sat 19 & Sun 27 October: Sat 3, Sun 11, Sat 17, Sun 25 & Sat 31 November: Sun 15 & Sat 28 December: Sun 13 and Sun 27 Start at 9.30 am (2.5 – 3 hours)
Join us for a seasonal weekend walk to look for autumn wading birds and migrants, wintering ducks and geese and a host of other wildlife highlights that may be present at the time.

Introduction to the Wildlife of the Alde Estuary, Snape Maltings September: Sat 5 October: Sat 3 November: Sat 7 December: Sat 5 & Sat 19 Start at 11 am (1.5 hours)
Join an experienced RSPB guide to learn about the wildlife, landscape and history of the beautiful Alde Estuary. These walks coincide with the regular farmers markets, giving you the chance to shop for local produce before enjoying this relaxing walk. No booking required. Donation requested. Meet at the RSPB Wildlife Information Centre on the quay at Snape Maltings. Also shorter walks, lasting 45 minutes, every Thursday, starting at 11 am.

Birdwatching for beginners September: Mon 7 October: Fri 2 & Mon 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.

Migration watch October: Every Thursday from 8 to 29. Start at 7 am (2.5 – 3 hours)
An early morning walk to look for passing migrants. If weather conditions are right, we might see flocks of small birds arriving from Europe, or geese and wading birds moving past offshore. There could be a rarity mixed in too.

An historical tour of Minsmere September: Wed 16. Start at 9.30 am (2.5 – 3 hours)
There is more to Minsmere than wildlife. Join us as we explore Minsmere’s fascinating history, from the 12th century monks of Leiston Abbey to the battle to keep Hitler at bay, and why this led to the arrival of the RSPB in 1947. Discover what the future may hold too.

Winter wander November: Wed 4, Thurs 12, Fri 20 & Mon 23 December: Wed 2, Thurs 10, Fri 18, Mon 21 & Wed 30 Start at 10 am (1.5 – 2 hours)
Join us for an introduction to Minsmere’s winter wildlife highlights. Enjoy a relaxed walk with a later start, returning to the visitor centre in time to purchase a warming bowl of soup. These shorter walks will take in one or two hides, depending on where the best variety of wildlife can be seen, and are ideal for beginners and improvers. Costs: adult £5, RSPB member £4, children half price.

Winter wildfowl at Minsmere November to February. Dates to be confirmed.
Join us on a walk in search of the wetland wonders at Minsmere, from whistling wigeons to secretive snipe. Learn about what makes Minsmere so important for wintering ducks, geese and wading birds.

Special events

Places limited. Booking essential. See details for costs.

Painting workshop with Peter Partington September: Sat 19 10am to 4pm
Peter Partington is one of Britain’s top wildlife artists, an illustrator of many books and cards, and a member of the Society of Wildlife Artists. Whether you are an enthusiastic beginner or experienced hand, Peter will show you how to develop your sketching skills.Cost £25 per person. Send an sae marked ‘Painting workshop’ for more details, or email [email protected]

Special Deer Safaris New for 2009 October: various dates and start times – contact us to check availability
We will be running a series of Deer Safaris during this year’s rut. We aim to provide you with close-up views of our stunning red deer from the comfort and safety of a 4X4 vehicle. There will be opportunities to take photographs. The safaris last approximately 1.5 hours and are led by an experienced guide. Spaces are limited to four people per safari. Costs: RSPB members £15, children £12, family £45; Non members £25, children £22, family £85. Trips are suitable for accompanied children but please supply an appropriate child seat or booster cushion for children under 12 years.

Feed the Birds Day: Make a bird feeder October: Wednesday 28 10.30 am to 2.30 pm (Allow at least one hour)
Family activity day. Get ready to feed your garden birds this winter with craft activities on a garden birds theme, including the chance to make your own feeders and bird cake. Learn more about the types of food to put out to attract birds to your garden. All materials supplied, and you can take home what you make. Cost £5 per child, accompanying adults £1.

Winter roost spectaculars Dates to be confirmed, subject to birds’ movements
We plan to open viewing facilities for watching some of Minsmere’s most impressive roosting birds, including starlings, marsh harriers and Bewick’s swans. However, these viewpoints will depend on the birds’ movements. Please contact the visitor centre for details.

The following events are all free. No booking required

Digi-scoping demonstration September: Sat 12 October: Sat 10 10am to 4pm
Have you ever wanted to take excellent wildlife photos with your compact digital camera? Talk to our experts about how to attach your camera to a telescope and discover the art of digi-scoping. There will be a selection of products to try and buy.

Binocular and telescope demonstration September: Sat 19 & Sun 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.

Red deer viewpoint, Westleton Heath September: Fri 25, Sat 26 & Sun 27 October: every Fri, Sat & Sun until 25 October, then daily to 31 October 2pm to dusk
Watch the UK’s largest land mammals during their annual rut. Look for stags battling for supremacy and control of a harem of females. RSPB staff and volunteers will have telescopes to give you even better views of these impressive animals. If you’re lucky, you may even see them clashing antlers. Meet in the Natural England car park on Westleton Heath, signposted from the Westleton to Dunwich road.

Garden bird feeding roadshow, Snape Maltings September: Sat 26 & Sun 27 October: Sat 17 & Sun 18 10 am to 4 pm
Pick up tips on bird feeding and wildlife gardening from the RSPB’s experts, including learning which bird food to use and what birds you might attract. Find us at RSPB Wildlife Information Centre at Snape Maltings

Feed the birds weekend October: Sat 24 & Sun 25 10am—3pm
Pick up tips on bird feeding and wildlife gardening from the RSPB’s experts. There will be a wide range of bird food, feeders and nestboxes available to buy, with special offers including 20% off 12.75 kg sacks of bird food.

Trick or tweet at Minsmere October: Mon 26 to Sat 31 inclusive 10am to 3pm
Family fun for half term. Follow the trick-&-treat-trail around the paths near the visitor centre to watch Minsmere’s birds getting up to a few tricks on the bird feeders to get their treats! Pick up your trick-&-treat trail guide at reception before you set off. There’s the chance to win a birdfeeder (and food) and table top activities indoors, fun puzzles and quizzes and lots more… so make a date at Minsmere this Hallowe’en half term! Donations requested to cover costs.

Owl pellet dissection, Snape Maltings October: Thurs 29 10 am to 4 pm
Dissect an owl pellet to discover what it had for dinner. Donation requested. Meet in the RSPB Wildlife Information Centre at Snape Maltings

Go batty over bats, Snape Maltings October: Fri 30 10 am to 4 pm
Prepare for Hallowe’en with this fun family event all about bats. Learn how bats find their food, find out how we detect bats at night, and join in with bat-related craft activities. Donation requested. Meet in the RSPB Wildlife Information Centre at Snape Maltings

Visiting arrangements at Minsmere

Entry charges to the reserve:
adult £5,
child £1.50 (under 5s free),
families £10(two adults and up to four children),
concession £3.
Free for RSPB and Wildlife Explorer members.
Your entry fee will be refunded if you become a member on the day of your visit.

Opening times
Nature trails and hides open daily.

From 1 February to 31 October:
Visitor centre open from 9 am to 5 pm.
Shop open 10 am to 5 pm.
Tearoom open 10 am to 4.30 pm, with last orders 15 minutes before closing.
Hot food served 11.30 am to 2.30 pm.

From 1 November to 31 January:
Visitor centre open 9 am to 4 pm
Shop and tearoom open 10 am to 4 pm.
Reserve and all facilities closed 25 and 26 December.

Facilities at Minsmere
Access to the visitor centre is free. At the reception desk, you can hire binoculars or borrow a free children’s Explorer Backpack and Discovery Trail booklet. You can also find out more about the reserve and the RSPB. The shop stocks a wide range of books, outdoor clothing, gifts, binoculars and telescopes. You can enjoy a light meal or snack in the tearoom. There are toilets, with baby changing facilities, and a large car park beside the visitor centre.

A permit is needed for the two nature trails, which are each about 1.5 miles long. Two of the eight birdwatching hides are accessed via steps, and two via the beach. The rest of the hides and trails are accessible to wheelchairs and pushchairs. A free trail guide is available from reception. Sorry, no dogs on the nature trails, but they are welcome around the visitor centre and car park, where there is a limited amount of shaded parking.