May 2011
RSPB Minsmere — Spring Celebration
Saturday/Sunday May 7th/8th 2011
RSPB Minsmere will need no introduction to most UK birders. It is one of the Europe’s most famous nature reserves and has been carefully manicured for breeding birds by RSPB for over 50 years. Minsmere pioneered the use of observation hides and management of wetland areas to enable visitors to see a sample of the huge range of birds that pass along the Suffolk coast. In early May spring migration will be at its peak and you should see avocets, marsh harriers and bitterns. John and Jon will guide you around the reserve and make sure that you don’t miss out on the Minsmere experience.
(right) Ringing at Minsmere © C Monika Koch
This is a special family event put on by RSPB and WBC will be centre stage giving ringing demonstrations and explaining the wonders of bird migration to many visitors young and old. WBC members are encouraged to support this event, so why not pay a visit to see our ringers at work. If you have an hour or two spare on the Friday 6th May, why not come along to help set up of the marquee? Admission is free to WBC helpers, but normal permit fees apply to non-RSPB members attending as visitors only.
Leaders: WBC Ringers, John Grant and Jon Evans
Venue: Ringing Marquee from 08.30 hrs
(right) Ringing at Minsmere © C Monika Koch
This is a special family event put on by RSPB and WBC will be centre stage giving ringing demonstrations and explaining the wonders of bird migration to many visitors young and old. WBC members are encouraged to support this event, so why not pay a visit to see our ringers at work. If you have an hour or two spare on the Friday 6th May, why not come along to help set up of the marquee? Admission is free to WBC helpers, but normal permit fees apply to non-RSPB members attending as visitors only.
Leaders: WBC Ringers, John Grant and Jon Evans
Venue: Ringing Marquee from 08.30 hrs
Breydon Water and Burgh Castle
Bank Holiday Monday, 2 May 2011
Breydon Water is a large tidal estuary to the west of Great Yarmouth within The Broads National Park, the UK's largest protected wetland. It is 5 km long and more than 1.5 km wide in places. In spring, the marshes are filled with the atmospheric calls of lapwings and redshanks, all breeding on one of the UK's largest expanses of wet grassland. At low tide, the vast areas of mudflats and saltings are teeming with birds. WBC will access the area from Breydon Bridge and follow the southern bank to Burgh Castle, the birds illuminated by the rising sun. The confluence of the Rivers Bure, Yare and Waveney is overlooked at the western end of the estuary by the Roman fort of Gariannonum. This is an ideal vantage point to “scope” Berney, Belton and Langley Marshes and the intertidal mudflats of Breydon itself. We intend to walk the riverbank footpath from east to west and either return to Great Yarmouth by bus or by pre-arranged parking at both ends of the walk – the drivers being driven back to fetch their cars.
Leaders: Steve Howell and Andrew Green
Venue: Meet by at Rugby Club car park (Cobholm Island) west of A12 just before Breydon Bridge (TG513077) at 08.00 hrs
Breydon Water is a large tidal estuary to the west of Great Yarmouth within The Broads National Park, the UK's largest protected wetland. It is 5 km long and more than 1.5 km wide in places. In spring, the marshes are filled with the atmospheric calls of lapwings and redshanks, all breeding on one of the UK's largest expanses of wet grassland. At low tide, the vast areas of mudflats and saltings are teeming with birds. WBC will access the area from Breydon Bridge and follow the southern bank to Burgh Castle, the birds illuminated by the rising sun. The confluence of the Rivers Bure, Yare and Waveney is overlooked at the western end of the estuary by the Roman fort of Gariannonum. This is an ideal vantage point to “scope” Berney, Belton and Langley Marshes and the intertidal mudflats of Breydon itself. We intend to walk the riverbank footpath from east to west and either return to Great Yarmouth by bus or by pre-arranged parking at both ends of the walk – the drivers being driven back to fetch their cars.
Leaders: Steve Howell and Andrew Green
Venue: Meet by at Rugby Club car park (Cobholm Island) west of A12 just before Breydon Bridge (TG513077) at 08.00 hrs