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| RSPB Minsmere, Suffolk - EVENTS IN DECEMBER |
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| Details of guided walks December 2007 |
Birdwatching for beginners
Thursday 6 and Monday 17 December. Start 10 am. (2-3 hours)
Since 1947, 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.
Discovering
Minsmere
Monday 3, Tuesday 11, Wednesday 19 and Thursday 27 December.
Start 10 am. (2-3 hours)
Join us to learn about the reserve’s habitats and their
management, birds and other wildlife. 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.
Minsmere safari
Tuesday 4 and Sunday 16 December. Start 9.30 am or 1 pm (2-2.5
hours)
Discover what it takes to keep Minsmere in tip-top condition
from the comfort of a 4-wheel drive vehicle. This tour takes
in less well-known parts of the reserve, while reserve staff
explain about habitat management and what makes Minsmere such
a superb place for wildlife. Places are strictly limited, so
book early. Costs: adults £12 and children £8.
What’s about at Minsmere?
Wednesday 12 December. Start 7 am. (2-3 hours)
Ever wondered who it is that sees all the birds on the ‘What’s
about?’ sheet each day? Join the Minsmere birders on their
early morning walk and pick up tips on finding birds.
Weekend Wildlife Walks
Saturday 1, Sunday 9, Saturday 15, Sunday 23 and Saturday 29
December. Start at 9.30 am (3-4 hours)
Seasonal weekend walks will look for autumn migrants, wading
birds, ducks, deer or whatever wildlife highlights are present
at the time. There may be extra weekend walks organised, subject
to availability of guides. Please contact the reserve or go
to www.rspb.org.uk for details.
Special events for children and families at Minsmere in December
2007
All of our children’s events are closely supervised and
run by our trained field teachers. Pre-booking is recommended,
and children must be accompanied at all times. There may be
extra events for families during the school holidays; these
will be advertised at the reserve and on the RSPB website, www.rspb.org.uk
There are no special events for children this month.Other special
events at Minsmere
Winter wildfowl at Minsmere
Thursday 13 December. Start at 10 am (2-3 hours)
Join us on a walk in search of the wetland wonders at Minsmere,
from whistling wigeons to secretive snipe. These walks help
celebrate World Wetlands Day, which is on 2 February each year.
RSPB North Warren nature reserve
With five different habitats all on one reserve, RSPB North
Warren is a haven for a range of wildlife, including Dartford
warblers and woodlarks on the heath, and large numbers of ducks,
geese and swans during the winter.
Visiting RSPB North Warren
North Warren is a short walk north from Aldeburgh town centre.
Buses run from Woodbridge and Saxmundham railway stations to
Aldeburgh. By car, park in the large pay and display car park
on Thorpe Road, Aldeburgh (TM467575), next to the Scallop sculpture.
There are cycle racks here. Walks start from this car park.
Entry to this reserve is free. A trail guide is available from
Minsmere and Aldeburgh Tourist Information Centre. Please book
these walks through the Minsmere visitor centre on 01728 648281.
Guided walks cost: £5 adult (£4 RSPB members), £2.50
child (£2 RSPB Wildlife Explorers).
There are no events at North Warren this month
RSPB Havergate Island nature reserve
Famous for its avocets, Havergate Island is a special place
where you will also see a wide range of other wading birds,
ducks, geese, swans and brown hares.
Visiting Havergate Island
Access is by boat from Orford Quay, and places are strictly
limited. From September to March, boats go on the first Saturday
of the month only. From April to August, boats visit every Thursday,
and on the first and third weekends of the month. Boats depart
at 10 am. A guide will usually be available on the island. To
book your visit to Havergate Island, please contact the Minsmere
visitor centre on 01728 648281. Cost: adults £7, RSPB
members £5, children £3, Wildlife Explorers £2.
There are no events at Havergate Island this month
RSPB events away from RSPB reserves
There are new circular walks on Westleton Heath and through
Dunwich Forest, where you can look for heathland wildlife such
as Dartford warblers and woodlarks. These walks are suitable
for dogs on leads. A leaflet is available from the Minsmere
visitor centre.
Snape Maltings farmers’ market walks
Saturday 1 December. Start at 11.00 am. (About 1.5 hours)
Enjoy this popular farmers’ market (which starts at 9.30
am), then join an experienced RSPB guide for an introduction
to the wildlife of the beautiful Alde Estuary. We should see
avocets (several hundred are usually here in winter) and other
wading birds, and will enjoy superb views of the estuary. The
walk starts outside the information centre at Snape Maltings.
Cost £1 per person, to go the Suffolk Coast and Heaths
CONNECT scheme, helping to fund conservation projects in the
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Booking not required.
Getting to Snape Maltings
Follow the brown tourist signs from the A12, via the A1094 and
B1069. Buses from Aldeburgh and Woodbridge stop at the Maltings.
Spring and summer events
The programme for April to September 2008 will be available
from Minsmere from early February. Please send an sae to receive
a copy. All events will also be listed on the RSPB website,
www.rspb.org.uk |
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