MINSMERE R.S.P.B. RESERVE


Minsmere from Dunwich Heath.


New reserve centre.

Minsmere lies on the Suffolk coast between Southwold and Aldeburgh below Dunwich Cliffs. It is accessible from Westleton village to the west or East bridge to the south, from both of which places it is signposted .
As part of the defence measures in the Second World War some flat areas of the coastline were flooded, Minsmere Levels being one of them, with both fresh water and sea water, the area remaining flooded until the end of the war. During this time reed spread quickly from the ditches which surrounded the rough pastures, thereby producing 400 acres of brackish lagoons and reed beds. In 1947 Avocets bred for the first time and the R.S.P.B. leased the reserve from the landowners, eventually purchasing the reserve in 1976

-------------- Avocets at Minsmere. --------------

The reserve is 1500 acres large consisting of the marsh, including The Scrape constructed in 1962, woodlands and heathlands. Over 300 species have been recorded and about 100 species breed each year.

Apart from Avocets the reserve is notable for its breeding Bitterns and Marsh Harriers, the former,unfortunately, is declining in numbers and work is being carried out to increase suitable habitat.


Greater Yellowlegs at Minsmere 1985.

The wetlands attract many unusual birds especially numbers of Herons, I stood in one spot a couple of years ago for 10 minutes and saw 1 Grey Heron, 1 Purple Heron, 1 Bittern, 1 Little Egret and 8 Spoonbill! In winter regular flocks of Red-throated Divers, Common and a few Velvet Scoter occur

I only am able to visit the reserve once a year, I have visited every year bar 1 since 1985 and have seen 148 different species there including rarities such as Greater Yellowlegs (on my first visit in 1985), Caspian Tern and Icterine Warbler.