Grab this fantastic chance to brush up on your birding skills and hopefully encounter both common and scarcer species while exploring the reserves trails.
RSPB Strumpshaw Fen boasts a variety of stunning habitats from woodland to reedbed. As a result, it supports a rich diversity of bird species. For a birdwatching / birding newcomer, it can be difficult to know where to start. This is especially true in the spring when the reserve also hosts migrants from sub-Saharan Africa (among other places). Join our resident expert birder on a guided walk and understand how they have become addicted to this special place.
We’ll guide you through core principles of bird ID, share tips on what to look for at this time of year and give you opportunities to ask plenty of questions so you can learn at your own pace. We all start somewhere!
Guided walk outline
This walk begins at our reception area where we hope to find more common garden birds. There is a strong possibility of spotting some reedbed specialists too including Marsh Harrier, Bittern & Bearded Tit.
We’ll then seek to challenge and enhance your birding experience by breaking out onto the reserve’s trails and immerse ourselves in both the woodland, wetland and river habitats, helping familiarise you with the sights and sounds of the reserve. From Bullfinch to Blackcap, Reed Warbler to Willow Warbler, we’ll help you build up these ID skills to confidently pick bird species out from the crowd.
If you are new to nature, looking to learn, and excited to see more of the birds and wildlife around you when you visit woodland and wetland reserves then this is the session for you! We will, of course, stop to admire other wildlife we see on the walk, so expect a bit of bonus dragonfly and butterfly action too.
This walk comes with a complimentary hot drink which you can collect from our reception hide, where the walk will start, while having a chat with the guide and meeting other guests on the walk.
FAQ
What to bring
Birdwatching experiences are enhanced every time when using a pair of binoculars, and we strongly recommend you bring them if you have them. Don’t worry if you don’t own a pair (or forget to bring them), as we have a couple of pairs that can be hired from our reception hide.
Please remember to wear suitable footwear. We will be outside for most of the morning and will be walking around the reserve at a slow, relaxed pace.
Refreshments
A hot drink is included at the beginning of the event. Otherwise please bring your own refreshments as we will be outside for most of the morning.
We’re looking forward to seeing you there. All income raised from events like this supports the very special RSPB mid-Yare Valley reserves which includes Strumpshaw Fen and Buckenham Marshes.