RSPB Minsmere

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Minsmere is a great place to spend some hours, which we have done on numerous occasions. Today being one of those days, albeit with large numbers of other people!
The Wikipedia entry gives a brief description of the place:-
RSPB Minsmere is a nature reserve owned and managed by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) at Minsmere, Suffolk. The 1,000-hectare (2,500-acre) site has been managed by the RSPB since 1947 and covers areas of reed bed, lowland heath, acid grassland, wet grassland, woodland and shingle vegetation. It lies within the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and the Suffolk Heritage Coast area. It is conserved as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Special Area of Conservation (SAC), Special Protection Area (SPA) and Ramsar site.
The nature reserve is managed primarily for bird conservation, particularly through control and improvement of wetland, heath and grassland habitats, with particular emphasis on encouraging nationally uncommon breeding species such as the bittern, stone-curlew, marsh harrier, nightjar and nightingale. The diversity of habitats has also led to a wide variety of other animals and plants being recorded on the site. 
Before becoming a nature reserve, the area was the site of an ancient abbey and a Tudor artillery battery. The marshes were reclaimed as farmland in the 19th century, but re-flooded during World War II as part of preparations for possible invasion. 
The reserve has a visitor centre, eight bird hides and an extensive network of footpaths and trails. Entry is free for RSPB members. Potential future threats to the site include flooding or salination as climate change causes rising sea levels, coastal erosion and possible effects on water levels due to the construction of a new reactor at the neighbouring Sizewell nuclear power stations. 
Most of these images were taken with a Sigma 150-600 mm lens - hand held. So quality a little suspect at times. 


Spotted, (rather `heard` first) this Chaffinch sitting in the gorse bushes.


From one of the hides, or viewing points, these Canada Geese went about there endless feeding 



We had hoped to see the sand Martins, and we did. Getting the picture was another thing! However, after numerous attempts, these were two of my better ones. A bit noisy, but an image at least. Amazing birds to watch as they display their speed and agility.


Unfortunately from a great distance, a Marsh Harrier swoops over the reed beds

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Location: Sheepwash Ln, Saxmundham IP17 3BY, UK

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