4 nights at a lovely barn near Windemere 23rd May to 27th May
During our recent four-day escape to Suffolk, we stayed in a beautifully converted barn near Snape, nestled along the tranquil Alde Estuary. The rustic charm of the barn provided a cozy base for our explorations, with sweeping countryside views and easy access to the Suffolk Coast’s renowned nature reserves.
Day 1: RSPB Minsmere – A Haven for Rare Birds
Our first day took us to RSPB Minsmere, one of the UK’s premier birdwatching sites. We wandered through reedbeds, coastal lagoons, and lowland heaths, we obviously went to the Bittern hide first hoping for a sighting and although heard not seen , we saw quite a few marsh harriers. We then walked round to the Island mere hide one of the reserve’s eight hides and well-maintained trails offered fantastic opportunities for wildlife photography and peaceful observation. Here we saw hobby’s flying, cormorants and quite a few gulls and terns. A fleeting glimpse of a kingfisher, no chance of a photograph though. Christine spotted a muntjak deer along the path grazing giving us plenty of shots.
Day 2: Lakenheath Fen – Wetland Restoration in Action
We ventured inland to Lakenheath Fen, a remarkable example of wetland restoration. Once arable farmland, this RSPB reserve has been transformed into thriving reedbeds and grazing marshes. We followed trails through the reserve, our first stop was mere hide where last year we saw kingfishers , as we walked in there was already another bird watcher and he said it was very quiet, we stayed for a while and glad we did as a pair of hobby’s arrived darting along the waterways grabbing dragonfly’s and eating them on the wing, really really fast and in a small area difficult to photograph but we managed a few good shots, but still glorious to watch. Hobbies are known for their acrobatic flight, catching insects and even small birds in mid-air. They are relatively small birds of prey, classified as falcons, but smaller than a kestrel, they do stoop, not like a peregrine but still they showcase an ultimate display of avian agility. Christine used her Z8 with the 100-400 f4, which was very effective, but the openings in the hide are not the biggest, so tracking the birds was a great challenge for us both. Soon the hide became quite popular and we made way for other birders wanting to see the display. We carried on our walk right to the end of the first trail where we had been told there were Bittern and joining another small group we could hear cuckoos in the distance as always, catching briefest of views. But then everyone pointed at a small clumb of reeds and there you could just see a well camoflaged bittern raising her head, if it wasn’t for others with scopes and binoculars we wouldn’t have known, difficult to see and impossible to photograph but suddenly one flew up right past infront of us all catching some unawares, but we managed a quick couple of shots. This went on for a while, we just sat basking in the afternoon sun getting frequent fly pasts. There were plenty of other birds to see, and on our way back more hobbies and the sounds of reed buntings, and sedge warblers. More cuckoos also to be heard, cuckoos are brood parasites, meaning they lay their eggs in the nests of other birds, leaving those birds to raise the cuckoo chicks. They are a red-listed species in the UK, meaning their population is in decline, so yes it would be great to see one, maybe another day.
Day 3: Carlton Marshes – The Broads in Miniature
Our third day led us to Carlton Marshes, managed by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust. This reserve, often described as the Broads in miniature, features a mosaic of grazing marsh, fens, and peat pools. We explored the accessible trail hoping to see the red footed falcon that had been reported recently, we kept missing it at Abberton and it was the same here. The visitor centre offered insights into the reserve’s diverse habitats and the conservation efforts underway, and the cafe had the most glorious carrot cake..mmmmm.
Day 4: Minsmere and Dunwich Common
Today our first visit was to Minsmere again and we walked round to East hide overlooking east scrape with lots of gulls, terns, avocets, barnacle geese and many more. We were lucky to see our first kittiwake we spent 2 hours sitting taking in the sights and of course sounds of blackheaded gulls calling,
After a lovely walk back along the shore line and meeting a charming couple we watch on YouTube called The Backyard Aviary, who travel the whole of the uk trying to see as many species as possible. We recommend you watch their channel, very informative.
https://www.youtube.com/@TheBackyardAviaryAdventures
After stopping at the Minsmere cafe for Coffee and a rather wierd Vegetarian curry paste, we drove some 5 miles to Dunwich Common which is a beautiful expanse of lowland heath located on the Suffolk coast near the historic village of Dunwich. This windswept landscape is a rich mosaic of heather, gorse, and scattered birch, with sandy paths weaving through gently undulating terrain. Managed by the National Trust, the common provides a vital habitat for a variety of rare and specialist species. It’s especially atmospheric in late summer when the purple heather blooms and the air is filled with the scent of pine and coconut-scented gorse. Among the star residents of Dunwich Common is the Dartford warbler (Sylvia undata) which is why we went. A small, long-tailed songbird with slate-grey upperparts, a rich chestnut underside, and striking red eyes. These birds are insectivorous and sedentary, often seen flitting low through the gorse or perching on top to sing their scratchy, warbling song. Dartford warblers are a conservation success story, having rebounded in numbers after severe declines during harsh winters in the 20th century. But alas although we heard quite a few and a father and son said they had seen one further down the trail we were unfortuante again in anything close enough to get with our cameras.
The Common provides one of the best places in Suffolk to see them. Early mornings and still, sunny days are ideal for spotting their fluttering movements and hearing their song, especially during spring and early summer when they are defending territories, the area also supports nightjars, stonechats, adders, and silver-studded blue butterflies, making it a key part of the Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB’s unique biodiversity.
Evenings in Snape – Tranquility by the Alde
Each evening, we returned to the serenity of our barn near Snape. The peaceful surroundings and comfortable accommodation made for restful nights after our days of exploration. With wagtails on the roof, Kestrels flying around in the evening and as it gets dark bats in abundance.
This Suffolk retreat offered a perfect blend of nature, tranquility, discovery and a lot of the roads around us were down to 30 mphs becasue of what seems to be a lot of construction going on. From the rich birdlife of Minsmere to the restored wetlands of Lakenheath Fen and the diverse habitats of Carlton Marshes, each day brought new experiences and a deeper appreciation for the region’s natural beauty.
