Places to see birds

Stodmarsh National Nature Reserve

This extensive area of reedbeds and shallow lagoons supports an impressive variety of wetland birds, including marsh harrier, Cetti's, Savi's, sedge and reed warblers, bearded tit, common tern, water rail, shoveler, redshank, snipe and reed bunting. Hen harriers are common in the winter, along with up to six bitterns, which have so far failed to stay and breed. A spring gathering of 60 or more hobbies has become a feature of recent years. A wide range of species can occur on passage, such as osprey, black kite, black-tailed godwit, ruff, green sandpiper, greenshank, garganey, little egret, spoonbill and purple heron, along with even rarer birds such as American coot.

There are a number of paths and several hides. Access is from Stodmarsh village at the southern end, or Grove Ferry in the north.