Places to see birds

Old Hall Marshes

A permit is required to enter this remote peninsula RSPB reserve at the mouth of the Blackwater Estuary. There are extensive grazing marshes with freshwater fleets, reedbeds and saltings. Over 3,000 Brent Geese feed on the pasture each winter when thousands of Wigeon, Teal, Shelduck, Grey Plover, Curlew, Redshank and Dunlin frequent the marshes. Divers and Goldeneye are seen on the adjacent channels and Marsh Harriers, Hen Harriers, Short-eared Owls and Merlin hunt the reserve.
Directions: The reserve is entered at its western end from the minor road between Tollesbury and Tolleshunt D'Arcy.