News archive
August 2010
Sunday, 29 August 2010
Another successful Havergate Adventure
However, 358 people, including 32 children, were taken to the Island over the remaining three days. Once there they could see many species including up to 17 spoonbill, several hundred avocets, golden plover wonderfully camouflaged against the mud and large numbers of black-tailed godwit. On Tuesday a peregrine falcon made several passes over the Island including at least one high speed flight low over the water.
Also of note were sightings of little stint, greenshank, common and sandwich tern, knot, Spotted redshank and grey plover along with many other species.
This clearly wet the appetites of the visitors as some 35 cakes were consumed over the three days!
Another very successful Adventure apart from the disappointment of Monday.
Friday, 27 August 2010
Black-tailed Godwit at Havergate Island (ringed)
godwit was seen and those present may be interested in learning more about
the history of this bird's movements.
It has been found that the bird was ringed as an adult male at Iken, Suffolk
on 25 August 2007.
Since then it has been reported between 21 January and 21 March 2008 at Les
Portes-en-Re, Charente Maritime, France, then
on 26 and 31 July 2008 at Orfordness, Suffolk,
on 13 February 2010 at Ars-en -Re, C.M. France,
on 31 March 2010 at Mistley, Essex,
and on 22 August 2010 at Havergate Island, Suffolk.
Ile de Re is an island off La Rochelle, France, a direct distance of some
430 miles from Havergate Island.
Ringing schemes depend on reports from the general public and the
British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) is delighted to receive all reports
of ringed birds. Even if you saw a bird abroad you can still report the
information through the BTO.
If the bird is colour ringed it is often possible to find some
information directly off the internet. Go to www.bto.org, click on
'Ringing scheme', scroll to the bottom of the page and click on 'Report
a ringed bird'.
Alternatively, email: info@bto.org
or phone: 01842 750050.
Often you will receive an email or letter from the person running the
scheme with all the movements of 'your' bird.
Monday, 2 August 2010
HAVERGATE ADVENTURE 21st - 24th August, 2010
Suffolk's only island has been an RSPB nature reserve since 1948, and for more than 60 years it has been home to the famous colony of breeding avocets, which first nested on the island in 1947.
You can get incredibly close to brown hares, enjoy excellent views of rare spoonbills, with their incredible spoon-shaped bills, and listen to the crunch of shingle beneath your feet and the cacophony of screaming gulls as you stroll around this beautiful island. Our guides will help you discover Havergate's hidden secrets.
Havergate Adventure is now in its 22nd year and has proved extremely popular with both new visitors and regulars.
The visit is preceded and ended with a leisurely boat trip along the River Ore. The guided tour takes about 2 hours so you need about 2 hours 40 minutes for your visit. Boats run half-hourly from 10.00am to 2.30pm and tickets may be purchased at Orford Quay from Saturday, 21st August. However, boats carry a maximum of 12 passengers and demand is likely to be high, so early booking is strongly recommended. Advanced bookings can be made by telephoning 01728 723155.
Refreshments and toilet facilities are available on the Island and binoculars are also available on free loan.
How to get there:
Orford is located 11 miles north-east of Woodbridge. From the A12 take the A1152 and where this bears left at Bromeswell carry straight on the B1084 to Orford.