Print pageSeasonal highlights
Each season brings a different experience at our nature reserves. In spring, the air is filled with birdsong as they compete to establish territories and attract a mate. In summer, look out for young birds making their first venture into the outside world. Autumn brings large movements of migrating birds - some heading south to a warmer climate, others seeking refuge in the UK from the cold Arctic winter. In winter, look out for large flocks of birds gathering to feed, or flying at dusk to form large roosts to keep warm.
Spring
Up to 10,000 pink-footed geese can be seen feeding in the bay on their return migration to their breeding grounds. Lapwings and oystercatchers prepare for the breeding season - watch for the lapwings' distinctive display flight and listen for their enchanting call.
Summer
Lapwings, oystercatchers, snipe and redshanks are attracted to the wet grassland to breed. Listen for the oystercatchers' distinctive piping call in flight.
Autumn
Large numbers of pink-footed geese come to the bay, along with thousands of wading birds and wildfowl. They follow the tide in and out of the bay, feeding along the tideline. Up to 5,000 wigeon feed on the beds of eel-grass.
Winter
Bar-tailed godwits, dunlins and knots join the pink-footed geese and wigeons, and the ever-present oystercatchers, lapwings and redshanks to take advantage of the rich feeding to be had in the bay. They are best viewed two to three hours either side of high tide as the birds are pushed closer to the hide.