Print pageAbout Nor Marsh & Motney Hill
Image: Steve Round
Nor Marsh is a saltmarsh island in the Medway Estuary and Motney Hill is a narrow peninsula surrounded by mudflats that juts into the estuary from the southern shore. We provide safe areas for birds to feed and breed in an increasingly developed estuary.
The saltmarsh and mudflats here are important for wintering waterfowl, with impressive flocks of avocets, black-tailed godwits, dunlins, knots, shelducks and brent geese. Look out for ducks like goldeneyes and red-breasted mergansers - seen regularly - plus occasional scarce grebes like black-necked and Slavonian, if you're lucky.
In spring and summer, birds nesting on the saltmarsh islands include avocets, redshanks and ringed plovers, with increasing numbers of black-headed gulls.
You can't actually go onto the reserves themselves, but you can get good views from the Saxon Shore Way footpath. There are no RSPB-run facilities, but there is a full range in the Riverside Country Park run by Medway Borough Council.
Information for dog owners
Dogs are only allowed on public footpaths and bridleways